Even on this occasion the enemy opened upon him with musketry only. The steamer was destroyed early in the morning of the 20th by the guns of our front batteries. Reconnoitering parties, sent out in boats north of Long Island toward Secessionville, under Captain Blau, of the Fifty-fourth New York Volunteers, found Pine Tree Island as my outposts had left it last summer and no torpedoes in the creek. The men of my command arc too much fatigued by outpost duty to send out larger parties. I have subsequently been unable to land anywhere on John's Island, and therefore requested the commanding officer of the naval forces in Stono Inlet to go up Stono and Kiawah Rivers and see what he could discover. Unfortunately, the permission to do so having been sent by Admiral Dahlgren through the signal corps in the common code, the enemy was informed of our intention, for he reads our dispatches in the common code as well as we do his. The consequence was that all our shelling of the enemy's works and the ground in rear of Secessionville did not make a man move or draw a shot from their guns. This reconnaissance, however, established the fact that the enemy had not again crected his batteries west of Legareville, which he used in January, 1864, and which we demolished last summer. As the enemy can read our common signal code, and as working in other codes dispatches are certainly transmitted less expeditiously than by mounted orderlies or a boat, I have entirely given up the signal corps as a means of communication, and employ all the sergeants at Fort Strong, the Swamp Angel, and elsewhere in observing the enemy's signal stations, so as to obtain all the information possible from them. I have been informed that active operations will soon commence in this district, and that General Hatch with his division will probably arrive here within a few days. I have therefore ordered the docks at Morris and Folly Islands to be put in as good condition as possible; but to repair them well, and do other work required in case of active operations, a steam pile-driver will be absolutely essential and should be sent here as soon as practicable. Lumber is also not on hand in this district, and as there will be wanted a large quantity of one, two, and three inch planks for offensive operations, I now call attention to the fact in time. I also beg to report that my wagon transportation is scarcely sufficient to provide the troops with rations and wood, and that as soon as more troops arrive I shall have no teams to transport armor to the batteries. I have now, with the Parrott guns and mortars, ammunition for about forty-eight hours' firing, and with the naval batteries, three days. I don't know what amount of firing will be ordered, but may be allowed to state that a four-horse team can take from the ordnance yard to Forts Strong or Putnam twelve to fifteen 200-pounder, or twenty-five to thirty 100-pounder shells at a load, and can make two trips within twenty-four hours. I have again to inform you that the district has for some time been out of hay, and that private as well as public horses are dying rapidly. I have further to call attention to the fact that there are no beef-cattle, and that there is no hard bread at present on hand for issue in this district, and that the 300 barrels of flour arrived yesterday will furnish soft bread for the present strength for the command for twelve days. I am, captain, with great respect, your most obedient servant, A. SCHIMMELFENNIG, Brigadier-General, Commanding. Capt. W. L. M. BURGER, Assistant Adjutant-General, Department of the South. HDQRS. NORTHERN DISTRICT, DEPT. OF THE SOUTH, Col. E. A. KOZLAY, Commanding U. S. Forces, Folly Island, S. C.: COLONEL: The brigadier-general commanding directs that in case of an evacuation by the enemy of their works on your front you will be guided by the following instructions, unless something unforseen occurs, in which case you will not consider these directions absolute, but proceed upon your own judgment: The commanders of the respective forts on Long Island and the right of Cole's Island will be instructed to immediately send forward three reliable men, who volunteer to make the reconnaissance. These men will proceed at a distance of fifty paces from each other toward Secessionville and Fort Lamar and Fort Pringle. If they find the places evacuated they will make preconcerted signals with a flag to the officer sending them out, and one will return personally and report. The commanding officers of Long Island and Cole's Island will of course at once notify you of their suspicions, whereupon you will have your command concentrated at Stono Landing, either to take them by steamer to the right of Cole's Island or by boats to the south end of Cole's Island, and march from there up to the right of Cole's Island. Upon such information from your front you will at once dispatch the engineers to the right of Cole's Island to await the orders of the commander of Cole's Island. If Secession ville is reported evacuated by the messenger who returns from the reconnaissance the garrison of Long Island, except thirty men remaining in the fort, will cross over to Secessionville and take possession of it. The commander of Cole's Island, after having made the above reconnaissance with three volunteers, and on their reporting the evacuation will leave thirty men in each of the forts on the right and left of Cole's Island, and with the balance of his force repair the