Unknown to A. A. G., Bureau of Conscription, January 25, 1864

Capt. THOMAS PINCKNEY, A. A. G., Bureau of Conscription, Richmond, Va.:

Captain: In the following estimate of the number of troops furnished by the different States I am aware that the plan I have adopted in some eases is open to objection, but when it is carefully considered I think it will be found that the errors to which it may be subject, in favor of a little greater or lesser result, will about cancel other considerations, and my conclusions practically correct.

The principal object being to obtain the resources of the State in the event of a modification of the present law, 1 have adopted the most direct method in each case to the attainment of this object, and when the means at my disposal admitted of it, have verified my calculations by others, based upon other statistics.

In my ealeulations for Alabama and Mississippi the limited data in my possession did not admit of it, and the results depend alone upon the estimates I have made under such circumstances.

The operations of the conscript department in those States do not enter into my calculations, because I could extract no reliable matter from the confused condition of the papers in Major Denis’ office. In that office, under the superintendence of General Pillow, much of the details of the department were carried on without any record having been kept. Exemptions and details were granted or refused on the back of the applicant’s letter and no memorandum made of it. The reports from the subordinate officers purporting to show the number of men put into the service (without uniformity), I was informed by the officers of that department, were probably incorrect, from the fact that the subordinate officers sometimes reported to General Pillowand at other times through their immediate commanders, which occasioned these officers to report the same conscripts frequently as the result of their individual operations. One case there was in which the same number of men was reported three times. Under such circumstances I was unwilling to use these calculations in my report.

I have officers in Alabama and Mississippi collecting rolls called for by circulars from the Bureau of Conscription, and I hope to be able to show from these rolls where material addition may be made to the Army without injury to the industrial pursuits of the country.

The final report from Georgia will be forwarded in a few days.

I have sent Lieut. N. A. James to Virginia to complete the work commenced there by him.

Very respectfully, E. K. D. BLAKE,