VICKSBURG, February 5, 1863. Maj. THEG. JOHNSTON, Commissary of Subsistence, Jackson: About 4,500 bushels corn turned over by quartermaster. Please send the balance15,000forward immediately. It cannot arrive too soon. T. B. REED, Major and Commissary of Subsistence. OFFICE CHIEF QUARTERMASTER, Jackson, Miss., Feb. 5, 1863. Lient. Col. J. IR. WADDY, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Jackson: COLONEL: I have the honor herewith to present accompanying re- port * from Capt. W. M. Gillaspie, post and depot quartermaster, show- ing quartermasters stores now on hand at this post. From an examina- tion of the requisitions now on hand, I find that they can be two-thirds supplied, with the exception of tents, socks, and blankets. Major An- derson, quartermaster at Columbus, informs me he has 100 tents ready, with the exception of the rope, and has on hand material for the mak- ing of 2,000 suits of clothing. As I am just collecting the hides taken from the public beeves, and Messrs. Knox & Co., of the Magnolia works, not having had time to complete the tanning of the hides received by them, I have not been able yet to commence the making of shoes at this point, as I contem- plated. In little while 1 hope to commence the work on a large a nd,I trust, profitable scale for the Government. I learn from Capt. W. M. Gillaspie, acting depot quartermaster, that he receives by pnrchase from different contractors throughout this department an average of 4,000 pairs monthly. We have three depots for the procurement of supplies: Columbus, Maj. W. J. Anderson, quartermaster, furnishes about 700 suits of cloth- ing per week; for the present, however, we are employing all the force there in the making of tents, 250 tents per week being manufactured. Enterprise, Capt. G. P. Theobald, quartermaster, furnishes 25 wagons per month, 401) pairs of shoes, and 250 complete suits of clothing. Jackson, Capt. W. M. Gillaspie, post and depot quartermaster, furnishes 1,000 suits per week manufactures 40 blankets per day. The most of the purchasing done for the department is made through these depots. It should be mentioned that Jackson also manufactures about 25 tents per day; they are incomplete, however, for the want of rope. Three factoriesthe Jackson, W oodville, and Choctawwork constantly for us, making a sufficiency of woolen goods. They do not make enough cotton goods for the requirements of the department. Having almost exhausted this department in the way of cooking utensils, and wishing to increase the making of tents, I dispatched Major Whitfield to Mobile, and Columbus, Ga., to contract for a large supply of both. At the same time he was charged to examine into and, if possible, correct the evils complained of in regard to the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. I have, in addition to the supplies set forth in ac companying reports, 12,000 shirts, the same number of drawers, and 8,000 pounds of leather. In regard to means of transportation, I would state that the Dixie works, at Canton, and other contractors, furnish 50 wagous per month. Harness is also made sufficiently fast to sul)ply the demand. The quartermasters at Enterprise, Columbus, and Port Hudson are author- ized to purchase horses and mules. We have up to this time had mules on hand fully sufficient for all demands made upon us, and fully 150 mules remain, and though these are required, being young and afflicted with distemper, they are not of much service now. I have 100 horses purchased in Tennessee, which I expect here every day, and l)urchase on an average 100 per month. In regard to the more important subject of corn and fodder, I have the honor to state that I am informed by the reports of Capt. D. H. Thomas, Maj. J. W. Patton, and Captain rSamnel] ONeill, that there is now in store in Yicksburg belonging to this department 30,000 bushels of corn, one-hali~ of which is in sacks. I have, through my agents on the Yazoo River, already purchased 100,000 bushels of corn, an amount of which fully sufficient for the wants of Yicksburg is to be delivered at Snyders Bluff. Under instructions, a wagon train of 100 teams is to be constantly engaged in transporting corn to Vicksburg, and, so far as my depart- ment is concerned, Captain O Neill,in charge of forage at Vicksburg, is instructed to supply the animals entirely from the Bluff, and not en- croach on that in store. The reports of Major Bennett and Captain Raphael, at Port Hudson, advise me there are :30,000 bushels now stored at that point. At this place and Forest, before transferring any corn to the subsistence department, we had 25,000 bushels in sacks. I am informed by the report of Capt. F. Ingate, quartermaster at Okolona, that he has already shipped to Meridian and Enterprise about 20,000 bushels, and that he has engaged on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad 68,000 bushels. Capt. W. B. Lucas, at Macon, reports 5.000. I have given instructions to quartermasters and agents to purchase all that can be procured, and I have good reason to believe that our supply will be abundant. I have directed Mr. [J.] McFarland, my agent on the Yazoo, to use every boat on that river to facilitate the purchase and transportation of corn, and I know that, with the assistance I have sent him as well as that he will employ, that he will employ all means to accomplish the prompt collection of all the corn to be procured on that river and its tributaries. I should also state that we have made large engagements of fodder. As soon as the press for removal of the troops is over, we will furnish it as required. I know of no way to supply Port Hudson during the blockade of the river than by sending forward corn for this place. If you direct, will commence this transportation. I will renew my efforts to procure forage, and allow no chance to pass to procure everything required in my department. I am; colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, L. MIMS, Major and Chief Quartermaster, Dept. of Miss. and East. La.