"general" shall be appointed. Be careful that the Myers affair be not re-enacted in a higher sphere. I send you a newspaper slip relative to Grant's preparations for the spring campaign. Does is not, show as clear as the noonday sun what his future plans are? I hope so, but our preparations must be very secret, for not one word on the subject has yet reached me.

With kind regards to all, I remain, sincerely, your friend,

G. T. BEAUREGARD.

[35.]

JOINT RESOLUTION of thanks to Colonel Thomas G. Lamar and the officers and men engaged in the defense of Secessionville.

Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States of America, That the thanks of Congress are due and are hereby tendered to Colonel Thomas G. Lamar and the officers and men engaged in the gallant and successful defense of Secessionville against the greatly superior numbers of the enemy on the 16th day of June, 1862.

Approved February 8, 1864.

[14.]

TALLAHASSEE, FLA., February 16, 1864.

Brigadier General THOMAS JORDAN,

Assistant Adjutant-General and Chief of Staff:

GENERAL: I find it very difficult to obtain reliable information. Naturally there is much excitement here, and a disposition on the part of officials and citizens to belibe all rumors, however exaggerated and improbable. The number of the enemy in front of General Finegan is variously estimated from 10,000 to 16,000. My own impression is that 8,000 will cover the whole number landed. In this I may be mistaken, but doubt it. There is a rumor of a landing of 2,000 men at Edwards' Landing. This is not well authenticated, though coming very direct. I have just seen a letter from Lieutenant Booth of the cavalry, saying that his scouts report a landing of the enemy at the Ocklockonee River (some forty miles from this place); in what force he does not say, but supposes it may be merely a raiding party from the gun-boats; but this place is entirely open, even to a small raiding party. There are here, I ascertain upon accurate inquiry, $6,000,000 in money, more than $300,000 in commissary stores, including at least 125,000 pounds of bacon and pork, large amounts of sugar and syrup, besides large and valuable amount of quartermaster's stores. For the removal of these stores no provision has been made, and there is no defensive force here, even for adequate guards for public property. I sent to you a telegram this afternoon which this report is designated to elaborate. A due degree of precaution would require, I submit, a small force to be kept here under all circumstances. One company (small) of cavalry has this evening been ordered back from Taylor County, some thirty miles distant, and will probably reach here to-morrow. I have advised freely with the officers here, and endeavored to arrange matters upon the best basis possible.

Captain Gibbes, the provost-marshal, has returned. I find him an intelligent, zealous, and efficient officer. He concurs with me in my views expressed in my last report. He can fully, for all purposes, discharge the duties of post commandant, and with two small companies of infantry and a mounted detail (which might be selected from men unfit for field or exposed duty) he could have a well-regulated pots,