Many of the companies are raised in a district of country embracing two or three large counties without steam, electricity, or ordinary horse mails as means of communication. For this reason I have retained them in the service longer than would have been the case under different circumstances.

I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

PATTON ANDERSON,

Major-General, commanding.

[Inclosure.]

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Tallahassee, May 7, 1864.

His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS:

SIR: I have not supposed that it was intended under the act of Congress entitled "An act to organize forces to serve during the war," approved February 17, 1864, to do more than enroll the names and organize into military bodies those between seventeen and eighteen and forty-five and fifty to act as minute-men as emergencies might require. It is with the utmost difficulty and most active exertions that the families of soldiers now in the Confederate service can be saved from starvation in many portions of this State; and I do not hesitate to say that if all between the ages alluded to and now engaged in agriculture, shall be called into camps of instruction that it will be utterly impossible to save the poor of the State from starvation the next year, even if it be possible to do so during the current year; nor is there, in my judgment, the slightest necessity for ordering them into camp in the State. There is ample force in this State for its defense against raids made by small bodies of the enemy, and if properly managed to rid it of deserters. Those between seventeen and eighteen and forty-five and fifty should be enrolled and occasionally drilled, and if it shall become necessary ordered into the field to resist invasion, but not ordered from their farms for military service until the necessity shall arise.

Anxious that Florida shall contribute her utmost means to sustain your administration of the Confederate Government in conducting the war, even with a full knowledge of facts I should more reluctantly have invited your attention to them if the great necessity for interrupting as little as possible the much-diminished agricultural labor of the State had not become apparent to the officers of the Confederate Government, as well as to patriotic and judicious citizens. Inclosed you will find a copy of a communication by Colonel William Miller, commandant of conscription, and a detachment addressed to me by influential citizens. In connection with this subject permit me to express the opinion that there are many more officers - young and healthy men - assigned to duty in this State than are necessary to execute the laws, to raise forces, or to arrest deserters - young officers who as officers or private soldiers would render more efficient service in the performance of active duty with the armies in the field, and be less exposed to temptation to vicius habits incident to a comparative life of idleness.

A few days ago Brigadier-General Gardner informed me that the had applied to be relieved of the command of this military district, and to be assigned to active duties in the field. He prefers, and is better qualified, to render service in the command of troops actively engaged, and I therefore request that his desires upon the subject may be granted. Colonel William Miller, if in command of this district, would, I believe, discharge the duties with ability and satisfactory; and if I am correctly informed he has, time and again, been recommended by the Senators