sent by the Governor of this State (acting, as I learned, under instructions from the Secretary, of War) as special agent to assist in forwarding the arms, ammunition, &c., toward Corinth, and as our armies at that time were in great need of all the arms and ammunition that could by possibly concentrated at that point, I deemed it advisable to give him every facility in furthering his mission without inquiring into his authority so to act. I bg leave to say in this connedtion, without reference to Mr. Noyes, who was very energatic in forwarding those articles, as I udnerstand, that the progress of the arms, &c., was by no means expedited by the arrival of so many special agents, sent from all quarters at the expense of the Government. The 552 arms in the hands of the Seventh Regiment Florida volunteers were taken under a supposed authority form the Governor of the State by the various companies composing that regiment while in transity through Florida. Since they have been allowed to retain them I deemed it right to take receipts from the proper officer of that regiment for them, which I now hold as a voucher. Besides these arms, the guns eceipted for by General Pyles, florida militia, Captain Cone, commanding volunteer company, and Lieutenant Hopkins, commanding detachment of Captain Huggins' company, at Smyrna, Fla., amounting to fifty-five guns, have been either all turned in or ready to be delivered to one or the other regements in this State raised for the war. Captain Owens' (now Captain Chambers') company, Marion Dragoons, have by your order turned Stephens' company still retain their guns, and also Captain Baya's company, making a total of guns (incliding those retained by your order) now remaining in the State as follows.

Guns.

Captain Ingram, Seventh Florida Regiment.......................80

Captain blount, Seventh Florida regiment.......................80

Captain Eichelberger, Seventh Florida Regiment.................41

Captain Slone, Seventh Florida Regiment........................80

Captain Moseley, Seventh Florida Regiment......................76

Captain Bulolock, Seventh Florida Regiment....................100

Captain Thomas, Seventh Florida Regiment.......................90

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, Seventh Florida Regiment........................5

General Pyles, Florida militia.................................28

Captain Cone, volunteer company.................................8

Lieutenant Hopkins, detachment Captain Huggins' company........19

Captain Owens, Marion Dragoons................................120

Captain Baya, Grayson Artellery................................55

Captain Stephens, Saint John's Rangers........................100

Captain buckman, chief of ordnance, Department of Middle and Eastern Florida...............................................407

Total.......................................................1,289

The arms taken by Captain Bird's order for arming a portion of the companies under his command at Smyrna, consisting of his own and Strain's companies, Third Regiment Florida Volunteers, are still retained by them. Captain Phillips' company, Florida Regiment, also retained theirs. Colonel Davis, First Florida Cavalry Regiment, while in command in East Florida near the line of railroad by which these arms, &c., were being transported, deemed it proper for the defense of the country, and the security of thea arms, 7c., then in transity, to take the number opposite his name in statement, and has retained them in his possession since leaving the State with his regiment. Major John g. barnwell, while in command at Smyrna, and just before abandoning has position, saw proper to arms such of his command as were then present witth Enfield rifles. It is my impression