[First indorsement.]

APRIL 28, 1864.

Respectfully referred to General Bragg.

The Governor of South Carolina is urgent for the defense of mountain districts, and I should be pleased to know if any other than local reserves can be commanded for the purpose.

J. A. SEDDON,

Secretary of War.

[Second indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS ARMIES CONFEDERATE STATES, May 2, 1864.

Respectfully returned to honorable Secretary of War.

There is great difficulty in sparing any regular force from our main points of operation. Several hundred men, now in the Department of East Tennessee, belonging to what is know as Thomas legion, and now called a brigade, under Brigadier-General Jackson, might well be spard and sent to the colonel [Thomas] in Western North Carolina. From the condition of the command, as reported by a recent inspecting officer, General Jackson should be relieved from it and sent to some point where he can be in contact with good and disciplined officers and troops. The reserve both in North and South Carolina should be urged to completion and be used to meet these raids. By a recent heavy movement of cavalry in General Polk's command, to General Johnston's left flank I hope that letter may be able to extend his right and thus afford me protection. That portion of Brigadier General John H. Morgan's former command which has not yet joined him might in this way be moved in his direction and be near its ultimate destination. A common commander to all that line would tend to give it strength, and our cavalry in East Tennessee should be pushed forward to the enemy's outposts as near to Knoxville as possible. By this the main road to North Carolina will be covered and the enemy's rear threatened. To make the latter suggestion more operative I recommend the promotion of Brigadier General William E. Jones as major-general, and his assignment to the Department of East Tennessee, both General Buckner and B. R. Johnson having been removed.

BRAXTON BRAGG,
General.

[Inclosure.]

GREENVILLE, S. C., April 20, 1864.

Hon. M. L. BONHAM:

MY DEAR SIR: I have been here since Saturday last on a visit to my family. I learned yesterday that there were fresh rumors of a contemplated raid in this direction by the tories and bushwhackers, and that they are gradually advancing from Cherokee County, n. C. I think that this is not improbable. Longstreet's army having left East Tennessee opens all of Western North Carolina, Northeastern Georgia, and Northwestern South Carolina to incursions of the enemy, and I know of no troops or even local organization to oppose them. Walhalla, Pendleton, Anderson, Greenville, and Spartanburg, with their powder and paper mills, factories, and work-shops are all at their mercy without some effort is made at once to effect some organization. General Beuauregard having been stripped of his troops, it is useless to appeal to him, and I think you ought as the Chief Magistrate of South Carolina to assert her sovereign rights and either to retain a part of