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Adjutant and Inspector General's Office,
Richmond, Va., August 31, 1862.
Genl. Braxton Bragg, Commanding Department No. 2.
Sir—The Secretary of War directs me to say to you, in reply to the communication relative to the appointment of Captain Powers to the command of the 14th Arkansas Regiment, that the Department considers that Colonel Dodson has resigned for the purpose of having Captain Powers appointed, and accordingly the Secretary makes the appointment. Colonel Powers is recognized as colonel of the 14th Arkansas.
I am General, Very Respectfully, Your Obedient Servant,
ED. A. PALFREY,
Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.
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Adjutant and Inspector General's Office,
Richmond, Va., September 2, 1862.
Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War.
It does not appear from the files of the office that Col. Powers was ever colonel of the 14th Ark. Reg't. The roster of the regiment is very defective, for the name of Col. Dodson appears as Lieut. Colonel, but he was not re-elected to that position or to the colonelcy, upon the re-organization of the regiment under the Conscript Act.
The appointment by Gen'l Van Dorn, referenced, was of course unauthorized and illegal. Colonel Powers could only have become colonel of the 14th Arkansas by election when the regiment proceeded to re-organize or by promotion thereto, upon the occurrence of a vacancy, by right of seniority. Neither appears from the files of this office, or, indeed, are alleged by Col. Powers in his communication to the President. In fact, the statements therein made by him, show the invalidity of his claim to the colonelcy of the regiment.
By order, &c,
JNO. BLAIR HOGE,
A.A.G.