SPECIAL ORDERS,
ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 97.
Richmond, April 28, 1862.

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XVI. Captain T. M. R. Talcott, of the engineers, is relieved from duty in the Department of Norfolk, and will report for duty to General R. E. Lee, commanding, in this city.

XVII. Major A. L. Long, of the corps of artillery, is relieved from duty in the Department of South Carolina and Georgia, and will report for duty to General R. E. Lee, commanding, in this city.

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By command of the Secretary of War:

R. H. CHILTON,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

[11.]

WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A.,

Richmond, Va., April 28, 1862.

General J. E. JOHNSTON,

Commanding Department of the Peninsula:

GENERAL: You informed me that seven or eight regiments whose time was out have reorganized, and wish to be informed whether they are entitled to their discharge. I think not, unless they were induced to remain and reorganize by promises of a discharge. If a regiment whose time is out, but who have not been mustered out of service, reorganize under the conscription act voluntarily and without being induced to do so by promises of a discharge in a short time, they may be regarded as waiving the right to be discharged, and enrolled subsequently and as volunteering in an existing regiment in conformity with the provisions of the conscript law. Should you lose any part of your command under this decision, it is matter for regret, but is unavoidable. We have heard of the arrival of two cargoes, containing about 9,000 Enfield rifles and 1,000 barrels of powder. We hope to give you an ample supply of ammunition and to send two banded rifled 32-pounders to Yorktown, which may be relied on. They are now nearly complete.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. W. RANDOLPH,

Secretary of War.

[11.]

SPECIAL ORDERS,
ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 98.
Richmond, April 29, 1862.

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XXV. The batteries of Virginia light artillery under Capts. M. Johnston and W. G. Crenshaw will proceed with the least practicable delay to Guiney's Depot, Va., and report for duty to the general commanding the Aquia District.

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By command of the Secretary of War:

John WITHERS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

[12.]

RICHMOND, April 29, 1862.

Honorable G. W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War:

SIR: Some weeks since I called your attention to the fact that there were not enough men at Drewry's Bluff to finish the work as early as