CHARLESTON, September 30, 1862.

President DAVIS:

there are 200 guns at the forts in this harbor. If you could immediately assign such a man as General Ripley to command Sumter and Moultrie, it would give dgreat confidence to the defense. I write fully by mail.*

F. W. PICKENS.

[14.]

STATE OF FLORIDA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,

Tallhassee, October 5, l862.

Honorable GEORGE W. RANDOLPH,

Secretary of War:

SIR: Your letter of the 26th ultimo was received by due course of mail. I regret that you have no discretionary power to act as sug gested by me with regard to those subject to the conscript act in Florida. I am inclined to believe the act of Congress cannot be wisely or successfully enforced in this State, while I believe that 99 out of every 100 capable of bearing arms would cheerfully volunteer under more favorable auspices. Inclosed you will find a copy of a communication from General Finegan. Agreeably to a telegram received on the 3d, the enemy were landed and only one mile distant in the rear of our batteries on the Saint John's, and had been attacked by our forces only 700 strong. The result not known here. The forces, with the exception of three companies, have been ordered from West Florida and also all but a few men from Middle Florida, to East Florida to the defenses on the Saint John's River. I presume there is no State where, in proportion to the amount cultivated, such abudant crops of corn, peas, potatoes, and sugar-cane have been made, and which will afford a more abundant supply of pork and beef, than Florida. The enemy are apprised of these facts and will avail themselves of the advantages to be derived from our abudance, to the excluslion of the Confederate States, and may make of Florida a waste, howling wilderness, or colonikjye it with negroes, unless suitable measures for defense shall be promptly adopted.

Time and again I have suggested what I thought suitable measures, but withoutany desired effect. I am informed that the Fifth and Eighth Regiments recently ordered from this State have been reduced by sickness and other caskualties and rendered almost useless for service in Virginia or Marzland. The climate, water, &c., have proved destructive to them. I am also informd that the Second Florida Regiment does not number fifty effective men. Colonel Floyd, of the Eighth, will be constrained by continuous ill health to resign. ColonelHateley, of the Fifth, is reported mortally wounded, and there will be no colonel left but Colonel Perry, of the Second; and it is also reported that most of the comany officers have resigned or been killed. If these facts be true, will it not be better to consolidate the remnnts of the three regiments and place them under the command of Colonel Perry for service wherever most needed, whether sthat shall be in Florida, Virginia, or elsewhere. In Florida they would perhaps be more efficient, from being acclimated, than troops not acclimated. We need infantry and artillery here, and in my judgment no more cavalry; and it would have been better to have let the ten independent companies remain

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*For reply, see VOL. XIV, p.631.

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