[Indorsement.]

OFFICE CHIEF ENGINEER OF DEPARTMENT.

Approved, and respectfully forwarded.

D. B. HARRIS,

Colonel, and Chief Engineer of Department.

Respectfully returned, to the end that this office may be informed what description of and to what extent other public work must be interrupted by the order requested.

THOMAS JORDAN,

Chief of Staff.

Respectfully returned, with the information that Mr. Henerey's establishment is engaged in the casting and preparation of shot and shell, and in the casting of anchors for foxed torpedoes; also in the fitting of gun carriages and other military working, during. All the other foundries here and elsewhere in the State are similarly engaged, excepting machine shops of railroads that are employed in keeping their rolling stocking, during in repair. The application of the order is based on the superior importance of the working, during proposed. At the same time I would respectfully state that other working, during may be accomplished at such times that labor may be spared form the within-named work.

Very respectfully,

FRANCIS D. LEE,

Captain of Engineers.

Really, this officer has no control in the mater. Captain Lee should arrange it with the arsenal.

THOMAS JORDAN,

Chief of Staff.

Abstract from return of the army in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, General G. T. Beauregard commanding, for December 20, 1863; headquarters Charleston, S. C.

Command Present Present Effecti Aggrega Aggrega Pieces

. for for ve te te of

duty. duty. total present present artille

present . and ry.

. absent.

Officer Men.

s.

First 225 4,022 4,579 5,183 6,932 14

Militar

y

Distric

t

(Ripley

)...

Second 84 1,553 1,750 1,994 2,691 8

Militar

y

Distric

t

(Robert

son)

Third 133 2,192 2,617 3,014 3,868 18

militar

y

Distric

t

(Walker

)

Fourth 94 1,076 1,214 1,425 2,228 4

Militar

y

distric

t

(Trapie

r)

Fifth 156 1,584 1,797 2,060 3,303 ...

Militar

y

Distric

t

Sixth 170 2,728 2,882 3,230 4,264 16

Militar

y

Distric

t

(Wise)

Seventh 418 6,751 7,554 8,536 11,502 8

Militar

y

Distric

t

(Haggod

)

Distric 268 3,763 4,368 5,176 6,961 23

t of

Georgia

(Mercer

)

Distric 139 1,707 1,827 2,384 3,790 ...

t of

Middle

Florida

(Gardne

r)

Distric 95 1,082 1,106 1,326 2,478 8

t of

East

Florida

(Finega

n)

Total 1,812 26,458 29,694 34,328 48,328 99

HDQRS. DEPT. SOUTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA, AND FLORIDA, Charleston, S. D., December 21, 1863.

Major General J. F. GILMER,

Second in Command, &c., Savannah, Ga.:

GENERAL: Your letter of the 19th instant is received. I regret to hare you are still suffering from your eyes. If you think Captain