fire was discontinued, but opened again on Monday morning, and will be continued until the fort is thoroughly demolished. This has never been thoroughly done yet, and as far as I can ascertain the lower line of casemates remain intact. I propose to make a breaching cut along the line of lower embrasures and then shake the wall by explosions of large quantities of powder, floated down against the fort on rafts. I shall take these rafts up to-morrow morning. The jails for the rebel prisoners are now made, and they will also be taken up to-morrow, and put up at night on Cumming's Point. I am now collecting the four companies of cavalry, all the cavalry that remains in the department, for the purpose of a raid on the railroad. As the weather is too hot for infantry to march any distance, I propose to land the infantry and cavalry together, and push forward the latter to do its work, while the former holds the landing and advances as far as possible to give support. The general health of the command is good. The late movements have had a decidedly beneficial effect on the troops, both white and black. The latter, especially, improved every day that they were out, and, I am happy to say, toward the last evinced a considerable degree of pluck and good fighting qualities. I am now relieved of apprehension as to this class of troops, and believe, with active service and drill, they can be made thorough soldiers. I have the honor be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, Hilton Head, S. C., July 17, 1864. GENERAL: I have nothing of interest to report since my letter of the 12th. The fire upon Fort Sumter has been kept up, slowly and with marked effect. A breach which appears practicable has been made near the right gorge angle. We are now demolishing the left gorge angle, where the rebels have their magazine containing the small supply of ammunition left in the fort. I shall try the mine rafts as soon as I can go up there and arrange the details for locating and firing them. I would like very much to receive your sanction to the occupation of this fort, which, I think, can be done with little loss of life. I am preparing to make an attack on the railroad and afterward on a point near Savannah. I am, however, not able to make these moves as rapidly as I desire for want of proper and sufficient transportation, of which I have made full reports. I will do the best I can. The jails are now being erected on Morris Island, and as soon as ready will receive the prisoners in my hands. The health of the command is good. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. G. FOSTER, Major-General, Commanding. The rebel force in this department has been very much increased since our demonstration on John's Island. At that time Jackson's brigade of Georgia troops (veterans) were withdrawn from Johnston's army, and arrived in time to fight our men on John's Island. Since then more men have arrived in Charleston. In Savannah the veteran force is reported from 1,500 to 2,500 men, besides all the heavy batteries and six field batteries of four guns each. The line of the railroad is now strongly guarded in anticipation of a raid, and field batteries are stationed at central points, so as to be able to reach each available landing place. The point upon which I hoped to effect a surprise with our 300 cavalry is now guarded by a battery and 1,000 rebel cavalry. There are two points near Savannah that are accessible, but the operation will involve several days and nights spent in the rice fields, and this at this season will be apt to prostrate the troops with fever. I am, however, determined to attack somewhere as soon as I can make the necessary preparations, which take considerable time, as it will now be necessary to go in full force whenever I make an attempt. I inclose copies of letters received (unofficially) from our officers, prisoners in Charleston, with my reply. The health of the command continues good. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, Hilton Head, S. C., August 4, 1864. GENERAL: I have the honor to report, since the date of my last letter, that we have been able to achieve quite a little success in Florida. Brig. Gen. William Birney having received instructions from me to seize the first opportunity that should occur for operating with his small force to destroy the railroad between Baldwin and Lake City, and at the same time to turn the former place, finding that the regiments of Georgia cavalry had been drawn away to guard the railroads in this vicinity against our threatened raid, collected quickly all his available force, and, moving up the river a short distance above Jacksonville, landed at the mouth of Black Creek, and pushing rapidly inland cut the Cedar Keys railroad, and following on quickly succeeded in destroying the long trestle-work over the south branch of the Saint Mary's River, on the Central Railroad. Turning then toward Baldwin, he advanced there on the rear of that place and forced the evacuation of that place, the enemy garrisoning it (consisting of the Florida reserves, both foot and cavalry, with fifteen pieces of artillery) retreating rapidly westward on the night of the 25th ultimo, and crossed the Saint Mary's River at the ferry in the Big Bend. Our forces occupied Baldwin and its fortifications, capturing arms, stores, turpentine, &c., in a considerable quantity, the amount not known; the turpentine was accidentally fired. Subsequently Camp Milton, between Baldwin and Jacksonville, was found deserted and occupied by our troops. The destruction of the trestle-work on these railroads cut off two trains of cars, one of which, consisting of a locomotive and seven cars, has been already secured and brought into Jacksonville. The rebels had taken away one or two important pieces