bridge on the right end of Cole's Island. By the time the bridge is repaired the forces from Folly Island will probably have arrived there, and when he has accumulated 200 men he will march forward and take Fort Pringle. At each of the forts (Mahan and Delafield) you will leave a corporal and three men, who may be convalescents. A small provost guard will be left at Stono, to aid in which all the civilians will be put at once on duty the moment such a movement commences. You will take with you all the horses you can. Finding the first line of works on James Island evacuated you will re-enforce Pringle and Secessionville to 200 men in the aggregate, and take with the rest a reserve position near the enemy's rifle-pits. You will send forward a squad of mounted men, either on private or public horses, in the direction of Fort Johnson, in order to open connection with the troops from Morris Island, and a second similar squad in the direction of Fort Pemberton, having previously provided them both with guides. You will inform the commanding officer of the navy at Stono of the movement as soon as it takes place; hand him a copy of these instructions, and request his co-operation up the river. The troops once in possession of Pringle and Secession ville will strengthen those works in rear with shovels and axes, and turn the enemy's artillery to as good account as possible; will hold the places, and not retire even if attacked by a heavy force. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, [Inclosure No. 2.] HDQRS. NORTHERN DISTRICT, DEPT. OF THE SOUTH, Col. E. A. KOZLAY, Commanding U. S. Forces, Folly Island, S. C.: COLONEL: The general commanding directs that you will issue to the troops of your command three days' small rations, consisting of hard bread, coffee, sugar, and salt. The quartermaster will issue small bags for every enlisted man for the purpose of carrying extra salt, sugar, and coffee. The rations issued as above will be kept in the haversacks untouched until further orders. Each man will be provided with eighty rounds of ammunition, forty rounds in cartridge-box and forty rounds in knapsack. In case the troops are ordered forward overcoats will be worn, no matter how warm the weather may be; also every man will carry one woolen blanket, a rubber blanket, one pair extra socks, and his knapsack. Every ten men are to carry one ax and one shovel or spade. You will see that the requisite number of stretchers is on hand to accompany the troops. Officers and men will be warned not to leave their camps in order that they may be ready to fall in at a moment's notice. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, (Copy to Lieutenant-Colonel Bennett.) HDQRS. NORTHERN DISTRICT, DEPT. OF THE SOUTH, FIRST SEPARATE BRIGADE, Morris Island, S. C., February 4, 1865. CAPTAIN: I have the honor respectfully to report: All signs of evacuation of Charleston have ceased since my report of the 25th of January. The enemy takes matters more easily every day, and his officers are at present inviting each other, by means of the military signal line, to cock fights. This impression, obtained from the intercepted dispatches, is supported by the reappearance of the enemy's fatigue parties in small numbers all over his lines. Deserters who landed on Morris Island on the evening of the 26th of January give the same information. The enemy prepared for evacuation and was ready to evacuate between the 12th and 20th of last month. After that it was said large re enforcements had come from Virginia and a determined stand would be made. Their statements are contained in the annexed report of Lieutenant Schauffler. This state of affairs will not induce me to relax in vigilance, as changes may take place every moment. On the 31st of January General Taliaferro inspected the different works on Sullivan's Island, and on this occasion one signal operator signaled to another that General Taliaferro had said General Sherman was within ten miles of Augusta, and that fighting had commenced. Four steamers (blockade-runners) have successfully run out, two in, and one has been stranded near Battery Marshall since my last report. Entire quiet has been the rule on the enemy's line as well as on mine. A reconnaissance made by the gun-boats in Stono River has led to no further developments as regards the strength of the enemy on John's Island or the armament of the new batteries. Two or three guns have been changed, to my knowledge, on James Island, but changes always take place on the enemy's line within the space of every ten days and are of no significance. The enemy's strength seems to be the same as last reported, and the re-enforcements on Sullivan's Island seem to consist of the First Carolina State Infantry. The enemy's outpost lines have been kept up in their former strength. I have the honor to be, captain, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, A. SCHIMMELFENNIG, Capt. W. L. M. BURGER, Brigadier-General, Commanding. Assistant Adjutant-General, Department of the South. HDQRS. NORTHERN DISTRICT, DEPT. OF THE SOUTH, Brig. Gen. A. SCHIMMELFENNIG, Commanding Northern District, Department of the South: GENERAL: I have the honor to report the following as the information obtained from eight deserters from the receiving ship Indian Chief, Charleston Harbor, who arrived in our lines on the evening of January 26. These men are the crew of one of the picket boats in the harbor. They took possession of the arms of