We are going to construct a large bridge on the Occoquan at Bland's Ford; already a small one for infantry is being built there, and will be finished in two or three days. I will discuss the whole subject of your letter with General Johnston as soon as practicable, and he will send you instructions for your guidance. The above are only my own personal views. Hon. J. P. BENJAMIN, Acting Secretary of War: SIR: I had the honor to-day to receive your letter of the 7th instant, in which you write: I had not the most remote idea that you expected aid from Mr. Hunter or from this department in relation to winter quarters for the troops, nor can I conceive upon what basis you entertained such expectation, [and] I find it impossible to account for your long delay in noticing my letter of the 13th ultimo and your failure to exhibit any sign of uneasiness at the non-appearance of the saw-mills or workmen you expected to furnish the lumber. I think that my letter of the 2d instant, to which you refer, shows upon what basis I entertained the expectation in question, and that your letter of the 13th ultimo and my conversation with your agent who delivered it to me account for my failure to exhibit any sign of uneasiness at the non-appearance of the saw-mills or workmen. As to delay in noticing your letter, it merely accredited your agent. It seemed to me to require from one confident in your agent no other notice than assurance to him of such aid, at the proper time, as you required for him. You informed me in your letter of October 13 that you had employed two gentlemen-one of whom, Mr. Hunter, delivered the letter-to build huts for this army-and that they would explain the plan proposed, for which my co-operation was asked especially. I was to determine the locality and lines where the huts were to be built. Mr. Hunter made the explanation, and was told that the locality could not then be indicated, but that the lumber might be sawed anywhere in rear of Manassas near the railroads, and we parted with the clear understanding on my part that he would have his mills (ten) in operation about the 25th. He was desirous to consult General Beauregard, who had considered the subject, in regard to the plan of the huts, and I saw him no more. But then, as now, believing him to be perfectly reliable, I did not become uneasy until nearly a week after the period fixed upon by Mr. Hunter, and then wrote to the Acting Secretary on the subject. Most respectfully, your obedient servant, J. E. JOHNSTON, General. P. S.-The laborers promised in your letter of the 13th October have not been heard of. CAMP, MEADOW BLUFF, November 13, 1861. To the SECRETARY OF WAR, Confederate States: SIR: This position is one of the most important in the State. Here, or in the immediate vicinity, unite the only good roads to the ferries of the New and Gauley Rivers and to the great valley of the Kanawha. It is 15 miles to the west of Lewisburg. The surrounding country abounds in supplies for the commissariat. Wood and coal may be supplied in abundance, and water enough for a large army, by making suitable improvements. With proper attention to drainage and with wellconstructed quarters the garrison would be healthy, while a great majority of the people are loyal and true to the Southern Confederacy. The occupation of this post in sufficient force will insure the safety of Lewisburg and the adjacent regions of fertile country and the communications leading thereto, while the enemy would be prevented from making inroads this side of Gauley River, beyond which there is far less loyalty, if sympathy with the North does not actually preponderate. Our forces were, under General Lee, necessarily compelled to fall back to this point by reason of the bad roads. No effective operations can be conducted from this point westward for the reason just stated, transportation except by pack-mules being impossible; while the enemy's communications by land are better than ours, besides his facilities of water transportation. An advance force of at least 1,500 men would be required to hold this point, in view of the present attitude and number of the enemy. Three or five thousand more should be within supporting distance, for whom a good position can be had a few miles east of this place. To provision 7,000 or 8,000 men in this vicinity would be very difficult in the present condition of the roads-to do so a few miles west of this, during the winter, well-nigh impossible. To make a successful advance towards the Kanawha Valley or Summersville with a sufficient force while the roads are in their present condition is out of the question. It is absolutely necessary to construct good roads. The best material in this