SPECIAL ORDERS,
AJDT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE, No. 25.
Richmond, January 30, 1864.

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XII. The troops mustered into the Confederate service for six months from the State of South Carolina will be discharged on the 1st day of February, 1864.

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By command of the Secretary of War:

JNO. WITHERS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

[35.]

CHARLESTON, S. C., February 7, 1864.

Colonel W. PORCHER MILES, M. C.,

Richmond, va.:

DEAR COLONEL: Your letter of the 13th ultimo reached me at Savannah, where I had gone to complete our defensive arrangements there against the reported threatened attack of the enemy, which is still in embryo, however, but it may not come off at that point. I think Wilmington is a greater objective point to the enemy than Savannah. I regret much to hear of the great affliction you refer to in your letter. I can well sympathize with you, for I experienced the same loss several years since, and it was long I recovered from the shock entirely. I thank you and the other members of Congress for the very flattering resolution passed relative to the defense of Charleston. It more than repays me for the ingratitude and jealousy of another part of the Government. Of course I never expected anything else from that quarter, but that his hatred should read even to those who are laboring under my order, so faithfully and devotedly to the country, is perfectly incomprehensible to me, for we are all engaged in the same boat, and if she sinks we will all perish together. Cannot some good angel open his eyes and ears and extirpate from his heart the corroded parts that are poisoning his whole system? The curse of God must have been on our people when we chose him out of so many noble sons of the South who would have carried us safely through this revolution! I read Honorable Sparrow's report on Myers' case with a sorrowing heart. I had no idea that men occupying such high positions could act so like pygmies to gratify their malicious passions. What a bad conselor hate is!

I send you herewith copy of a letter on the subject of my commissaries.* Unless my just recommendations are granted I must ask to be relieved from command, for I can no longer be responsible for the action of officers who are not under my control. That Austrian system can only bring disaster and disgrace on our arms. You must excuse meyou to be cautions about that new inspector-general's bill; it will be adding another wheel to already a too cumbersome machine. What we want is simplicity and a direct acting power engine. Give the generals in the field full authority to select their staff officers, and hold them (the generals) responsible for the result; if they fail, set them aside, just as Lincoln is doing. After a while we will find, an efficient officer. There are bureaux enough about Richmond. What is required is proper men to fill them. With Bragg in Cooper's place (who, I understand, is old and infirm) and G. W. Smith as Secretary of War all would yet go right. I hope you do not intend that another

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*Probably Beauregard to Cooper, January 25, VOL. XXXV, Part I, p.543.

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