some time at least, with the Federal authorities in New Orleans. He is the first citizen I have interfered with, and have postponed action a long time, from unwillingness to adopt any harsh steps.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. TAYLOR,

Major-General.

HOUSTON, January 31, 1864.

Major General RICHARD TAYLOR,

Commanding, &c.:

GENERAL: I have recently received information that there are six iron-clad double-turret gun-boats building in Saint Louis, for the purpose of operating on the coast of Texas. You may have possibly received some information in regard to them, and if such should be the case, I desire that you will communicate it to me at once.

I have the honor to request also to be informed of the number of iron-clad boats the enemy had or have now on the Mississippi River, and where they are or were at last accounts, and whether any of them would be able to come out of the Mississippi to the coast of Texas. General Smith is now here, and I desire that you will give me what information you possess on this subject as soon as possible.

Very respectfully, &c.,

J. B. MAGRUDER,

Major-General, Commanding.

Abstract from return of the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, Major General John B. Magruder commanding, for the month of January, 1864; headquarters Houston, Tex.

Present for duty

Command Officers Men Aggregate present

District staff 15 ...... 15

Western Sub-District, 10 ...... 10

Brigadier General

Hamilton P. Bee and

staff

Eastern Sub-District, 10 ....... 10

Brigadier General

James E. Slughter and

staff

Northern Sub-District, 4 ....... 4

Brigadier General

Henry E. McCulloch and

staff

Camp near

San Bernard 92 1,267 1,729

Mouth of Caney 105 1,504 1,903

Cedar Lake 103 1,386 1,825

Perry's Landing 29 283 361

Velasco 62 834 1,024

Galveston Island 88 1,634 2,122

Virginia Point 167 1,941 2,445

Victoria 25 355 484

Sabine Pass 52 861 1,172

San Antonio 7 106 135

Staff officers not 72 ....... 72

included in general

staff

Grand total 841 10,171 13,311

Pieces of artillery

Command Aggregate present and Heavy Field

absent

District staff 17 ..... .....

Western Sub-District, 16 ..... .....

Brigadier General

Hamilton P. Bee and

staff

Eastern Sub-District, 10 ..... .....

Brigadier General

James E. Slughter and

staff

Northern Sub-District, 4 ..... .....

Brigadier General

Henry E. McCulloch and

staff

Camp near

San Bernard 2,729 ..... .....

Mouth of Caney 2,258 ..... 4

Cedar Lake 2,301 ..... 16

Perry's Landing 645 ..... .....

Velasco 1,244 7 8

Galveston Island 2,639 35 4

Virginia Point 5,181 ..... 4

Victoria 652 ..... 4

Sabine Pass 1,628 ..... 6

San Antonio 202 ..... .....

Staff officers not 74 ..... .....

included in general

staff

Grand total 19,068 42 46