region for that purpose is plank. A steam saw-mill suitably located would soon prepare material for putting our communications on a footing nearly equal to those of the enemy. The improvements contemplated would assist materially in establishing the wavering confidence of the community, and I venture to say would not cost as much as the teams, which must be worn out if they are not made. Besides, rapid and successful forward movements of our troops will then soon become possible, and the struggle soon transferred from this region to the banks of the Ohio. Hoping that this may meet your approbation, I am, very truly, your obedient servant, SPECIAL ORDERS, J. LUCIUS DAVIS, Colonel, Commanding at Meadow Bluff. HEADQUARTERS AQUIA DISTRICT, November 13, 1861. I. Brig. Gen. Samuel G. French, having reported for duty in this district, will, in compliance with special orders from the War Department (No. 210), proceed to Evansport and relieve Brig. Gen. I. R. Trimble, in command of the batteries and defenses of that vicinity. II. After having been relieved by General French, General I. R. Trimble will repair to the station which has been assigned to him by the or ders of the War Department. By order of Maj. Gen. T. H. Holmes: D. H. MAURY, Assistant Adjutant-General. RICHMOND, November 13, 1861. General JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON, Centreville: The road to Manassas is so encumbered with transportation of supplies that in order to prevent further delay I am compelled to order up to your army three or four regiments by way of Fredericksburg. Please send orders to them there. I have ordered two regiments from Staunton to your re-enforcement, and they will leave Staunton to-morrow or day after. General Jackson is urging me to send him an engineer, and I have not one at my command. Have you one that you can possibly spare him? J. P. BENJAMIN, Acting Secretary of War. CENTREVILLE, November 14, 1861. Hon. J. P. BENJAMIN : Send all the troops you can, and as soon as possible. The Fredericksburg route is good. We have but one engineer officer, who is sick. We require more. J. E. JOHNSTON, General. HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS, November 14, 1861. Brig. Gen. W. H. C. WHITING, Commanding near Dumfries: DEAR WHITING: We are still waiting the movements of McClellan; but for some time past have been giving more and more attention and thought towards your side than to our front or left flank. Beauregard told me last night that he would suggest to Alexander to practice daily the signal telegraph with you. It is becoming all-important that we have prompt communication. At my suggestion orders have been issued for the making of temporary bridges across the Occoquan. The formation of a reserve for the army has reduced my command here to three brigades. Jackson's went to the valley of Virginia. Elzey's and Crittenden's were put in the reserve; by the way, Crittenden has been appointed major-general, and goes to Cumberland Gap, in Kentucky. I have Sam. Jones, Toombs, and Wilcox here, and your command detached, forming the Second Corps, including Field's cavalry. I am on the wrong flank for prompt movement in your direction, but rely upon it, old fellow, that if they put overpowering numbers against you, I shall give you all the assistance in my power. We are in good condition considering all the drawbacks to which we are constantly subject. My men will move with a will in going to your support. Allston is here, has taken hold in earnest, and is a great addition to the command. He signed a report yesterday, "Ben. Allston, major, &c., commanding regiment." So you see he is not entirely weaned from you yet. I sent you the papers the other day and send two this morning. Give my regards to Hill, Wigfall, and other friends. Your brother, Randal, Allston, and others send kind regards to yourself. Write as often as you can. As ever, your friend, G. W. [SMITH.] ADJT. AND INSP. GEN.'S OFFICE, SPECIAL ORDERS, XIV. The Fourteenth Regiment Georgia Volunteers, Colonel [A. V.] Brumly commanding, and the Sixteenth Regiment North Carolina Vol. unteers, Colonel [S.] Lee commanding, now at Staunton, will proceed by march to Mount Jackson, thence by railroad via Strasburg to Manassas, to report to General J. E. Johnston. The next two regiments arriving at Staunton from General Loring's command will proceed by march to Winchester, and report to Major-General Jackson. Commanding Department of Northern Virginia: SIR: I am directed by the President to inform you that after delib eration he has concluded to yield to your suggestions on the subject of assigning the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac to one of the divis ions, and that he will accordingly leave the cavalry, like the artillery, to be distributed by you amongst the several divisions or used in such other manner as to you shall seem most effective. The new organizations into brigades and divisions, rendered necessary in order to assign to General Van Dorn a command suitable to his rank, have also been determined by the President, and will be commuicated to you by the Adjutant-General. In order to supply the brigadier-generals rendered necessary by recent changes, the President has also made the following provisions: 1st. He has directed that Brigadier-General Trimble be assigned to the command left vacant by the promotion of Brigadier-General Crittenden. 