from seventeen to fifty being now considered as belonging to the Confederacy, I write to urge upon your Department the property of stationing in that region of country a force of not less than six or eight mounted infantry companies and a battery of light artillery for the protection of that section, in which most of the factories and iron works of the State are situated. I invite your earliest attention to this matter.

Yours, very respectfully,

M. L. BONHAM.

[Indorsement.]

MARCH 10, 1864.

I trust the contingency will not arrise.

J. A. S.,

Secretary.

[35.]

HDQRS. DEPT. OF S. CAROLINA, Georgia, AND FLORIDA, Charleston, S. C., March 19, 1864.

General G. T. BEAUREGARD:

GENERAL: I wrote on the 4th instant* to General Cooper, declining the position tendered until the promise should be complied with of an expression of undiminished confidence. No answer has been received to this letter. I again wrote on the 17th instant,* and will get no reply to that letter. In fact, no answer can be given as it [is] so clearly a case of bad faith. I am most anxious to be on duty, but the harsh treatment of the Executive has made the troops believe that I had committed some military offense, and they are naturally unwilling to receive a man under a cloud. The President does not intend to notice me in any way or to answer my letters, hoping that the embarrassment of my false position will constrain me to resign. I wish that you were here, so that I might advise with you. Shall you go on the proposed expedition? I hope that I may not be left out.

Yours, truly and sincerely,
D. H. HILL,

Major-General.

P. S.- I have just learned that you have certainly met the greatest bereavement in life. Be assured of my heartfelt sympathy and that I earnestly hope of a God of consolation will soothe your grief and still enable you to discharge fully the duties of your responsible position.

[35.]

CHARLESTON, March 26, 1864.

General BEAUREGARD,

Headquarters Charleston, S. C.:

DEAR SIR: The proposed withdrawal of a large portion of the forces under your command, and specially charged with the protection of our coast and the approaches to the city, for which service they had become peculiarly qualified because of their long service in this locality, induced the undersigned to communicate with Mr. Miles, their immediate representative, to interfere and if possible prevent the execution of an order so injurious, as they conceived, not only to our city and our State, but to the country at large. From Mr. Miles they have understood that he

---------------

*See VOL. XLII, Part III, p.1166.

---------------