Advised unanimously that the Governor exempt from military service such employes as the president of the respective companies may certify to be necesary, and to arm them and place them under the command of such of the conductor or other agents of such companies as the president of said companies may prescribe.

JOHN J. ALLEN.]

FRANCIS H. SMITH.

M. F. MAURY.

[2.]

THURSDAY, April 25, 1861.*

* * * * * * *

Advised unanimously that General Joseph E. Johnston, Colonel John B. Magruder, and Lieutenant Colonel Richard S. Ewell, late of the U. S. Army, and Capts. Samuel Barron, Robert B. Pergam, and Sydney Smith Lee, late of the U. S. Navy, be appointed a joint commission of army and navy officers to name all efficient and worthy Virganians and residents of Virginia in the Army and Navy of the United States, for the purpose of inviting them the service of Virginia in accordance with the ordinance of convection adopted April 17, 1861.

* * * * * * *

Under the ordinance of the convention of April 24, 1861, the Governor, with the unanimous concurrence of the council, appointed and commissioned the following staff officers, viz: Major Robert S. Garnett to be adjutant-general with the rank of colonel; Major George C. Hutter to be paymaster with the rank of major; Charles Bell Gibslon to be surgeon-general with the rank of colonel; Charles H. Smith to be surgeon with the rank of major, and Captain Eugene E. McLean to be quartermater with the rank of major.

* * * * * * *

JOHN LETCHER.

[2.]

APRIL 25, 1861.

General LEE,

Commaning, &c.:

GENERAL: A telegraph from President Davis notified the Governor a few days ago that he has made a requisition for thirteen regiments, to rendezvous at Lynchburg without delay. The Governor replied not to forward them until should be invested with the command. The Governor suggest that you take up the consideration of communicating with President Davis on the subject at once.

F. H. SMITH

[2.]

LOUSVILLE, April 25, 1861.

Honorable L. P. WALKER,

Secretary of War:

DEAR SIR: Your dispatch to Magoffin was handed to him whilst we were conversing, and read by him to me, and at the same time Mr. Benjamin's dispatch cam, telling me to offer my men. As you will have learned form my letter to Mr. Benjamin, our State is in a defenseless condition, and therefore our policy must be to gain time. I immediately sent orders to my companies to move, and they have done so

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* From the Executive Journal of the State of Virginia.

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