enemy is now weak on our coast; that there is no indication at this time of any serious movement, nor is any apprehension felt at present for the safety of the city. From the best information I can obtain I do not think that the enemy's present force exceeds six regiments of all arms, a large portion of which are negroes, and his cavalry, to say the least, is not equal to ours in number or material. To attempt a raid under such circumstances wold be madness. Our troops there, it is true, are compelled to be exceedingly vigilant to guard properly so extended a line against any surprise from the concentration of the enemy at any one point. It would doubtless diminish their labors and exposure to have their numbers increased, but I believe that the force now there is sufficient for the present state of things, and the necessity for suspending the industrial pursuits of the country does not now exist nor has at any time existed since I have been in this command. This sense of security, however, will not induce me to relax my efforts to have everything in readiness, nor to diminish my watchfulness, that I may promptly act whenever the proper occasion demands. As soon as I can obtain my arms and ammunition I desire to go to the mountains, with the view of making a clean sweep of deserters and tories, which, I think, can be done with two or three companies and a light battery. None of the arms ordered to be sent to Columbia for me by Colonel Gorgas have yet arrived. I would be glad if some arrangement were made at once whereby I might promptly command subsistence and transportation for my troops. Indeed, it is indispensable to any movement on my part.

Most respectfully, your obedient servant,

JAMESE CHESNUT, Jr.,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

[Indorsement.]

SEPTEMBER 16, 1864.

Respectfully forwarded to the files of the War Office.

BURTON N. HARRISON,

Private Secretary.

[35.]

HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DISTRICT OF FLORIDA, Lake City, Fla., June 29, 1864.

General BRAXTON BRAGG,

Richmond, va.:

GENERAL: In compliance with the directions of the President as indorsed upon a communication of Governor John Milton, dated Tallahassee, May 7, and addressed to the President, suggesting the impolicy of calling into the field the reserve forces of Florida, I have the honor to make the following report and suggestions: At the time the communication of Governor Milton was made the active force within this military district was ample for its protection against anything which then threatened from within or without, and the observations of Government Milton - very just and correct in the main - were particularly so as applicable to the military situation in Florida at the time; but ten days letter the whole infantry force was withdrawn for service in a more important field, leaving nothing but cavalry and one efficient company of artillery (the effective strength of the whole not reaching 1,000), to protect the State form Choctawhatchie Bay in the west to the Atlantic in the east. The enemy at that time had a largely superior force at Jacksonville and vicinity, threatening, by an advance of twenty miles upon Baldwin, to cut off the whole peninsula of Florida, whence is