Carolina without protection. Without the protection of the cavalry the finest provision region in the State can be desolated by the enemy in a few days. It is not to be thought of for a moment, and I earnestly protest against it. If it is not the intention of the President to protect us we must protect ourselves. Major Evans will speak more particularly.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

Z. B. VANCE.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE,

Richmond, Va., September 29, 1862.

Colonel J. R. DAVIS,

Aide-de-Camp, Richmond, Va.:

COLONEL: You will proceed to Petersburg, Va., and confer with General French respecting the general condition of his command, and especially as to the number, organization, and efficiency of the partisan troops serving, or being proposed for service, in that district; also as to the number, position, and movements of the enemy in the country on the south side of the James River and eastern coast of North Carolina. Should it be requisite you will visit the encampments of the partisans and the camp of instruction near to Raleigh; but it is desired that you should return by or before Thursday next.

Very respectfully, yours,

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

Abstract from Return of the Department South of James River, commanded by Brigadier General S. G. French, for September, 1862.

Present for duty.

Aggrega-

Command. Officers Men. Aggregate the pre-

present. sent and

absent.

Petersburg, Va.:

Brigadier General 158 3,021 3,821 4,519

J. J. Pettigrew,

brigade

Captain J. F. 4 110 122 125

Milli

gan, Signal Corps

Captain S. T. 1 39 49 123

Wright

artillery.

District of North

Carolina, 177 2,854 3,721 4,327

Brigadier

General J. G.

Martin.

Franklin,

Va., Colonel

50 918 1,110 1,390

J. K. Marshall,

two regiments and

two sections of

artillery.

Port Walthall,

Captain Sturdivant 3 64 79 96

artillery.

Fort

Clifton, Captain 8 238 285 343

J. C. Coit, infan

try and artillery.

Richmond turnpike,

Captain Murchison, 2 30 96 105

cavalry.

Prince George

Court-House, 4 66 79 81

Captain

D. Bell, cavalry.

Total. 407 7,340 9,362 11,109

Wilmington, N. C.,

Brigadier General 222 3,559 4,921 5,595

G. J.

Rains, District of

the Cape Fear.

Grand total. 629 10,899 14,283 16,704

CONTINUATION:

Artillery.

Horses se Horses un

Command. rviceable servicea Heavy. Field.

ble.

Petersburg, Va.:

Brigadier General

--------

--------

--------

-------

J. J. Pettigrew,

brigade

Captain J. F.

--------

--------

--------

-------

Milli

gan, Signal Corps

Captain S. T. 43 2

--------

13

Wright

artillery.

District of North

Carolina,

--------

--------

--------

-------

Brigadier

General J. G.

Martin.

Franklin,

Va., Colonel

--------

--------

--------

-------

J. K. Marshall,

two regiments and

two sections of

artillery.

Port Walthall,

Captain Sturdivant 56

--------

--------

4

artillery.

Fort

Clifton, Captain 96 1

--------

6

J. C. Coit, infan

try and artillery.

Richmond turnpike,

Captain Murchison, 102 3

--------

-------

cavalry.

Prince George

Court-House,

--------

--------

--------

-------

Captain

D. Bell, cavalry.

Total. 297 6

--------

23

Wilmington, N. C.,

Brigadier General 252 16 55 10

G. J.

Rains, District of

the Cape Fear.

Grand total. 549 22 55 33