tered through the country by General Birney had all been brought in without loss. One hundred and fifty bales of cotton captured by General Birney had been brought in. There will be some trouble about the cattle reported by him as captured. A large portion of them are claimed as the property of loyal citizens. Justice will be done both the Government and the citizen. An examination of brands and other marks is being made. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JNO. P. HATCH, Brigadier-General, Commanding. Col. E. D. TOWNSEND, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, COLONEL: A report from General Schimmelfennig, commanding Northern District of this department, arrives just as the steamer is about sailing. He considers the bombardment of Sumter as having rendered completely useless the guns lately put in position in that fort. He also believes that the force of the enemy has been considerably reduced within two days, although the force left under my command was reduced to a purely defensive force. I shall endeavor to take advantage of the present opportunity should I find that the enemy are sufficiently weakened to enable me to do so with a reasonable prospect of success. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Col. E. D. TOWNSEND, JNO. P. HATCH, Brigadier-General, Commanding. Assistant Adjutant-General. No. 2. Reports of Maj. Gen. John G. Foster, U. S. Army, commanding Department of the South, of operations May 26-November 6. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, Hilton Head, S. C., May 26, 1864. GENERAL: I have the honor to report my arrival and the assumption of command to-day. An expedition has been sent out by General Hatch, consisting of about 2,000 men, under Brig. Gen. W. Birney, having for object the destruction of the railroad bridges over the South Edisto and Ashepoo Rivers, and the long trestle-work over the swamp lying between those two rivers. This expedition was expected to land near the mouth of Mosquito Creek, on the Ashepoo River, last night, and to march to the railroad and perform its work to-day. I propose to visit the whole department on a tour of inspection, and to make a report to you afterward of its condition and wants. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Chief of Staff, Washington, D. C. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, GENERAL: I have the honor to report that the expedition under Brig. Gen. W. Birney, which had been sent out by General Hatch before my arrival to destroy some bridges on the line of the Charleston and Savannah Railroad, as described in my letter of the 26th instant, has returned unsuccessful. It appears from verbal reports, which are all I have yet received, that two of the transports, the steamers Edwin Lewis and the Boston, under the conduct of Col. Thomas Bayley, Ninth U. S. Colored Troops, did not stop at the point designated for disembarkation, but, by mistake, continued on up the Ashepoo River until the steamer Boston ran fast aground within good range of a rebel battery. This battery obtained a direct and raking fire and soon disabled the vessel. The troops on board were saved by swimming and by the boats of the Edwin Lewis, with the loss of their arms. The steamer was then burnt. Our loss is 13 killed, drowned, or missing. Seventy-five cavalry horses and 8 team horses that were on the Boston were burnt with the vessel. The expedition then returned to this point, arriving this morning and during the night. I have ordered a court of inquiry to investigate this matter, and to fix the responsibility for the losses. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, Hilton Head, S. C., June 6, 1864. GENERAL: I have the honor to report that nothing of marked interest has transpired in this department since my letter of the 28th ultimo. I have visited Morris and Folly Islands, and also the District of Florida. In the former I found the condition of affairs to be satisfactory. General Schimmelfennig has succeeded, with his boat infantry, in driving the enemy's boats out of the creeks between Morris and Folly Islands and James Island, and also in keeping close watch on the enemy's operations on James Island and in Fort Sumter. A line of batteries and rifle-pits now extends from Fort Johnson to Secessionville and thence across to the Stono River. This line is very strong, but there are chances in favor of a surprise, by means of boats and light-draught steamers. These chances are, however, very small, with ordinary vigilance on the part of the enemy. The enemy still hold Fort Sumter, which they are constantly working to strengthen against an assault. I have not yet obtained full information on this point, but hope to be able to report it next week. There are, as in case of the batteries on James Island, some chances of succeeding in an attempt to assault Fort Sumter by means of small boats and steamers. I will communicate the details as soon as I obtain the necessary information. I directed the fire on the Our troops upon city and Fort Sumter to be increased a little. these islands are well posted for security, and are, generally, quite healthy. In the District of Florida I found it necessary to make some changes with the view of concentration and mutual support. Before my arrival General Gordon had performed a handsome feat in turning, by a rapid night march, the enemy's camps called Camp Milton and Camp Finegan, situated, respectively, 10 and 6 miles from Jacksonville. The enemy, finding a force in front and rear, took to their heels and escaped. The camps were completely destroyed. The enemy fell back on Baldwin, which is strongly fortified. Camp Milton was also a strongly fortified position against a front attack. The line of well-constructed bastions, rifle-pits, and block-houses extended nearly 2 miles. Brigadier-General Birney is now in command of this district in obedience to your orders. I would have preferred General Hatch as commander there, for several reasons, but did not, nevertheless, fail to carry out your order at once. I have ordered a regiment to be organized in Florida from the loyal whites and all men able to bear arms in this district, as well as all the others, to be enrolled, officered, and drilled as militia, to be called into service, in case of an emergency, like that of an offensive movement, in which case they are to be used to garrison the posts from which the veteran troops are taken. I have ordered a school of instruction for those colored regiments that required drill and discipline to be established at Hilton Head, where they will receive constant instruction in regimental and brigade drill and in the firings. Brigadier-General Potter is to be in immediate command, under the general supervision of General Hatch, commanding the district. Steps have been taken to preserve the