[CHAP. LXIII.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 181.
Richmond, October 16, 1861.

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X. The following independent companies of Mississippi Volunteers will constitute a battation: Captain Lee's, Captain Blewett's, Captain Love's, Captain Crutcher's, Captain Blackwell's. The battation will be further increased by the transfer of Captain Kerr's company of Mississippi Volunteers from Colonel Crunp's Twenty - sixth Regiment Virginia Volunteers. This company will be replaced in Colonel Crump's regiment by Captain Easley's company of Virginia Volunteers, now under orders for Yorktown. Captain Blackwell's company will remain at Manassas until the battation proceeds there.

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By command of the Secretary of War:

John WITHERS,
Assistant Adjutant - General.

[5.]

WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A.,

Richmond, October 16, 1861.

Major General B. HUGER,

Commanding at Norfolk:

SIR: In reply to your letter of the 14th instant, submitted by the Adjutant - General to the Secretry of War, I am directed to say that the propose action with regard to alien enemies is entirely approved.

Respectfully,

A. T. BLEDSOE,

Chief of Bureau of War.

[4.]

RICHMOND, VA., October 16, 1861.

Captain JOHN P. THOMPSON AND OTHERS OF THE Kentucky VOLS.:

GENTLEMEN: I have received your position of the 10th instant. The public defense requires all the troops now in the Army of the Potomac. Instead of contemplating the withdrawal of any portion of them, my wish has been to increase the number. If troops were withdraw because their State was assailed the hope and prophecy of the enemy would be fulfilled. Sympathizing with the feeling expressed, I regret that the public interest does not allow me to comply with your request.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

[5.]

HEADQUARTERS,
Sewell Mountain, October 16, 1861.

General JOHN B. FLOYD,

Commanding Army of the Kanawha:

GENERAL: In my letter of yesterday, now wishing to detain your messenger, I only adverted to such circumstances as I thought it important for you to know. I will now repeat that the advance of the enemy reached Gauley Bridge on Sunday evening last. His rear guard, composed of two regiments, was at Eli Wood's, while General R [osecrans] himself, with his main body, was at colonel Tompkins'. Three regiments were at Jacob Woolinnes' [?] and three at Hamilton's; the whole army consisting of fourteen regiments. The occupation of Cotton Hill, as you know, will annoy them greatly. From their movements I