Today in History:

274 Series I Volume LIII- Serial 111 - Supplements

Page 274 S. C., S. GA., MID. & E. FLA., & WEST. N. C. Chapter LXV.

STATE OF Georgia, ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE, Milledgeville, January 13, 1863.

General G. T. BEAUREGARD,

Commanding. &c., Charleston:

GENERAL: In the absence of the Governor I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th instant* advising His Excellency of the assembling of a heavy force of the enemy at New Berne, N. C., of the probability of its ultimate descent upon our coast, and, in consequence, of the necessity of holding in readiness all the available defensive resources of this State. Your letter will be submitted to His Excellency immediately on his return, but in the meantime I can assure you that whatever the State can do to assist in repelling invasion will be done. Our resources now, however, are but limited, and we shall be able to add only two regiments of State troops armed to the Confederate forces. What remains of the militia may be armed with pikes and knives, or such shotguns as they can pick up. Our heavy ordnance, field artillery and small-arms, with the most of our ammunition and ordnance stores, were turned over to the Confederacy last April. We might add in an emergency a few thousand men had we arms for them. Can you supply us with muskets or rifles? Georgia has indeed stripped herself of her men and munitions of war for the general cause, and there is within the State now but little left, general, for you to rely upon. It is proper that vou should understand our condition fully, that you may make your calculations accordingly.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

HENRY C. WAYNE,

Adjutant and Inspector General.

[14.]

SAVANNAH, January 16, 1863.

Brigadier General THOMAS JORDAN,

Chief of Staff, Charleston:

GENERAL: I respectfully offer the following memorandum on the resources in Georgia for maintaining the troops of this department, more especially those in the Military District of Georgia, and on the great advantage of making a railroad connection with the grain and cattle country of Florida, and inclose a small map showing the available and non-vailable sections. I am prompted to invite your consideration to this from the report of the chief commissary of Georgia that our supply of fresh beef will be exhausted in less than two months, and our troops thrown back on 'slender supplies" of bacon. A full report from him on the whole subsistence question will be sent you. A review of the Confederacy would show that Georgia and Florida are the only States east of the Mississippi with important supplies to spare, and that the already heavy calls upon the former from the troops to the north and east of her is likely to increase. The grain crop of all Northern Georgia was generally very poor, only sufficient to last the people until newt crop. A portion of Western and Middle Georgia, which is penetrated by the railroads radiating from Atlanta, will send their surplus to that city and on to Bragg's army. The portion near Augusta will send its spare supplies to South Carolina. The troops of this military district must therefore rely almost entirely on that section

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*See Beauregard to Bonham, VOL. XIV, p.743, copy of which was probably sent to Brown.

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Page 274 S. C., S. GA., MID. & E. FLA., & WEST. N. C. Chapter LXV.