HEADQUARTERS RESERVE FORCES, VIRGINIA, November 22, 1864

November 22, 1864.

Respectfully returned to the Bureau of Conscription.

Numerous orders and communications are being addressed by the Bureau to my subordinate, Colonel Shields, through myself; others, directly to Colonel Shields.

It is submitted that the Bureau cannot direct its orders to an officer expressly placed under my direction without contravening the orders of the War Department and the regulations of the Army in regard to correspondence.

All communications and orders affecting the business of conscription in this State should be addressed to the officer conducting that business, and not to any one of his subordinates.

J. L. KEMPER, Major-General.

Wak DEPARTMENT, BUREAU OF CONSCRIPTION, Richmond, November 29, 1864.

Respectfully transmitted to the Secretary of War, whose attention is invited to the fact that the order, the form of transmission of which is objected to, purports tc be and is

by order of the Secretary of War,

and is sent through Major-General Kemper.
If the custom of armies be accepted as the interpretation of regulations, there is no violation of those regulations of courtesy or etiquette
in addressing an order from the supreme authority to the officer who
is to execute it, provided, as in this case, his immediate superiors are
duly informed by transmitting the order through them.
Acting on this custom, this Bureau since its institution has daily
transmitted papers through Generals Lee, Beauregard, Johnston, and
others, and through the generals of reserves to officers under their