Howell Cobb to RICHMOND, June 7, 1864, June 6, 1864

Macon, Ga., June 6, 1864.

General 8. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General, Richmond, Va.:

GENERAL: Your telegram of the 5th instant and your letter of the 27th ultimo, inelosing General Bragg’s letter of the 26th ultimo, just received, and I reply to both in this letter as the subject is the same. I fear that the Department will feel a disappointment when the strength of the Georgia Reserve is made known to it, though I have endeavored to prepare you for it in my previous communications. Governor Brown by his false certificate ”that all the military and civil officers of Georgia are necessary for the proper administration of the State government,” as well as by his mustering into State service men afterward detailed as operatives in factories, &c., has

made such inroads upon the material out of which the reserve force was to be organized, that its strength will fall far below what was anticipated at the time the law was passed for its organization. Some idea may be formed of the effect of Governor Brown’s exemption certificate when I inform you that he claims now to have over 5,000 men in his militia force at Atlanta, most of whom would belong to the Reserves if they had not been withheld by the certificate to which I have referred. The fact that they are now brought into the service is satisfactory evidence that they are not necessary for the administration of the State government, as claimed by Governor Brown. Another difficulty I have had to encounter is the number of men exempted by the local boards for agricultural and other necessary purposes. Ihave no reason to believe that improper exemptions have been made, still it has greatly diminished the material left after Governor Brown’s sweeping exemption.

I have organized four regiments who are now at Andersonville. The fifth will be organized here this week, and is required here to guard the prison camp and the public works at this place.

There are at Savannah six organized companies, and alrangements in progress for four other companies to complete the regiment. At Augusta the organization of Reserves has been somewhat delayed by the existence of local companies, which I am now converting into regular reserves, and from the best information I can obtain I should say that a battalion, perhaps a regiment, may be formed there. At Atlanta and other points reserves are still reporting, and other companies and regiments will be organized as rapidly as possible. My present calculation is that there will be at least eight full regiments of reserves for the State. In addition to these I have taken steps for the more perfect organization into companies and battalions, for strictly local defense, of all men who are detailed or otherwise employed in the public workshops and factories, &¢., at Savannah, Augusta, Atlanta, Columbus, Macon, and Athens. These organizations I propose to keep separate and distinct from the State Reserves, but I shall have at each of the points a pretty effective force for strictly local defense. As soon as the muster-rolls are sent to me I will have them forwarded, that you may be informed of the extent of the organizations.

I have not forwarded to you the muster-rolls of the regiments which have been formed, because they have not yet been properly prepared. I have had to deal with men who were wholly uninformed, and it has been difficult to get them to comply with the regulations. A more serious difficulty has occurred from the fact that the pressure upon me for troops to relieve the old regiments at Andersonville made it necessary for me to organize with less than the minimum numbe1 into some of the companies. These I have been filling up preparatory to sending forward the muster-rolls.

I have endeavored to state as clearly as possible the facts connected with the reserve force, that you may have a tolerably correct idea of its strength, and will place before you as soon as possible a more full report, accompanied by the muster-rolls.

The letter of General Bragg seems to indicate the points at which the different regiments are to be stationed. If this is to be regarded as a direction you will observe it changes the whole disposition of the force, except that it leaves three regiments at Andersonville, whereas there are now four, and that number is not considered too many. He also requires five regiments at Atlanta. These are not required there now, as Governor Brown’s whole force of 5,000 men is at that place; besides, I have not as many regiments as he assigns to different places. I await your instructions in these matters.

Allow me to say that since Colonel Browne has taken charge of the conscript office here he has extended to me not only cordial but efficient aid, and by the system which he has adopted I have no doubt our united efforts will bring into the service all who are liable to this duty, and that in a very short time.

I should have stated in the proper place that the companies below the minimum number were in Gartrell’s regiments and did not pass through the conscript office, but were put on duty by me in the emergency mentioned.

very respectfully, yours,

Major-General, &c.

RICHMOND, June 7, 1864.

THE SENATE OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA:

A bill which originated in the Senate entitled ”An act to authorize

the appointment of additional officers of artillery for ordnance duties”

has been presented for my signature, but it contains a provision

founded on an error of fact which compels me to return it without