General ELZEY: [Indorsements.] NOVEMBER 27, 1863. Can you not manage to get intelligence through your pickets or scouts? J. A. SEDDON, Secretary. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF RICHMOND, November 28, 1863. My pickets and scouts on this side are unable to pass through the enemy's lines to obtain information of what is going on in their interior. Respectfully, ARNOLD ELZEY, Major-General. NOVEMBER 30, 1863. Noted. They should make every effort and be on the alert. J. A. SEDDON, Secretary. FORT BOYKIN, Isle of Wight County, Va., November 26, 1863. Hon. JAMES A. SEDDON, Secretary of War, Richmond, Va. : HONORABLE SIR: I herewith send you a file of Heralds, from the 12th to the 20th instant. They contain much news of interest as to the general bearing of affairs at the North which may be of interest to you. I send the papers as received regularly to General Elzey, and all other news of interest, &c. You will perceive that the Herald of the 17th instant contains an editorial upon a project freely discussed by the officers about Old Point, viz, advancing by the south side from a point above City Point. Bermuda Hundred, opposite Shirley, is spoken of as the place they purpose landing in order to flank Drewry's Bluff and cut off Petersburg. We have the means of knowing their conversation, and it is faithfully and regularly reported to us. The enemy on Saturday last sent two regiments of infantry and three companies of cavalry from Newport News by transport up the. Nansemond River, to re-enforce their troops in the vicinity of Suffolk. I would respectfully state that this line of communication of theirs could be easily stopped, and effectively, by a few torpedoes judiciously distributed by those competent to set them. They should be so arranged as to go off by concussion; none other would do on account of the width of the river at the place where they should be set to prove effective. General Pickett approves of this plan, and has applied for the means to accomplish his purpose. Butler is enrolling everything in shape of men, black and white. I would respectfully ask to be officially informed if it is General 54 R R-VOL XXIX, PT II Butler's purpose to put to death our scouts caught within his lines, uniformed as soldiers of the Confederacy. My scouts are everywhere in this locality, often visiting Norfolk, Old Point, and Yorktown. Such a threat I deem against the laws of Christian warfare, and not sustained by the laws of war or nations. Would it be intruding too much upon your kindness to have the inquiries made through the proper official channel, that I may govern myself accordingly? It is more than probable from their own talk that they will advance by the Peninsula to a point opposite their intended landing on the south side in order that they be mutually supported by their gun boats. Their talk gives evidence of a deeply laid plan by Foster to capture Richmond, or at least Petersburg, and these officers do not hesitate to say had Foster remained, he would at least have attempted it. It has become particularly hazardous to land on the north side of the James within their lines, owing to the fact of deserters and other evil-disposed persons giving them information of our line of communication. My scouts are active and vigilant, and I most truly hope, with proper prudence, to be able to keep this communication open. Respectfully, your obedient servant, J. F. MILLIGAN, Major, &c. RICHMOND, November 27, 1863. Major-General PICKETT, Petersburg: Send Barton's brigade to Hanover Junction, as first directed today, and bring forward Ransom's brigade, as also instructed this morning. Arrangements will be made to replace. S. COOPER, Assistant and Inspector General. General S. COOPER: PETERSBURG, Barton's brigade leaves here at 5 a. m. to-morrow for Richmond; transportation should be ready there to take it to Hanover Junction. I have ordered Ransom to concentrate at Weldon, leaving two companies at Kinston and two at Hamilton. Should General Whiting be ordered to send some of his forces to Goldsborough or some other point on the railroad, then I could bring Ransom or a portion of his brigade to Petersburg, which is now entirely uncovered. Please send an order to the regiment of Ransom, in Western North Carolina, to return, or let Whiting relieve it. I have ordered Seventeenth Virginia to be ready to move up from Blackwater. GEO. E. PICKETT, Major-General, Commanding. Abstract from field return of the troops commanded by Maj. Gen. George E. Pickett, C. S. Army, November 27, 1863. HDQRS. DEPT. OF WESTERN VA. AND EAST TENN., Hon. A. T. CAPERTON: SIR: I received yesterday your letter of the 26th. I am fully aware of the importance of having additional troops in my department, and especially of having an adequate force to prevent the enemy from penetrating into Botetourt and Rockbridge. I have repeatedly asked for re-enforcements, and shall do so again whenever I think that there is the slightest possibility that they can be procured. At present I regret to say that I can get none. I For reasons not necessary now to mention, I cannot send any more of my own troops to Greenbrier. At this late season of the year do not think the enemy will move into Greenbrier for the purpose of occupying the county, and I hope and believe that we can prevent any raiding party from penetrating into Rockbridge and Botetourt. I shall be glad if you will ascertain and inform me what cavalry committed the depredations you