Head quarters Military District of Florida

Lake City Fla. May 27^th 1864

 

Colonel,

            Yours of May 6^th calling upon me to make report as early as practicable "suggesting a proper union of Battalion & Companies throughout my command (designating them) into Regiments, and that I recommend Field Officers" &c only reached me last night.

 

                                                I enclose herewith two several communications (copies) which I had the honor to forward through the usual channels, at their dates to Genl Cooper A. & I.G. & which I think, cover all the ground embraced within your inquiries.

 

*All of these organizations have been recently sent to V^a having been thrown together as a Brigade, and Brig Genl. Finegan assigned to the command. I cannot urge too strongly the amalgamation or consolidation of these Battalions into Regiments. As they are their inefficiency and want of instruction is lamentable. I have had but little opportunity of learning the relative capacities, qualifications and military merits of the Field officers now in commission, but believe, that but few of them have the necessary qualification. Lt. Col. Theodore W. Brevard 2^nd Battⁿ is the only one I can recommend on my own knowledge. He will make a fine Colonel, if his command is only kept in the field and away from the immediate neighborhood of the homes of the men. Lt. Thomas E Buck-

 

            *Except Capt Cullens Company, at Savannah. 

 

man whom I have recommended for the Lt. Colonelcy of the (proposed) 9^th Reg^t is and has been for some time Chief Ordnance Officer in this District. In the discharge of his duties he has evinced great activity, energy, good sense, and business qualifications. Not having seen him in any other capacity, of course, I only infer that he would make a good field officer. It is a great pity the Secretary of War cannot feel warranted in going outside of these Battalions into the old depleted Regiments now serving in V^a & Tenn, for experienced and skillful young officers, to take the Field positions in the new organizations, young men who deserve promotion, and who have no commands, their companies having been reduced to a handful by the many casualties of war. In my opinion these are the men who deserve the command. They have a right to it too, for it may be observed as a fact, bearing directly on this question, that nearly every Company in these Battalions was raised after the passage of the Conscript act and it is quite doubtful in my opinion, if the authority to raise them, was legal, no matter whence it emanated.

 

           The whole matter however is now before the Department, and I feel confident that their present organization will be greatly improved by adopting the recommendations I have made.

 

              In compliance with the request that I should make any other suggestions &c touching the organization efficiency &c of the troops in my command, I would only say that I am more thoroughly convinced than ever, that where ever it can be done, troops should / not be permitted to serve within their own state. This applies with equal force to Officers, and men. (I ought never to have been sent to Florida!)—About a month ago I rec^d a telegraphic dispatch from Genl Cooper directing me to send Gambles Battery to Andersonville to guard Yankee prisoners. This was the only Battery in the District thoroughly equipped & fit for active field service at the time and there were three other Batteries in the District without horses or harness &c either of which could have done the service as well—indeed better for Gamble's horses are in the way at Andersonville: I have learned unofficially that the Officers of Gambles Battery are now making application at Richmond to have their Company returned to Fla. and some other Company without horses exchanged for it. I think it would be well to send Gambles Battery to Genl. Johnston and let me supply its place at Andersonville with one of the Companies now here which is lacking in horses—Gambles is too fine a Company & too well equipped to be sent to the rear when Genl Johnston is in such need of Artillery.

 

 I am Colonel

Very truly Yr Sv^t

Patton Anderson

Maj Genl.

 

Col. John B. Sale                                                                                

            Mil. Sect.                                                                                            

                        Richmond V^a

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