"Resolved, That the President be requested to communicate to the House, if not incompatible with the public interest, the orders given to and the correspondence had with General Jos. E. Johnston during the months of May, June, and July, 1863, concerning his command and the operations in his Department."
This communication would have been made at a much earlier date but for the fact that an important paper which had been handed to me by General Johnston in person at Chattanooga, and in which he objected to sending reinforcements from the Army of Tennessee to that in Mississippi, had been mislaid, and seemed necessary to the completeness of the correspondence. I have not yet been able to recover it, but [am] unwilling to delay my response to your resolution any longer on that account.
To the Senate and House of Representatives.
I herewith transmit for your consideration a communication from the Secretary of War, covering an estimate for an additional appropriation required by the War Department.
To the Senate and House of Representatives.
I herewith transmit for your consideration a communication from the Postmaster General, relative to "An Act fixing the salaries of certain civil officers in the Trans-Mississippi Department," and invite your special attention to his suggestions, with a view to further legislation on the subject if you deem it necessary.
To the Senate and House of Representatives.
I herewith transmit for your consideration a communication from the Secretary of War, relative to the construction and repair of railroads necessary for military purposes, and submitting an
