directed in the orders referred to, and decided to make a reconnaissance of the country in force to the Gulf coast and attack the enemy's camp wherever found. With this object in view I ordered the detachment of cavalry, under command of Major Camfield, to proceed from this point down the east bank of the Econfina River and to co-operate with the Twelfth Battalion in an attack upon the enemy's camp upon Snyder's Island. Moving with the Twelfth Georgia Battalion from Gamble's farm to the Natural Bridge, and through the swamp on the east bank of the Aucilla River, I passed entirely through the country occupied by the disaffected citizens and deserters, and reached the camp of the enemy at daylight on the morning of the 24th instant. Here I found nothing but the deserted huts of the deserters, and no traces of any camp regularly organized by the enemy. The inaccessible character of the swamps, which extend from Gamble's to the coast, and the experience of the war conducted for years between the Seminole Indians and the U. S. Forces in this section without any positive result, and the further demonstrated fact that these deserters and disaffected citizens did not maintain any organized encampment, but remained concealed in the vicinity of their homes, determined me to destroy their houses, in addition to the removal of their families as directed in the orders referred from district headquarters. Accordingly I ordered the destruction of every house on the east and west banks of the Econfina and Fenholloway Rivers belonging to these people.

The captured muster-roll herewith presented (A) enabled me to obtain positive evidence as to the disloyalty of the inhabitants, and from the fact that they had taken the oath of allegiance to the United States Government, I could not discriminate between them and citizens of the United States in arms against the Confederacy. At William Strickland's house (who is the leader of the gang) was captured the muster-roll referred to 2,000, rounds of fixed ammunition for the Springfield musket, several barrels of flour from the U. S. Subsistence Department, and several other articles which evidenced the regularity of their communication with the enemy's gun-boats. Having destroyed their property and secured their families, I returned to Mr. Linton's farm to rest the infantry, who were broken down by a continued march of several days through densely wooded swamps, and water at times so deep as to necessitate the removal of cartridge-boxes to keep the ammunition in order. In addition to the destruction of their property I have to report the capture of three prisoners, two of whom have their names on the muster-roll of the company. I have also to report the death of two men of the cavalry detachment, who were killed on the morning of the 24th instant by an accident which cannot but be considered the result of carelessness. As no official report of this matter has been made to me, I refer to it as the loss accruing to the service by the expedition. The secondary effects of the plan adopted with these people is manifested in the communication of W. W. Strickland, sent to my headquarters on yesterday, and which is herewith submitted (B). The terms upon which he proposed to leave the swamps are such that I must refer the matter to the commanding general before answering him definitely. The subject is a delicate one, and some diplomacy must be used to secure the ends proposed. On the borders of these swamps are large planting interests, with hundreds of negroes upon them of immense service to the Confederacy in the production of grain and bacon. From their hiding places these men can commit depredations upon the property to such an extent as to materially interfere with the farming operations, and I would urge upon the general commanding the necessity under