of the locomotive, which can soon be replaced. Upon the report of this successful operation I resolved immediately to re-enforce General Birney with five regiments, and to have him move out with his whole force, and make a sweep of all horses and cattle and all able-bodied negro men from the Santa Fé and New Rivers, southward over the counties of Alachua, Levy, and Marion, and to bring his spoils across the upper Saint John's safely into the territory east of that river. If opportunity offered by the continued weakness of the enemy in Florida, he was to drive the enemy beyond the Suwannee River and destroy as much of the Central Railroad as possible. The Florida Railroad from Fernandina to Cedar Keys was to be kept intact to favor our own operations. The troops were already embarking for this purpose when your order of the 25th ultimo, inclosing telegraphic order* from General Grant, was received. Although this order was not peremptory, I did not consider that our necessities would warrant my delaying to carry out its directions at once. I therefore sent orders to General Birney to proceed at once to Fort Monroe with his brigade. Brig. Gen. J. P. Hatch was immediately ordered from here to proceed at once to take command in General Birney's place, with regiments from this place to replace those taken away by General Birney, increased by an additional force from this vicinity, to enable him if possible to carry out the programme laid down for General Birney's action. Brigadier-General Hatch sailed with his force day before yesterday (the 2d instant). General Birney, with that portion of his brigade now in Florida, had not yet arrived. One of the regiments of his brigade now here is sent on the Fulton, which sails this p. m., and the remaining ones will follow in transportation already provided immediately on their arrival from Florida. These four regiments number 2,500 effectives, and although colored troops, are as good as any troops in this department. The health of the department is as good as it usually is at this season of the year, but many officers and men are beginning to feel the effects of the heat and their efficiency is correspondingly impaired. The operations in the Northern District have been satisfactory. The slow and careful firing upon Fort Sumter is beginning to exhibit a marked effect; two breaches, one on the gorge and the other on the right flank, are being successfully made. The immense mass of debris that is presented in appearance to our forts is being smashed up and blown away by our shells in a slow but a sure manner. a reasonable time the fort will be rendered untenable, and if still held by the enemy can be taken by our troops at any time we choose. I prefer, however, before doing this to wait until the preparations are completed, so as to avoid loss of life. In I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, J. G. FOSTER, Major-General. Chief of Staff. *See Part II, p. 185. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, Hilton Head, S. C., August 8, 1864. GENERAL: The bombardment of Fort Sumter continues with marked effect, although our fire is very slow and unfrequent, in consequence of the stock of ammunition having given out and none being received. The rebels are calculating how many days they can hold the fort, expecting that we will assault. In consequence of our want of ammunition and guns, I have accepted the offer of Admiral Dahlgren of six 11-inch guns, with officers, crews, and ammunition, and these will soon be placed in a battery built by the troops, and will no doubt prove very effective. As you did not order the assaulting arks, plans of which I sent you, I am going to work building two of them here. These will be simply modern row galleys, fifty oars on a side; will draw 26 inches of water when loaded with 1,000 men; will have elevated towers for sharpshooters, and an assaulting ladder or gang-plank of 51 feet in length, operated by machinery. These will be very useful anywhere, in assaulting a fort or landing troops in shoal water. I propose also to build a light-draught iron-clad, and have written to General Meigs to ascertain if I can have the railroad iron, obtained from Florida, rolled into plates without delay; or if he can have an exchange made for 2-inch or 4-inch plates at once. Very respectfully, and truly, your obedient servant, Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, Hilton Head, S. C., August 18, 1864. GENERAL: I have the honor to report the following operations in this department since my last report: Brigadier-General Hatch has been actively engaged with his command in Florida, making successful raids in the surrounding country, and reports favorably in regard to an anticipated capture of a large number of horses, and thinks that quite a number of negroes will also be found who are waiting to come within our lines. In Hilton Head District the new work on the line of constructions is now nearly completed, and another work is about being erected on a site near Mitchellville. The work at Spanish Wells is rapidly progressing toward completion. In Beaufort District the works are being strengthened and put in order for defensive operations, and a new work to serve as a citadel is being commenced. In the Northern District the bombardment of Fort Sumter is progressing slowly but surely. Admiral Dahlgren has kindly consented to loan six of the heaviest naval guns, with officers and men to work them.. A parapet has been thrown up for these guns, and as soon as they are placed in proper position the demolition of Sumter will progress much more rapidly. The tents for the 600 rebel prisoners of war are being put in position on Morris Island, and the quartermaster has been ordered to have a high and strong board fence put around them to prevent any |