[Fourth indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS,
Meridian, Miss., June 3, 1864.

Respectfully returned, with the information that the state of affairs in Jones, Covington, and the adjoining counties has been entirely changed. Deserters and absentees have, by the energetic measures of Lieutenant-General Polk, almost entirely disappeared, and more than 1,000 have been returned to their command.

For Major-General Lee:

P. ELLIS, JR.,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

Abstract from return of the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana, Lieutenant General Leonidas Polk, C. S. Army, commanding, March 31, 1864.

Present for duty.

Command. Officers. Men. Effective

total present

General

headquarters:

Staff and escort 14 45 45

Engineer troops 16 101 101

Total 30 146 146

Loring's division:

Infantry 347 3,975 3,927

Artillery 23 460 444

Total 370 4,436 4,371

French's division:

Infantry 239 2,170 2,147

Artillery 11 168 159

Total 250 2,338 2,306

Cavalry (Lee's) 652 7,685 7,611

Posts:

Cahaba 37 254 254

Demopolis 25 155 155

Selma 22 174 174

Total 84 583 583

Paroled and 32 213 207

exchanged

prisoners

Grand total a 1,418 15,401 15,224

Continuation:

Command. Aggregate Aggregate Pieces of

present. present and artillery.

absent.

General

headquarters:

Staff and escort 70 106 ---

Engineer troops 135 179 ---

Total 205 285 ---

Loring's division:

Infantry 4,977 9,355 ---

Artillery 544 865 18

Total 5,521 10,220 18

French's division:

Infantry 2,845 4,921 ---

Artillery 189 272 8

Total 3,034 5,193 8

Cavalry (Lee's) 9,981 16,640 ---

Posts:

Cahaba 351 501 ---

Demopolis 189 241 ---

Selma 216 262 ---

Total 756 1,004 ---

Paroled and 268 588 ---

exchanged

prisoners

Grand total a 19,765 33,930 26

a Forrest's cavalry and Withers' command (Alabama reserves) not accounted for.

NAVAL COMMANDANT'S OFFICE,

Mobile, Ala., April 1, 1864.

Lieutenant General L. POLK, C. S. A.,

Headquarters, Demopolis, Ala.:

GENERAL: I have the honor to forward to you, by Acting Master J. W. McCarrick, C. S. Navy, the inclosed copies of communications from the honorable Secretaries of War and Navy.