MAYOR'S OFFICE, Savannah, January 23, 1863.

General BEAUREGARD, C. S. Army,

Now at Savannah:

GENERAL: I avail myself of your presence in the city to address you on a subject of vital importance to our citizens. City council have in successful operation a city store, where provisions gathered at various points in the country by a purchasing committee are sold at a price merely covering costs and charges. This has had the double advantage of preventing extortion and of bringing supplies into the city. The purchases are made by agents regularly deputed by me, who go to various points in the country to purchase. We have been, however, cut off from obtaining supplies from the borders of the Savannah River on either side, because the Government has monopolized all the transportation on the river, thus depriving the planters there of their usual market here, and cutting the city off from its supplies of corn, wood, &c. Major A. G. Porter, one of our agents, recently purchased some corn in South Carolina bordering on the river. Major Stewart, of this district, has kindly afforded the commission transportation for a few hundred bushels of corn from Parachucla, and for this act I learn he has been reported at headquarters, because the quartermaster in Carolina apprehends procuring supplies for the army in that district. I had submitted to me a letter from Captain Buckner to Colonel Colcock making lound complaints on this matter. I made a statement of facts to Brigadier-General Mercer that the corn was purchased by and for the city. At the time we had received none. Captain Buckner claimed jurisdiction indefinitely over the entire country contiguous to the banks of the Savannah River. This is not generous at least, as he must have known that the troops in South Carolina have drawn very large quantities of corn from Georgia, which have been forwarded by Major Davenport. We are in a bad condition here for cone. For a whole week hardly a house is Savannah had even its supply of grits, that necessary article of consumption having risen a shigh as $16 per bushel. I earnestly appeal to you to allow such corn as is bought bona fide for the city store in South Carolina near the river to be brought to the city on the Government boats when, as they often do, they have room for 100 bushels or thereabouts, and to enable the agent to get forward the corn he has already purchased for the city. I have every reason to believe that if transportation could be afforded along our river, corn would soon drop down to $3 a bushel. All of which is most respectfully submitted to your consideration.

Your obedient servant,

R. D. ARNOLD,

Mayor.

[35.]

SPECIAL ORDERS,
AJDT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE, No. 23.
Richmond, January 28, 1864.

XIII. Captain Francis D. Lee, corps of Engineers, Provisional Army, C. S., is assigned to the duty of supervising the construction of topredobearing steam-boats, in accordance with the recent orders of the Secretary of War, under the direction and from the hands of the Engineer Bureau. He will take his station at Charleston, S. C, with permission to visit other points of the Confederacy whenever his presence is required by the nature of his duties.

* * * * * *

By command of the Secretary of War:

JNO. WITHERS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

[25.]