Richmond, Va., November 8, 1862.

President DAVIS:

YOUR EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to send for your information copy of telegram just received from Brigadier General M. L. Smith, Vicksburg, in reply to my question of the 31st ultimo:

Approximate number of small-arms crossed at this point en route Little Rock, Ark., is 18,140; 5,000 of these lost on steamer Fair Play; number sent to General Taylor is 2,500.

This accords nearly with inclosed statement,* made out from information in this office. It will be seen, I trust, that the measures taken have secured the transit of the arms, and that there s little ground for the reckless charges of neglect of duty made against this bureau by Senator Johnson, of Arkansas, in the letter which your Excellency showed me. I have nevertheless sent an officer conversant with the subject of these issues on the track of all stores heretofore sent to the Trans-Mississippi Department to see whether any are loitering on the way, and also to get information on which to prosecute the delinquents in the case of the capture of the Fair Play with 5,000 arms and other stores; information which was immediately asked for, but which has not yet been obtained from those whose duty it was to furnish it on the spot.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. GORGAS,

Colonel and Chief of Ordnance.

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