Maj. Gen. S. JONES: COLUMBIA, November 30, 1864. By order of the Governor I have directed the State troops who have not rendezvoused at Hamburg, but who are en route for the coast, to report to you to be forwarded. Will you order transportation for them? A. C. GARLINGTON, Aide-de-Camp and Inspector-General. Hon. J. A. SEDDON: RALEIGH, November 30, 1864. Can you give me any information of affairs in Georgia to lay before the Legislature that would assist in inducing them to authorize sending he State troops beyond the State line? Such a proposition is now I fore our Legislature, and my total ignorance of the situation prevents my urging it with sufficient force. Answer immediately. Governor Z. B. VANCE, Raleigh, N. C.: Z. B. VANCE. WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A., There is urgent need for more forces to meet the advance of General Sherman's army, and to prevent its junction with forces being landed and threatening movement at Pocotaligo. Latest accounts make it still doubtful whether Sherman is not marching on Augusta.. General Wheeler has just telegraphed that the infantry of the enemy have ⚫turned to a road leading to that city. General Bragg has suggested that as the movement near Pocotaligo frees Wilmington from the danger of attack, the reserves from North Carolina should be sent to him, and the matter is now under General Lee's consideration. It would be wise, as well as patriotic, on the part of North Carolina to give all assistance possible to defeat or frustrate the designs of Sherman while remote from her borders. General Beauregard telegraphs his opinion that Sherman's ultimate design is to re-enforce General Grant. Col. JOHN B. SALE, J. A. SEDDON, AUGUSTA, December 1, 1864—12 m. Military Secretary, Richmond: ** The [enemy's] cavalry having been driven in, the enemy's main force was yesterday found near Louisville, with strong outposts in this direction. They have secured large supplies in the country; but our cavalry is now all up, and it is hoped they will be prevented, to a great extent, in future. The report from Savannah of the enemy's entrance into Millen on 27th was premature. Telegraphic communication was reopened to Savannah by that route yesterday. Enemy is just now reported as at Station 9, on Central railroad, advancing. BRAXTON BRAGG. (Extract submitted to the Secretary of War by Colonel Sale.) AUGUSTA, December 1, 1861. Col. JOHN B. SALE, Military Secretary, Richmond: Following received from Lieutenant-General Taylor, at Savannah: General Hardee is at Grahamville. No fighting there since yesterday evening, when enemy was driven five miles, leaving their dead on the field. General S. COOPER, Assistant Adjutant-General: BRAXTON BRAGG. AUGUSTA, December 1, 1864. Your dispatch to General Beauregard has been received and forwarded. I have had no intelligence from him. General McLAWS: BRAXTON BRAGG. GRAHAMVILLE, December 1, 1864. The enemy are now seriously threatening Coosawhatchie. It is absolutely necessary to keep the two trains here at present. G. W. SMITH. HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES, Augusta, Ga., December 1, 1864. Major-General WHEELER: GENERAL: General Ferguson reports from Farmer's Bridge road. His note is inclosed, though it is hoped you have made a junction ere this. The general is instructed to report to you. With this increased force it is hoped you will be able to cover the enemy's front and retard his movements much, whatever may be his line of march. The bridges, causeways, &c., on all creeks should be destroyed; forest trees should be felled at every point where they will obstruct the march; fences may be pulled down and used-indeed, every expedient which ingenuity may suggest should be adopted to retard the enemy's movements. the same time you should keep your fighting force close in his front, so as to make him work under every disadvantage. To enable you successfully to carry out these orders you are authorized to impress, for temporary use, all the laborers and tools necessary, and to use the means of the people in the country, as far as they may be of advantage. Supplies of all kinds useful to the enemy and not required for your use must be destroyed. You will observe by the map that Rocky Creek still remains to be crossed if the enemy move to Savannah, and Brier Creek should he move here. These swampy streams are represented as impassable, except at the regular bridges, and afford you the means of greatly retarding the enemy. Let it be known through the country generally that we are very largely re-enforced here and at Savannali, and are prepared for any movement on us. We have troops from Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and the troops from Macon *Of November 30, p. 911. + See November 30, 1.30 p. ш., p. 912. commenced arriving in Savannah on 29th ultimo. A good many volunteer and militia companies of cavalry are out about Brier Creek. They should be collected by you and used to obstruct roads and pick up stragglers. Brigadier-General Young, with part of Hampton's cavalry, will join you soon. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, P. S.-I inclose a sketch* of the crossings of Brier Creek. A copy of this dispatch has been sent to General Ferguson. A. A. HEADQUARTERS ALLEN'S DIVISION OF CAVALRY, Lieut. M. G. HUDSON, Very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. W. ALLEN, Brigadier-General, Commanding. MONTEITH, December 1, 1864. Capt. R. W. B. ELLIOTT, Assistant Adjutant-General : A courier has just arrived from No. 2, Central railroad, and reports as follows: That the enemy's cavalry are three miles from Millen, and the infantry seven miles from there. A courier from General Wheeler reports the enemy making for Augusta. General Wheeler wishes 40,000 rounds of ammunition for army and navy pistols sent to Augusta. This courier left his camp yesterday evening. A. L. HARTRIDGE, AUGUSTA, December 1, 1864. General SAMUEL JONES: Send everything you can to Grahamville, so as to crush out the enemy in our front there, and be ready to meet the main army thereafter. Sherman's progress is slow. His main body yesterday at Louisville. BRAXTON BRAGG. *Not found. far as Columbia, and that the enemy is concentrating all his available forces, under General Thomas, to oppose him. It is even reliably reported that the forces under Generals A. J. Smith, in Missouri, and Steele, in Arkansas, have been sent to re-enforce Thomas. It becomes, then, absolutely necessary, to insure the success of Hood, either that you should send him two or more divisions, or that you at once threaten Missouri, in order to compel the enemy to recall the re-enforcements he is sending to General Thomas. I beg to urge upon you prompt and decisive action. The fate of the country may depend upon the result of Hood's campaign in Tennessee. Sherman's army has lately abandoned Atlanta on a venturesome march across Georgia to the Atlantic coast about Savannah. His object is, besides the destruction of public and private property, probably to re-enforce Graut and compel Lee to abandon Richmond. It is hoped that Sherman may be prevented from effecting his object, but should it be otherwise, the success of Hood in Tennessee and Kentucky would counterbalance the moral effect of the loss of Richmond. Hence the urgent necessity of either re-enforcing Hood or making a diversion in Missouri in his favor. Hoping that you may give us the desired assistance, I remain, your obedient servant, G. T. BEAUREGARD, General, AUGUSTA, December 2, 1864. General S. COOPER: Following received from Lieutenant-General Hardee, dated yester day, at Savannah: I have just returned from the front.. The enemy was badly whipped, and has retired. Coosawhatchie, another point on railroad, is threatened, but do not apprehend a serious attack. BRAXTON BRAGG. (Copies sent President and Secretary of War.) General S. COOPER: GRAHAMVILLE, December 2, 1864. A force of infantry, artillery, and cavalry, under Foster, attempted to gain the railroad at this point, but were met and repulsed. A force of marines, under Dahlgren, attempted to gain the railroad at Coosawhatchie, but were met at Bee's Creek and repulsed. W. J. HARDEE, (Copies sent President, Secretary of War, Generals Lee and Bragg.) General MCLAWS: GRAHAMVILLE, December 2, 1864. The enemy is moving upon us. Put about 1,000 men in the cars immediately, and hold them in readiness to come to this point. W. J. HARDEE, Lieutenant-General. |