WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A.,

Richmond, Va., February 18, 1865.

The PRESIDENT OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES:

SIR: I have received the following resolution of the House of Representatives of the 6th instant referred by Your Excellency to this Department:

Resolved, That, if not incompatible with the public interest, the President be respectfully requested to inform this House how it happended that the large amount of cotton was captured by the enemy at Savannah in the face of the law of the Confederate States, passed as early as the 17th of March, 1862, directing the military authorities to destroy cotton or other property of any kind whatever which may aid the enemy in the prosecution of the war, when necessary to prevent the same, or any part thereof, from failling into the hands of the enemy.

In response I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a telegram received by the Adjutant-General from Lieutenant-General Hardee,* in reply to a call made upon him for report why the cotton in Savannah was not destroy before the evacuation of that city. This dispatch contains all the information on the subject in possession of this Department.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE,

Secretary of War.

[47.]

HEADQUARTERS,
Petersburg, February 19, 1865.

His Excellency PRESIDENT DAVIS,

President Confederate States, Richmond:

Mr. PRESIDENT: Your dispatch of yesterday, suggesting that I repair to General Beauregard's headquarters to confer with him, is received. He reports to-day from Winnosborough that four corps of the enemy are advancing on that place from Columbia and Alston, tearing up the Charlotte railroad, and that they will probably reach Charlotte on the 24th, before his forces can concentrate there. He thinks General Sherman will thence move on Greensborough, Danville, and Petersburg; or, if short of supplies, on Raleigh and Weldon, to form a junction with General Schofield. General Bragg reports a strong expedition moving on Weldon railroad at Rocky Mount, and continued preparations for the advance from New Berne to Goldsborough and Raleigh. He says little or no assistance can be had from the State of North Carolina; that exemptions and reorganizations under late laws have disbanded the State forces, and that they will not be ready for some time. From this condition of things there is nothing to intercept Sherman's or Schofield's march through the country except the want of supplies; nor, unless our troops can be concentrated, anything to oppose them but this army, which will be unable to cope with the armies of Generals Grant, Sherman, and Schofield. I, however, cannot believe that General Sherman can make the march anticipated by General Beauregard if our troops can do anything. They can, at least, destroy or remove all provisions in his route, which I have again directed General Beauregard to do, and requested the co-operation of Governor Vance. Everything on his route and Schofiedl's should be removed. I am unacquaninted with the local officers on the route, and request proper instructions be given by the Adjutant and Inspector General. At the present rate of Beauregard's retreat, he will soon be within striking distance of the Roanoke, where, from present appearances, it seems is the first

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*See VOL. XLVII, Part Ii, p. 1105.

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