over one steamer, at my request, to study the relation of the parts of this coast, and will explain things clearly. I don't want to assume the control of matters here further than to give uniformity of action, though it was well to place the Department of the South subject to my command. This (Monday) is the day for Howard to put his Right Wing at Pocotaligo and fortify. He was across Port Royal with the Seventeenth Corps and out some four miles when I last heard. The Fifteenth Corps is now passing from Thunderbolt to Port Royal. The Twentieth Corps is across the Union Causeway, and Davis and Kilpatrick will move up to Sister's Ferry, and I will get all my army in hand on a line from Sister's Ferry to Pocotaligo. I have not heard from you since Colonel Ewing went up, but suppose the route indicated will be the best. I now take it. Some, if not all, of Hood's army will be worked over this way, and Thomas should be pressed down to Selma. If Thomas would prefer to watch Tennessee, order him to send a small force from Chattanooga down toward Rome, and detach Schofield, with 35,000 men, including Wilson, to Selma, via Tuscaloosa, and to return via Talladega and Rome. That circuit would be easy to make, and would tear out the heart of Alabama and prevent the farmers planting corn, because all rails would be burned, horses and mules taken, and corn eaten up. I would risk that march with just enough wagons to carry the command across Sand Mountain. I think the farmers of Georgia are organizing against Jeff. Davis, but don't build any castles on that hope. Truly, yours, W. T. SHERMAN, HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT, City Point: GENERAL: Since my letter of this morning I have official reports from General Howard, commanding Right Wing. He crossed from Beaufort Island on Saturday, the 14th, by Port Royal Ferry_to_the mainland with the Seventeenth Corps, General Blair, and marched for Pocotaligo. They encountered the enemy near Garden's Corners, but soon outflanked him, and followed, dislodging him from position to position, till he took refuge in a strong fort at Pocotaligo. This is described as a well-constructed, inclosed work, pierced for twenty-four guns, and the approaches covered by the peculiar salt marsh points that guard this coast. Night overtook the command there, and Sunday morning the enemy was gone. Howard expresses great satisfaction thereat, as it was Sunday, and it saved him an assault which might have cost him some valuable lives. As it was, he lost Lieutenant Chandler, of General Leggett's staff, killed, and Captain Kellogg, of General Giles A. Smith's staff, wounded. He writes that 8 or 10 will cover his loss. He reports three guns captured at Garden's Corners. We are therefore now in possession of good high ground on the railroad at Pocotaligo, with a good road back twenty-five miles to Beaufort. I will order Howard to forage toward Charleston, but proceed to get my army and trains across, and can start north the moment I can get my wagons loaded. The weather at sea has been so stormy that vessels are behind, and it has been touch and go to get daily food. I have ordered Slocum to push a division up to Hardeeville and Purys burg, and think I can use the Savannah River up to that point. We are hard at work corduroying the roads across the rice fields by the Union Causeway. The Secretary told me I would surely receive 4,000 men from Baltimore to garrison Savannah. They are not heard of here yet. Yours, truly, W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Hon. E. M. STANTON, SIR: As our mail facilities form an important link in the chain of events now transpiring, it gives me pleasure to note the peculiar energy which characterizes the agents of the department under the charge of Col. A. H. Markland. Colonel Markland has managed this department in connection with my army to my entire satisfaction, and with a kindly interest that shows a devotion to our cause that takes him with the advance of our army, has won its respect and my confidence. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, HDQRS. MIL. DIV. OF THE MISSISSIPPI, January 16, 1865. II. Surg. J. C. Morgan, Twenty-ninth Regiment Missouri Infantry Volunteers, is relieved from duty with his regiment and assigned to duty as health officer of the city of Savannah. It will be his duty to see to the prompt removal to the proper hospital of all contagious diseases, and also that the carcasses of dead animals and all offal or other matter either offensive or detrimental to health be removed with as little delay as possible. To facilitate the execution of these duties he will at once put himself in communication with the general commanding the post. By order of Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman: L. M. DAYTON, Assistant Adjutant-General. SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, HDQRS. MIL. DIV. OF THE MISSISSIPPI, I. The islands from Charleston south, the abandoned rice-fields along the rivers for thirty miles back from the sea, and the country bordering the Saint John's River, Fla., are reserved and set apart for the settlement of the negroes now made free by the acts of war and the proclamation of the President of the United States. II. At Beaufort, Hilton Head, Savannah, Fernandina, Saint Augustine, and Jacksonville the blacks may remain in their chosen or accustomed Vocations; but on the islands, and in the settlements hereafter to be established, no white person whatever, unless military officers and soldiers detailed for duty, will be permitted to reside; and the sole and exclusive management of affairs will be left to the freed people themselves, subject only to the United States military authority and the acts of Congress. By the laws of war and orders of the President of the United States the negro is free, and must be dealt with as such. He cannot be subjected to conscription or forced military service, save by the written orders of the highest military authority of the Department, ander such regulations as the President or Congress may prescribe; domestic servants, blacksmiths, carpenters, and other mechanics will be free to select their own work and residence, but the young and able-bodied negroes must be encouraged to enlist as soldiers in the service of the United States, to contribute their share toward maintaining their own freedom and securing their rights as citizens of the United States. Negroes so enlisted will be organized into companies, battalions, and regiments, under the orders of the United States military authorities, and will be paid, fed, and clothed according to law. The bounties paid on enlistment may, with the consent of the recruit, go to assist his family and settlement in procuring agricultural impleplements, seed, tools, boats, clothing, and other articles necessary for their livelihood. The three III. Whenever three respectable negroes, heads of families, shall desire to settle on land, and shall have selected for that purpose an island, or a locality clearly defined within the limits above