mention on your own property and that at the Red Sweet Springs, that I may have reparation made and the officers commanding punished. SAM. JONES, Major-General. HDQRS. DEPT. OF WESTERN VA. AND EAST TENN., Brig. Gen. JOHN ECHOLS : You note of the 26th instant has been received. It is impossible to send you re-enforcements at present. Colonels Ferguson and Jackson have been directed to receive and obey orders from you, and to report through vou to these headquarters. If the offensive move you contemplate should be made from the Kanawha, you must not make a stand at Lewisburg, but fall back with your infantry and artillery and take position south of Green. brier River at or near the burned bridge, leaving your cavalry to skirmish with the enemy in front of Lewisburg, and, if too heavily pressed, to fall back and join you at the bridge. Meanwhile use every exertion to effectually blockade the road by Alderson's Ferry and any other road by which the enemy can turn your left and penetrate into Monroe. For their own protection the people of Monroe should furnish you the labor needed for this work. If they will do this (and your influence will accomplish it if it can be accomplished at all), the roads can be so obstructed as to delay the enemy a day or so, should he attempt to come in on your left. At this late season I do not think the enemy will enter Greenbrier for the purpose of permanent occupation. They cannot subsist their troops in that country, and before they can draw supplies from the Kanawha the roads will probably be too bad for them to rely on the chances of subsistence from that direction. Should the enemy move on you now, it will be for the purpose of cutting up and dispersing your command. Their late raid shows how reluctantly they venture far into the country. By keeping your troops well in hand in a strong position near the burned bridge, and obstructing the roads already mentioned, should the enemy move with the purpose of penetrating farther than Lewisburg, he will have to fight you in a strong position where, unless my information is at fault, you can resist any force they can send from the Kanawha. Should they attempt to turn your left, the obstructions should delay them long enough to enable you to take a new position, if necessary. Should they attempt to move by Covington, they would have to make a détour by way of Frankford and come down the Antony's Creek road (for they would hardly pass directly by your front, exposing both flanks and rear). If they attempt such a thing, you can move by a much shorter line and stop them between Dry Creek and Callaghan's. SAM. JONES, NOVEMBER 28, 1863. Col. GEORGE JACKSON, Commanding at Magnolia, Kenansville: You will proceed immediately to Kinston, N. C., and assum、 command. The Fiftieth North Carolina Infantry has gone on this morning, with orders to report to you at Kinston. Turn over your command at Kenansville to the next in rank. Instructions will be sent you by mail. By command of Major-General Whiting: T. B. VENABLE, Major, and Assistant Adjutant-General. XIII. Brigadier-General Clingman will proceed with his brigade without delay to North Carolina and replace Brigadier-General Ransom's brigade at Goldsborough and Weldon. The latter brigade, on being relieved, will proceed to Petersburg, Va., and report to MajorGeneral Pickett. Brigadier-General Barton will forthwith proceed with his brigade to Hanover Junction, and hold himself subject to the orders of General Lee. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS, President Confederate States, Richmond, Va.: Mr. PRESIDENT: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th instant, inclosing one from General Bragg. The enemy is in force in my front and I shall necessarily be brief, but will give you the substance of the views which have suggested themselves to me, after much previous reflection, on the subjects referred to by General Bragg. 1. I think it a matter of the first importance that our armies now in the field shall be retained in service and recruited by wise and effectual legislation. This cannot be done too soon. The law should not be open to the charge of partiality, and I do not know how this can be accomplished without embracing the whole population capable of bearing arms, with the most limited exemptions, avoiding anything that would look like a distinction of classes. The exemptions of persons of particular and necessary avocations had better be made as far as possible by authority of the Department rather than by special enactment. I think the general exemption of such persons by law is open to much abuse, and many escape service under color of them who are only nominally within the provisions of the law, and who can be taken into service without prejudice to the necessary productions of the country. I also am of opinion that the skeleton regiments should be consolidated under the authority of the Department when necessary, and the provision should extend to all arms of the service. If possible, some prospective bounty should be provided for the men who have been and will be again retained in service. As to the imperative necessity for retaining them, and adding sufficiently to their numbers to enable them to cope with the enemy, there can be no doubt, and all the constitutional power of Congress should be fully exerted for this purpose. 2. With reference to mounting the cavalry on government horses, I should be glad if it could be accomplished, but do not see how the |