healthfulness of the commands in the various districts of the department. Fresh vegetables and fruits are to be brought each week from Florida to the troops on Morris and Folly Islands, and an ice-house is being constructed for their further benefit. The exposure and labor to which these troops are constantly subjected fully entitles them to these attentions to their comfort. The court of inquiry in the case of General Birney's expedition and the loss of the steamer Boston has concluded its labors, and attach the blame to Colonel Bayley, Ninth U. S. Colored Troops. The evidence shows that General Birney did not take two necessary precautions, viz, to send the pilot that was to take the Lewis and the Boston up under the guard of an officer or soldier to prevent his failure to perform his duty; second, to post a boat opposite the point of disembarkation to prevent the steamers passing it in the darkness. I have ordered a court-martial to try Colonel Bayley. This expedition was planned by General Hatch, and, with every chance in its favor, should have succeeded. On the 22d and 23d of May a strong demonstration was made on the enemy's line on James Island. They were found to be too formidable to risk an attack in front. I shall continue to make full reports by each steamer. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. G. FOSTER, Major-General, Commanding. ADDENDA. GENERAL ORDERS, } HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, Hilton Head, S. C., August 23, 1864. I. Proceedings of a general court-martial, which couvened at Hilton Head, S. C., pursuant to Special Order, No. 243, from headquarters Department of the South, dated Hilton Head, S. C., June 16, 1864, and of which Col. P. P. Brown, jr., One hundred and fifty-seventh New York Volunteers, is president, was arraigned and tried Col. Thomas Bayley, Ninth U. S. Colored Troops. CHARGE: Neglect of duty, to the prejudice of good order and military discipline. Specification 1st.-In this, that the said Thomas Bayley, colonel of the Ninth U. S. Colored Troops, being in command of said regiment and of the transport Edwin Lewis, and under orders to proceed up the Ashepoo River to the mouth of Mosquito Creek, did, to the great danger of his command, utterly neglect and fail to put a competent pilot at the helm, although he knew there was one on board of the Edwin Lewis, or a vessel close by, and subject to his orders, but proceeded up the river with a pilot unacquainted with the channel. This at Ashepoo River, S. C., on the night of the 25th of May, 1864. Specification 2d.-In this, that the said Thomas Bayley, colonel of the Ninth U. S. Colored Troops, being in command of said regiment and of the transport Edwin Lewis, which had been sent him by Brigadier-General Birney, commanding the expedition, to convey the said regiment of troops under command of said Colonel Bayley to the mouth of Mosquito Creek, on the Ashepoo River, did wholly neglect and fail to avail himself of the services of William C. Mandel, a competent pilot, although he was informed at that time by Acting Master C. M. Hancock, of said transport, that Brigadier-General Birney had placed the said competent pilot on board the Edwin Lewis for the purpose of piloting said vessel up the Ashepoo. This at the Ashepoo River, S. C., on the 25th day of May, 1864. Specification 3d.—In this, that the said Thomas Bayley, colonel of the Ninth U. S. Colored Troops, being in command of said regiment and of the transport Edwin Lewis, and under orders to proceed to the landing at the mouth of Mosquito Creek, on the Ashepoo River, did wholly neglect and refuse to inform the acting master and the pilot on said transport what landing they were to stop at, although the said master and the said pilot frequently expressed their desire to know; and did continue so to neglect and refuse until the said transport had gone up the river about 8 miles above the said landing, and past the pickets of the enemy, and under the guns of a rebel battery. This at the Ashepoo River, S. C., on the 25th day of May, 1864. Specification 4th.-In this, that the said Thomas Bayley, colonel of the Ninth U. S. Colored Troops, being in command of his regiment and of the transport Edwin Lewis, in the Ashepoo River, and under orders to stop at the mouth of Mosquito Creek, about 8 miles from Saint Helena Sound, did negligently and carelessly proceed 6 or 8 miles farther up the Ashepoo River, and was there hailed by a rebel sentry, standing near a fire on the bank, with, "What boat is that?" or words to that effect, and that the said Bayley answered, "The Edwin Lewis;" that instead of turning back, the said Bayley passed with the transport and the troops on board beyond the sentry and about 1 mile farther into the lines of the enemy, although he distinctly heard the alarm given by the rebel sentry; which act of criminal thoughtlessness endangered his whole command, put the enemy on guard against the intended surprise, and contributed greatly to the loss of the steamer Boston. This at the Ashepoo River, S. C., on or about the 25th of May, 1864. To which charge and specifications the accused pleaded as follows: FINDING. The court, having maturely considered the evidence adduced, finds the accused, Col. Thomas Bayley, as follows: Of the 1st Specification, "Not guilty." And the court do therefore acquit him, the said Col. Thomas Bayley, Ninth U. S. Colored Troops. II. The proceedings and findings in the foregoing case of Col. Thomas Bayley, Ninth Regiment U. S. Colored Troops, having been submitted to the major-general commanding, are hereby approved. Col. Thomas Bayley, Ninth Regiment U. S. Colored Troops, is accordingly released from arrest and restored to duty. III. The court-martial, of which Col. P. P. Brown, jr., One hundred and fifty-seventy Regiment New York Volunteers, is president, is hereby dissolved. By command of Maj. Gen. J. G. Foster: W. L. M. BURGER, Assistant Adjutant-General. HILTON HEAD, June 11, 1864. GENERAL: This department was so thoroughly cleared out by General Gillmore that I find, in addition to the force being very small, that there is a lack of boats, horses, and material for engineering purposes. I am planning to make the best of everything, and will soon, I hope, be in a condition to operate on the offensive with some effect. As many of the regiments, especially the new colored ones, are sadly deficient in drill, I have ordered them collected into a camp of instruction at this place. I will soon make something of them. We made a strong demonstration on James Island a week ago, but found the works too strong to attempt in front. There are small chances of succeeding in an attempt on James Island, except by a surprise. But if I only had men enough to make the venture, I am sure that I could succeed by landing on the mainland in the rear of |