In casting around for the means of avoiding the effect of this restriction, he finds another clause of the impressment law reposes in commanders in the field the discretion of unlimited impressment when necessity requires, and believing, as he insists, that such necessity is actually existing, he wishes what was intended as a power for casual exercise should be brought into general and immediate operation. Considering that the discretion was reposed by law in the generals commanding to be determined on their convictions of the necessity existing, I have not felt at liberty to prohibit the Commissary General from presenting his view of such necessity and suggesting the exercise of the discretionary power referred to. At the same time I have declined myself to command, or even recommend to the generals in the field, the general use of the unlimited power of impressment given them by the law. I do not wonder at the reluctance which is felt by you to the employment of such summary means, and I certainly think they should be foreborne unless upon information possessed by yourself or communicated by officers of the commissariat, who have ampler means of judgment than I can possess, your conviction of the necessity should make it imperative. Impressment as a mode of supply for the army, even with the restrictions imposed upon the Department, is unequal and odious, and I shall earnestly urge at the approaching session of Congress the expediency of adopting other modes of supply, or of so tempering and regulating this as to make it less harsh and more equal in its operation. Yours, with esteem, J. A. SEDDON. HDQRS. ARTY. CORPS, ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, General R. E. LEE, Commanding, &c.: November 20, 1863. GENERAL: In obedience to your instructions I have carefully reconsidered all the recommendations for promotion in the artillery service with this army, availing myself of the matured counsels of General Long, chief of artillery, Second Corps, and Colonel Walker, chief of artillery, Third Corps, and of General Stuart for the batteries serving with the cavalry. The result I have now the honor to report. The legitimate armament of batteries actually in the field with the army, including those attached to the First Corps and those with the cavalry, amounts to 276 guns. At present there is a deficiency of guns in some of the batteries, owing to the fact that Napoleons have not been supplied in sufficient numbers to replace all the 6-pounders and howitzers turned in to be recast, and the additional fact that casualties in action and the wear and tear of service have deprived us at this juncture of some pieces and teams, for the replacing of which arrangements are in progress. The existing incomplete number thus produced is 244. As all the elements of our organization, companies, battalions, and corps groups, are based upon the legitimate number expected to be restored as soon as practicable, it is believed to be the proper standard by which to adjust our legal proportion of field officers. This num ber entitles us, under the law, to 3 brigadier-generals, 7 colonels, 11 lieutenant-colonels, and 17 majors. We now have on our rolls 2 brigadier-generals, 6 colonels, & lieutenant-colonels, and 17 majors, viz: W. N. Pendleton and A. L. Long, brigadier-generals; S. Crutchfield, J. B. Walton, J. T. Brown, H. C. Cabell, R. L. Walker, and E. P. Alexander, colonels; A. S. Cutts, R. S. Andrews, Thomas H. Carter, H. P. Jones, W. Nelson, and John J. Garnett, lieutenantcolonels; Charles Richardson, B. F. Eshleman, S. P. Hamilton, R. F. Beckham, James Dearing, T. J. Page, jr., W. J. Pegram, D. G. McIntosh, W. T. Poague, Č. M. Braxton, R. A. Hardaway, J. B. Brockenbrough, John Lane, F. Huger, John C. Haskell, J. P. W. Read, James Reilly, majors. Of the colonels, Crutchfield is understood to be so far disabled for active field service, by the effects of a severe wound received at Chancellorsville, that it is due equally to the service and to himself that he be assigned to some position better adapted to his physical condition. His eminent merit and services deserve reward. General Jackson desired him to be made brigadier-general of artillery and to continue in his post of chief of artillery for the Second Corps. This, by General Jackson's death and his own protracted disability, seems to be now precluded, but it is hoped a congenial and useful position may be assigned him in connection with the defense of Richmond, or with some other department of home defense. Colonel Walton is also a meritorious officer for whom some other sphere of duty seems required, in justice to the service and to himself. His junior colonel, Alexander, is believed to be better adapted to promote the efficiency of the artillery with the First Corps as its chief, and he must therefore be recommended for promotion to that position. In this event, however, it is understood Colonel Walton prefers duty elsewhere, Mobile being mentioned as the locality most agreeable to him. It is hoped the interests of the service may admit of his being thus accommodated. Colonel Čabell is another estimable officer whom it is best to transfer to another position. His worth as a gentleman, his patriotism as a citizen, and his gallantry as a soldier deserve honorable mention, but it is believed he could render better service in a command requiring less prompt activity than that he now holds. It is therefore respectfully recommended that he be transferred, by exchange with Lieutenant-Colonel Lightfoot, to command the battalion of field artillery at Richmond, now under charge of Lieutenant-Colonel Lightfoot, and that the latter be assigned to the command of the battalion with this army of which Colonel Cabell has had charge. Of the lieutenant-colonels, Andrews, a most gallant and distinguished officer, ought, in duty to the cause and to himself, to be relieved from field exposure and employed in less trying service, that he may recover from the threatening consequences of a dangerous wound received at Cedar Run, nearly eighteen months ago. He is admirably adapted to usefulness in the Ordnance Department, and it is hoped a position therein may be assigned him with an additional grade. Were it really proper for him to remain in the