can succeed. Captain John W. Rankin, of Keokuk, also desires to raise a regiment. You know him. He is now a captain by your appointment in the Quartermaster's Department. Will you be kind enough to inform me at your earliest convenience in regard to all these matters?

Very respectfully, yours,

SAMUEL J. KIRKWOOD.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NEW ENGLAND,
Boston, November 10, 1861.

Consolidated return of the U. S. troops now within the Department of New England, November 10, 1861.

Present for duty.

Officers. Men. Sick.

17th U. S. Infantry, at 19 226 10

Fort Preble, Me.

26th Massachusetts, at 32 851 26

Camp Chase, Lowell,

Mass.

7th Connecticut, at Camp 32 643 23

Chase, Lowell, Mass.

Unattached at Camp 14 748 35

Chase, Lowell, Mass.

12th Maine, at Portland, 24 719 15

Me.

Absent.

With Without Total. Aggregate

leave. leave. .

17th U. S. 7 2 9 264

Infantry, at

Fort Preble,

Me.

26th 32 53 85 994

Massachusetts,

at Camp Chase,

Lowell, Mass.

7th 3 22 25 722

Connecticut,

at Camp Chase,

Lowell, Mass.

Unattached at 47 75 122 913

Camp Chase,

Lowell, Mass.

12th Maine, at 24 10 34 799

Portland, Me.

3.692

All of the above troops, with the exception of the Seventeenth Regular Infantry, are attached to General Butler's New England division. Besides these, another regiment is being organized for that division at Camp Seward, Pittsfield, Mass., one regiment at Hartford, Conn., and one regiment at Montpelier, Vt., no portion of the three last named having been mustered into the U. S. service - not being organized.

The adjutant-general of each New England State has been requested to send to these headquarters returns of such volunteers, already mustered in the service of the United States, as have not yet left for the seat of war. Such returns have not as yet been received. They will include, among others, about 400 men at Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, and the Massachusetts cavalry regiment, now full.

By order of Major-General Butler:

GEORGE C. STRONG,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

General L. THOMAS,

Adjutant-General U. S. Army.

ENGINEER DEPARTMENT,

Washington, November 11, 1861.

Honorable SECRETARY OF WAR:

SIR: On the subject of the communication of His Excellency the Governor of the State of Maine, touching the defenses of the coast of that State, referred to this office, I have the honor to make the following report in part:

No doubt is entertained of the propriety under ordinary circumstances of supplying and mounting the armament of our forts as fast as they are prepared for it. In the present condition of affairs this