physically able then hurry with his blanket to Wilmington, where arms and rations will be furnished, and let those left behind mount themselves and patrol their counties, looking after the women and children and preserving order. Your Governor will meet you at the front and will share with you the worst.

Given under my hand and the Great seal of the State. Done at our city of Raleigh on December 20, 1864.

[L. S.] ZEBULON B. VANCE.

By the Governor:

M. S. ROBINS,

Private Secretary.

Abstract from field return of the Army of Northern Virginia, General Robert E. Lee commanding, for December 20, 1864.

Present for duty.

Command. Officers. Men. Aggregate Aggregate

present. present

and

absent.

First Army

Corps

(Longstreet):

Staff 15 ........... 15 17

Pickett's 469 6,365 8,098 12,113

division

Field's 443 4,576 6,176 11,789

division

Hoke's 416 5,517 6,557 11,929

division

Kershaw's 329 3,552 4,694 10,846

division

Total 1,627 20,010 25,540 46,694

Second

Army Corps

(Gordon):

Rodes' 216 3,056 4,124 12,576

division

Early's 164 2,406 3,055 8,281

division

Gordon's 211 2,717 3,462 13,158

division

Total 591 8,179 10,641 34,015

Third Army

Corps

(Hill):

Staff 19 ........... 19 20

Mahone's 398 4,544 6,205 12,836

division

Heth's 403 4,905 6,199 12,590

division

Wilcox's 426 5,825 7,277 11,908

division

Total 1,246 15,274 19,700 37,354

Lieutenant

General

R. H.

Anderson's

corps:

Johnson's 529 6,692 8,191 13,226

division

Cavalry

Corps

(Hampton):

Staff 11 ........... 11 16

Hampton's 160 2,431 3,463 7,948

division

W. H. F. 178 3,529 4,424 6,560

Lee's

division

Horse 3 109 120 145

Artillery

Total 352 6,132 8,018 14,669

Artillery

Corps

(Pendleton):

Staff 5 7 12 12

First Army 95 2,197 2,539 3,283

Corps

Third Army 127 2,030 2,450 3,406

Corps

Anderson's 62 956 1,178 1,658

corps

Total 289 5,190 6,179 8,359

First 100 520 725 1,057

Military

District

(Wise)

Provost 22 239 311 385

Guard

(Bridgford)

Grand 4,801 62,236 79,305 155,759

total