field, seniority and merit would together place him first on our list of lieutenant-colonels for promotion. Lieutenant-Colonel Garnett may with advantage to the service be relieved of his command and assigned to other duty. He has proved less efficient in the field than was expected of so well trained and capable a soldier. It is believed he can be more useful on conscript service than in his present position. Such change for him is therefore respectfully recommended. Of the majors, Brockenbrough, entitled to praise for extended and good service, is disabled, and will probably long so continue, by the lingering effects of a wound received at Fredericksburg last December. He ought to be relieved of responsible connection with this army and assigned some post of comparatively light duty. To fill the vacancies thus occurring and others now existing, I respectfully recommend, on the testimonials of other commanders, as well as on my own judgment, the following promotions, viz: Col. E. P. Alexander, to be brigadier-general and chief of artillery, First Corps; Lieutenant-Colonels Carter, Jones, and Cutts, to be colonels; Majors Dearing, Eshleman, Huger, Braxton, Pegram, McIntosh, Poague, Beckham, Hardaway, and Richardson, to be lieutenant-colonels, and Captains Cutshaw, Jordan, Miller, Stribling, Raine, R. C. M. Page, Watson, McGraw, M. Johnson, Ward, Maurin, Moorman, Chew, and Breathed, to be majors. Our list of assignments will then stand: FIRST CORPS. E. P. ALEXANDER, Brigadier-General, and Chief of Artillery. Lieut. Col. F. Huger, South Carolina. Major Jordan, Virginia...... Major Read, Georgia... Lieutenant-Colonel Eshleman, Major Miller, Louisiana.. Huger's Battalion. Beckham's Battalion, Eshleman's Battalion. Lieutenant-Colonel Lightfoot, Lightfoot's Battalion Major Hamilton, Georgia..... Col. Jones. Major Haskell, South Carolina Haskell's Battalion. SECOND CORPS. A. L. LONG, Brigadier-General. Maj. R. C. M. Page, Major Moorman, Virginiania Page's Battalion Major Cutshaw, Virginia. Major Raine, Virginia..... ...... Major Watson, Virginia... Maj. T. J. Page, jr., Virginia. Cutshaw's Battalion. Col. Carter, Braxton's Battalion. Hardaway's Battal- Nelson's Battalion .. Virginia. Col. Brown, THIRD CORPS. R. L. WALKER, Colonel, and Chief of Artillery. In this schedule will be noticed 2 colonels less and 1 lieutenantcolonel and 3 majors more than the literal legal ratio, an exchange deemed allowable, as 2 colonels are on the numerical scale of the law more than equivalent to a lieutenant-colonel and 3 majors, and these are needed, as the schedule shows, for the best organization. General Long wishes his battalion grouped as above under Colonels Carter and Brown. I concur with him in deeming it a good arrangement, and have provided similarly for the two reserve battalions, First Corps, on this line, under Colonel Jones. The best men are believed to be herein presented in each case; at the same time the fairest distribution practicable is made of promotions in the corps, respectively, and among the several States. From the First Corps, including a brigadier-general, there are 7 promotions; from the Second, 8; from the Third, 9, and from the Horse Artillery, 4. These promotions are much needed and it is believed they will .greatly benefit the artillery service; encouragement to this arm has not been, as it should be, commensurate with that in the others. Even with the recommendations now submitted, the number of artillery field officers will be only about three-fourths of those belonging to three brigades of cavalry, or infantry having anything like the number of men, companies, &c., constituting the artillery. I have the honor to be, general, respectfully, your obedient serv ant, W. N. PENDLETON; Brigadier-General, and Chief of Artillery. Lieut. Col. W. LE ROY BROWN, ORDNANCE OFFICE, Dublin Depot, November 21, 1863. Commanding Arsenal: COLONEL: In compliance with circular of March 31 and July 8, 1863, from Ordnance Bureau, I have the honor to report the number of troops in this department, as follows: T. M. BOWYER, Major, Chief Ord. Officer, Dept. W. Va. and East Tenn. BUREAU OF SUBSISTENCE, C. S. A., General R. E. LEE, Commanding: GENERAL: Your letter of the 19th instant to the Secretary of War has by him been placed in my hands. Your general views that the application of the impressment laws should be equal, and proportionate to the amount of each man's production and necessities, should be gentle and regular, and not dependent on the caprice or will of the impressing agent, must commend themselves to the mind of every just and reasonable man. Nothing to the contrary was implied in my late communication to you. You have not appreciated my presentation of the existing state of things, because you have connected its consideration with the principle of Orders Nos. 31 [March 19, 1863] and 144 [November 6, 1863], so far as pertaining to these things, which imply that there is enough in the country for full supply both for the people and army. As that basis does not exist, no inferential reasoning from these orders are of moment. There are two classes of impressment, one to meet exigencies of armies in the field, of such character as to make impressments absolutely necessary for its subsistence; second, when the Secretary of War shall be of opinion, &c. See section 4 of General Orders, No. 37 [April 6, 1863]. The first section overrides all exemptions, and secures the property. The second class is so crippled as to leave the army only the surplus, after everybody has secured one year's supply. This process has been elaborated in Major Noland's letter, and has frequently been set forth to the War Department. There being no surplus, but actual deficiency, and there being no penalty attached to a refusal to hold impressed property, or against selling to another for higher prices, impressments under section No. 4 can accomplish but little. I consider that the exigency contemplated in section No. 1 is really in every army on this side of the Mississippi. Your proposition that the Secretary of War should issue appropriate directions to the generals commanding is beyond his power, and he has no resource in case of non-acquiescence on the part of the people. Section 1 gives legality to the physical power in the |