without a refdgimental organization. As independent companies, acting in different parts of the State, they would have been much more efficient and less expensive, but thrown into a regiment and concentrated in East Florida, the necessity will be created for other cavalry companies in West and Middle Florida. In parts of Georgia and Alabama small crops of corn have been made, and the corn in Florida will be sufficient to supply deficiencies, unless it shall fall into the hands of the enemy or should be exhausted by a useless number of cavalry forces, which may not only prevent supplies to other States, but cause families in Florida to suffer for bread.*

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully,

JOHN MILTON,

Governor of Florida.

[Inclosure.]

LAKE CITY, October 2, 1862.

His Excellency JOHN MILTON,

Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Militia of Florida:

GOVERNOR: The commanding officer at Saint John's Bluff reports that 3,000 Federals have landed at Mayport Mills. I have to request that you call out, say, two or three companies of militia for the defense of the capital during the necessary absence of some of the troops from Tallahassee. I have asked for one or two regiments of infantry to be sent me from the coast of Georgia, and will feel greatly obliged to you if you will urge the Secretry of War to send them with as little delay as possible. The enemy have been again (the third time) replsed by our battery. I have directed the conscripts to be all armed.

In great haste, yours, truly,

JOSEPH FINEGN,

Brigadier-General.

[14.]

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,

Tallahassee, October 10, 1862.

His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS,

President of the Confederate State:

The important evets which are transpiring in more important States, upon which the lives and liberties of millions depend, engross your

unremitted attention and claim the active exercise of all your physical and intellectual energies. But in the maintenanjce of the vast efforts which you are making for the salvation of the people of the several States I regard the Goernors of the respective States as sentinels upon the watchtowers of liberty, who will be faithless if they do not frankly make known opinions which they may reasonably entertain and submit facts and argumets to your consideration in matters appertaining to the high trust confided to you. In a letter addressed to you on the 29th of October, 1861,+ I endeavored to urge upon your serious considertion the importance which the enemy would attach to their conquest of Florida as a base of operations against the Gulf Sfttes and as necessary to their commerce. They t the time had possession of Key West in South Florida, and now have possession of Fernandina and Saint John's River in East Florida and Pensacola an Milton in West Florida, and Aplachicola an Saint Andrew's Bay re subject to be occupied by them at their will. Saint Mark's is in Middle Florida, twenty-two miles distant from and connected with Tllahassee by a

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*For rely, see VOL. XIV, p.629.

+See VOL. VI, p.300.

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