JOINT RESOLUTION of thanks to the officers and soldiers engaged in the defense of Fort McAllister, Ga.

The Congress of the Confederate States of America do resolve, That the thanks of Congress are due, and are hereby tendered, to the officers and soldiers engaged in the defense of Fort McAllister, Ga., on the 1st of February and 3rd of March last, for the gallantry and endurance sels of the enemy.

Resolved further, That the foregoing resolutions be communicated by the Secretary of War to the general commanding the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida and by him be made known in

appropriate general orders to the officers and troops to whom they are addressed.

Approved May 1, 1863.

[14.]

CHARLESTON, May 11, 1863.

(Received 12th.)

General S. COOPER:

Let me respectfully, but earnestly, request you to reconsider the order to send more troops from the defenses of this city. I have written you to-day by mail.

CHAS. MACBETH,

Mayor.

[14.]

CHARLESTON, May 14, 1863.

Honorable JAMES A. SEDDON,

Secretary of War:

SIR: The people of Charleston deeply regret that no entreaties or

representations have been of any avail in moving the President from his determination to strip us of troops. When it is borne in mind that General Pemberton this time last year had nearly 13,000 more troops than General Beauregard is allowed to retain, it will be seen what risks our citly is exposed to-5,000 infantry for South Carolina and Georgia and Florida; that is the total we are allowed to retain. This is virtually giving up the Charleston and Savannah railroad whenever the enemy choose to move again upon it, and with it an immense amount of rice. They may then penetrate to Branchville and cut our communications with the interior. Our heavy rtillery cannot be taken out of our forts and batteries and marched to meet the enemy at any point they may attack. We must keep these works manned, and our artillery is now brely adequate for the purpose. (The President for the symmetry of a bad organization vetoed the only measure by which practically we could have increased this arm of our defense.) But if there was some great goot to be effected by exosing us to the hazards which the President, we think, greatly underestimates, we would be perfectly reconciled to being allowed to depend upon the old men and boys now "in Charleston and the vicinity" (the vicinity not containing 100 in a circuit of many miles); but how 3,000 or 4,000 men can be of "vital importance" to Vicksburg we do not understand. Surely Lee (if no pursuit of Hooker is contemplated) could spare many thousands from the defense of Richmond. And although every point

inght to contribute to the extent of its ability, we really think that we did more than when we sent off Cooke's, Clingman's, Walker's,