the two officers, who were in their boat, while they were asleep, and then landing these officers on the marsh near Mount Pleasant, came over, bringing with them their carbines, cutlasses, signal light, &c. As regards general news, the reports of these men are conflicting and uncertain. They have heard that Hill's corps was expected here from Virginia. Some of them brought a rumor that Hood's army was only a few days' distance from Charleston. They speak of a council of war of Generals Beauregard, Hardee, and Joseph E. Johnston, in the city, ten or twelve days since, at which Commodores Ingraham, Tucker, and other officers assisted. They all agree that some twelve days ago all the talk was of evacuation; but that this has since changed, and they are now going to make a fight of it. With regard to information concerning this district, they know nothing about the numbers or composition of the land forces, excepting that in the city there are about the same garrisons as for some time past. Fort Ripley mounts now only two "quaker" guns, and has a garrison of a sergeant and ten men. The effective iron-clads in the harbor are at present only two in number, viz, the Charleston, flag. ship, armament, six 8-inch rifled guns; can steam about six knots an hour, carries Commodore Tucker's flag, and is commanded by Captain Brown; the Chicora, Captain Hunter, armament also six 8-inch rifles; her engines are weak, and she can hardly stem the tide. Both these vessels carry a torpedo on the bow. One of them goes on picket every night near Fort Johnson. The iron-clad Columbia, their best boat, was lost in the harbor about ten days ago. Her crew has been sent to Richmond, Va. The Palmetto State, Lieutenant Rochelle commanding, also an iron-clad, carrying five guns, is undergoing heavy repairs, having new flues put in, and will not be fit for service for two months. There are two more iron-clads in course of building, one recently launched and the other still on the stocks. There is no wooden fleet in the harbor. The receiving ship Indian Chief, Lieutenant Ray commanding, has now only between sixty and seventy men on board, having recently sent about 125 men to Wil mington. The only duty done by the Indian Chief is sending out three picket boats every night. Two of these, each carrying two officers and ten men, are posted between Sumter and Battery Bee; the third, carrying one officer and six men, between Sumter and Johnson. They report the harbor full of torpedoes, both inside and outside of Sumterso much so that the officers and men of the picket boats feel very uncomfortable about coming down to their posts. The rebels have been diligently planting these torpedoes for the past two months. At low tide they are only eight to ten inches below the surface of the water. These torpedoes consist of an elongated shell, about the size of a 200 or 300 pounder shell, round at both ends, having percussion tubes or fuzes at the upper ends and sides, fastened at the lower end into a sabot, and anchored with a grapnel. There are some twenty or thirty cigar-shaped torpedo boats, calculated to carry four men each, laying around the ship-yards on Ashley River. Probably about eight or ten of them only are serviceable. No volunteers from the navy have been called for for this duty during the past seven or eight months. The only obstructions reported in the harbor are palmetto logs anchored and running in a line from the northeast angle of Sumter to within 200 or 300 yards of the Sullivan's Island shore. This is not a continuous chain, the logs not being connected with one another by ropes or chains, but anchored singly. When the tide is running very strong these logs are pulled under water, leading to the supposition that there may be netting under them, to which they merely serve as floats. The navy has recently been quite busy taking soundings up Cooper and Ashley Rivers. These men, not having been engaged on this duty, know nothing particular about these soundings, nor how far up the parties were sent. I have the honor to be, with the highest respect, your obedient servant, EDW. W. SCHAUFFLER, First Lieutenant, 127th New York Volunteers, and Aide-de-Camp. HDQRS. NORTHERN DISTRICT, DEPT. OF THE SOUTH, CAPTAIN: I have the honor respectfully to acknowledge the receipt of orders of February 15, from the major-general commanding, in regard to the continuance of demonstrations on my front. These were delivered to me at 8.30 this p. m. I had already thought it proper to take the responsibility of continuing to harass the enemy. On the 11th instant I held the same position on James Island during the day that Colonel Hartwell had occupied the day before. The enemy was in stronger force on the 11th than he had been on the 10th. After dark on the 11th my command retired to Cole's Island, taking up the bridges behind them. On the night of the 11th to the 12th Major Hennessy, Fifty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, made a demonstration in boats against Battery Simkins and Fort Sumter, which most thoroughly alarmed the enemy, as may be seen from the dispatch of General Hardee to the commanding officer of the iron-clads. The enemy opened a lively artillery fire from Simkins and Sullivan's Island and a musketry fire from Simkins and Sumter. Having perceived by the enemy's dispatches of the 12th and 13th that he was taking troops-artillery and infantry-back from James Island to Mount Pleasant and Andersonville, I ordered Colonel |