designated, the inspector of settlements and plantations will himself, or by such subordinate officer as he may appoint, give them a license to settle such island or district, and afford them such assistance as he can to enable them to establish a peaceable agricultural settlement. parties named will subdivide the land, under the supervision of the inspector, among themselves and such others as may choose to settle near them, so that each family shall have a plot of not more than forty acres of tillable ground, and when it borders on some water channel with not more than 800 feet water front, in the possession of which land the military authorities will afford them protection until such time as they can protect themselves or until Congress shall regulate their title. The quartermaster may, on the requisition of the inspector of settlements and plantations, place at the disposal of the inspector one or more of the captured steamers to ply between the settlements and one or more of the commercial points, heretofore named in orders, to afford the settlers the opportunity to supply their necessary wants and to sell the products of their land and labor. IV. Whenever a negro has enlisted in the military service of the United States he may locate his family in any one of the settlements at pleasure and acquire a homestead and all other rights and privileges of a settler as though present in person. In like manner negroes may settle their families and engage on board the gun-boats, or in fishing, or in the navigation of the inland waters, without losing any claim to land or other advantages derived from this system. But no one, unless an actual settler as above defined, or unless absent on Government service, will be entitled to claim any right to land or property in any settlement by virtue of these orders. V. In order to carry out this system of settlement a general officer will be detailed as inspector of settlements and plantations, whose duty it shall be to visit the settlements, to regulate their police and general management, and who will furnish personally to each head of a family, subject to the approval of the President of the United States, a possessory title in writing, giving as near as possible the description of boundaries, and who shall adjust all claims or conflicts that may arise under the same, subject to the like approval, treating such titles altogether as possessory. The same general officer will also be charged with the enlistment and organization of the negro recruits and protecting their interests while absent from their settlements, and will be governed by the rules and regulations prescribed by the War Department for such purpose. VI. Brig. Gen. R. Saxton is hereby appointed inspector of settlements and plantations and will at once enter on the performance of his duties. No change is intended or desired in the settlement now on Beaufort Island, nor will any rights to property heretofore acquired be affected thereby. By order of Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman: L. M. DAYTON, Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Major-General HOWARD, Commanding Right Wing, Beaufort: GENERAL: I have your reports of Saturday and yesterday, and am glad you got the position of Pocotaligo so cheaply. It is of great value to us in the future, and I wish you to have it thoroughly strengthened, and all water channels to its south and east reconnoitered. Don't seem to feel up the peninsula, but rather toward the Salkehatchie. Go on and accumulate supplies and stores, and get ready as soon as possible to sally forth with your whole wing supplied as well as possible. I have ordered Slocum to push one division to Hardeeville and Purysburg, and to open up communication with you. I will try and get Davis started by Wednesday, but cannot hear of the troops from Baltimore to relieve Geary here. I will not move from Pocotaligo till we get a good supply in our wagons, as that is the great point. Truly, yours, W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. II. Leave of absence for thirty days under provisions of Section II, act published in General Orders, No. 216, War Department, series 1864, is hereby granted Bvt. Brig. Gen. Green B. Raum, Second Brigade, Third Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, with permission to proceed North. VI. The major-general commanding not desiring to displace any of his present division or brigade commanders, Brig. Gen. William Vandever, U. S. Volunteers, who has reported to these headquarters for assignment, will report to Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman, commanding Military Division of the Mississippi, for orders. By order of Maj. Gen. O. Ö. Howard: SAML. L. TAGGART, HEADQUARTERS SEVENTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Pocotaligo, January 16, 1865. Captain TAGGART, Assistant Adjutant-General: CAPTAIN: General Blair requests me to acknowledge the receipt of a communication from General Howard in reference to a base for supplies for this corps, and to say that he has already sent detachments under charge of Lieutenant McQueen and Captain Henley to open communication with the Left Wing. A report will be forwarded as soon as they return. The general has positive information that a good wharf can be built, with nine or ten feet of water at low tide. There is also a good landing at or near Jenkins' plantation, on the Tullifinny River, about five miles above its mouth, where boats can land and dischargé during four hours each tide. General Hatch has also tendered the use of his wharf, situated near the mouth of the Tullifinny, where boats can and do land and discharge during high tide. The distance from this point to General Hatch's wharf is about ten miles, about eight miles to Mackay's Point, and about six miles to Jenkins' Landing. As the distance to Beaufort is about twenty-two miles, only one bridge over the Whale Branch, and the road liable to become impassable by heavy rains, and at the same time it being necessary for the use of the Fifteenth Army Corps, the general would most respectfully request permission to build a wharf or dock at Mackay's Point, and have the supplies for his command landed there. While this work is being built boats can land and discharge at the other wharf and landing on the Tullifiony. I inclose a sketch of the position of the different wharves, &c.* I also inclose a letter which General Hatch requested the general to send to General Howard. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. HICKENLOOPER, Lieut. Col. and Asst. Insp. Gen., Seventeenth Army Corps. HDQRS. DEPARTMENT AND ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, Major-General BLAIR: GENERAL: Your dispatches are just received, and I am pleased at the state of things there, but am anxious to open communication with Savannah. With reference to supplies, General Easton says that there is but four feet of water in the mouth of the Tullifinny River, and as the boats would be continually running on sand-bars I think for the *Not found. |