2d. That William M. Gardner be promoted to the grade of brigadiergeneral, and assigned to the command of Brig. Gen. W. H. T. Walker, resigned. As General Gardner will be confined for some time to come by his wound, the President has sent to you Brig. Gen. Richard Garnett, to be assigned by you to such duty as you may deem proper until a brigade is formed for him. 3d. In order to supply a brigadier-general to assist Major-General Jackson in the Valley District of your department, the President directs that one of the four brigadier-generals from Virginia, assigned by General Orders, No. 15, of 22d ultimo, to the four Virginia brigades, be selected by you, to be sent to command the brigade of Virginia regiments now in the Valley District. Your obedient servant, J. P. BENJAMIN, Acting Secretary of War. RICHMOND, November 15, 1861. General JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON, Centreville: The Fourteenth Alabama Regiment, Colonel Judge, left here yesterday for Fredericksburg and Manassas. It will require arms. I tele graphed General Holmes to-day to halt it near Dumfries. A regiment left to-day by Central; another will leave on the 18th by Central road, and one on the 16th and one on the 17th by Fredericksburg, all unarmed. A North Carolina regiment from Loring's command, armed, left Staunton yesterday for Manassas by Central and Orange road. S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General. WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A., Brig. Gen. JOHN B. FLOYD, Commanding Army of Kanawha: SIR: I have hitherto refrained from replying to your several letters in relation to your proposed movements during the coming winter, because it was necessary first to ascertain what force would be under your command, and whether such force could reasonably be expected to succeed in any offensive operation. I have at last succeeded in sending to your aid three fine regiments, that will be with you before your receipt of this letter, one under Colonel Starke, and two Tennessee regiments under Brigadier-General Donelson. With this force the President is satisfied you ought to be able to hold your position at Cotton Mountain, and he hopes you will not fail to do so, as it is very obvious that on your abandonment of so important a point the enemy, now taught by experience, will not fail to seize it. Hardships and exposure will undoubtedly be suffered by our troops, but this is war, and we cannot hope to conquer our liberties or secure our rights by ease and comfort. We cannot believe that our gallant and determined citizen soldiers will shrink from a campaign the result of which must be to drive the enemy outside of our borders and to secure for us the possession of a valley of such vast importance as that of the Kanawha at the present critical juncture. I therefore hope that you will not feel compelled to abandon Cotton Mountain in order to fall back on Raleigh Court-House, or any other point, until you have forced the enemy to abandon their camp at the junction of the Gauley and Kanawha. I have sent you a rifled twelve-pounder within the last few days, and will send you another in a few days more. I am very sorry we have no 24-pounder howitzers. Do your best to keep your road to Newbern in transitable order, and supplies shall not fail you. I am, your obedient servant, J. P. BENJAMIN, Acting Secretary of War. HEADQUARTERS, Centreville, November 16, 1861. Hon. J. P. BENJAMIN, Acting Secretary of War: SIR: I respectfully inclose herewith copies of two letters just received from Brigadier-General Whiting. This officer, with his own brigade and three Texan regiments of Wigfall's brigade, is in the neighborhood of Dumfries. I have directed that the three new regiments shall be added to this force-those coming via Fredericksburg. My object in laying these letters before you is to show the importance of additional re-enforcements to enable Brigadier-General Whiting to defeat such attempts of the enemy as he expects. If you have any |