an invitation to all the deserters and stragglers to make the mountains their place of refuge from the army. Colonel Palmer understands the nature of the country, and if the department would call him to Richmond and hear his views I feel confident his suggestions would be valuable.

I have the honor to remain, general, your obedient servant,

DAVID URQUHART,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General.

[44.]

RICHMOND, VA., December 12, 1864.

General BEAUREGARD,

Charleston, S. C.:

Yours of this date received. Many eminent citizens of South Carolina, the Governor included, have urged the retention of General Ripley at Charleston as conducive to its successful defense. At this time it seems reasonable that his special knowledge, the result of long service in the exterior works, whould be peculiarly valuable, and I have been reluctant under the circumstances to remove him. The reiteration of your request for his removal leads me to suppose that there must be some greater necessity for it than had been communicated to me heretofore. If he cannot be trusted in his present positin, you are authorized to relieve him and report more fully the facts of the case. If the cause be less grave, you will report its nature and await reply.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

[44.]

CHARLESTON, S. C., December 13, 1864.

His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS,

President of the Confederate States, Richmond, Va.:

SIR: I arrived here on my way to Savannah on the evening of the 7th instant, and remained until the following afternoon to obtain information relative to the present condition of this department. The Second and Third Sub-Districts, embracing Charleston and its defenses, were reported to me short of provisions and ammunition for a siege. I arrived at Pocotaligo during the night of the 8th instant, and after spending several hours in conference with General Jones as to the state of affairs in that vicinity, I proceeded to Savannah, arriving there on the morning of the 9th instant. General Jones informed me that, after collecting all that could be safely spared from the other points in the District of South Carolina, his forces consisted of about 5,500 effectives of all arms, of which about 3,000 were militia and reserves. Immediately upon my arrival at Savannah I called upon General Hardee, who communicated to me the following information: First, that the enemy, supposed to be from 35,000 to 40,000 men of all arms, were advancing on the River road, Middle Ground road, Central railroad, and Louisville road, and were then reported to be about ten miles from the city, or about six miles from General Hardee's intermediate line of works, known as the overflow line, and that a portion of the enemy's troops were reported about three miles from Monteith's Station on the Charleston railroad. Second, that his own forces in and around Savannah, south of the Savannah River, consisted of about 10,000 effectives of all arms, about one-half of which were reserves and militia; that the main body occupied the works and lines guarding the city and its approaches,