field-work there to protect your communications on the river, and, should you deem it expedient, will cause one to be constructed immediately. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, ED. W. SMITH, Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, Brig. Gen. T. SEYMOUR, Commanding District of Florida, Jacksonville, Fla.: GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that you cause the lumber obtained on Saint Mary's River to be stored at Fernandina, subject to orders from these headquarters. Requisitions for such amount of lumber as you may require will be made out and forwarded to these headquarters for approval. You will please instruct the commanding officer at Fernandina that the lumber must not be used by him for any purpose except by permission of the major-general commanding. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, ED. W. SMITH, Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. DISTRICT OF FLORIDA, DEPT. OF THE SOUTH, February 28, 1864. Brig. Gen. J. W. TURNER, Chief of Staff: GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt at this moment of a communication from department headquarters touching several points, upon which the major-general commanding gives directions: First. That Yellow Bluff should be occupied. Yesterday morning Lieutenant Michie was sent to examine this locality, and this morning two companies went down to construct a block-housewhich was all that was thought necessary at present--on the neck of the isthmus behind the bluff, should further defenses seem necessary when the ground is cleared of the almost impenetrable jungle that now covers it. Second. At present, while Baldwin is not in our hands, I do not deem it essential that the railroad from Fernandina to Baldwin should be completed at this moment. Probably a little later it may be of consequence, but the railroad is so much shorter by Jacksonville that it will be sufficient for all movements that can now be made. Third. The lumber at Albertis' (I think Major Brooks informed me) is probably burned. A saw-mill is expected to be in operation here soon (in a fortnight), and it may be advisable to send that from Folly Island, as a permanency here, for cutting for public purposes. Fourth. As soon as this position is as complete as it should be I think it will be well to occupy Palatka, and to throw there a sufficient force, temporarily, to fortify it with rapidity. 32 R R-VOL XXXV, PT I Fifth. Another regiment should be mounted here. I cannot recommend the Seventh New Hampshire for this purpose. If the remaining battalions of the Massachusetts cavalry are to be expected, as rumor states, I should be happy to learn the fact. The enemy has now nearly five times, numerically, my mounted force, certainly four times. No activity can be anticipated or expected, offensively, while the disparity is so great. V ery respectfully, general, your obedient servant, SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DIST. OF FLA., DEPT. OF THE SOUTH, I. In accordance with instructions from department headquarters, Brig. Gen. I. Vogdes is relieved from duty and will report to department headquarters. The brigadier-general commanding hereby expresses his thanks to Brigadier-General Vogdes for the cordial assistance rendered while on duty in this district. II. Brigadier-General Foster will assume command of the division commanded by Brigadier-General Vogdes. First Lieutenant, First U. S. Artillery, A. A. A. Gen. HDQRS. NORTHERN DISTRICT, DEPT. OF THE SOUTH, Col. W. W. H. DAVIS, Commanding U. S. Forces, Morris Island, S. C. : COLONEL The brigadier-general commanding desires that Forts Strong and Shaw be provided with reserves of ammunition for small-arms of all the calibers in use at your post by the troops, and reserves of provisions and fuel. Wells should be dug within each fort. It may not be practicable to procure good water in Fort Strong; should such prove to be the case, a supply of from 4,000 to 5,000 gallons should be obtained in barrels and stored in the bombproofs. One hundred thousand rounds of small-arm ammunition and 5,000 rations of bread, meat, coffee, and sugar will be sufficient for Fort Strong; 200,000 rounds of ammunition and 10,000 rations of bread, &c., for Fort Shaw. If storage can be had in Battery Putnam, without too much occupying the bomb-proofs, supplies of the same kind should be placed there. The brigadier-general commanding suggests the propriety of making up the Requa Battery organization. He thinks that all the material of the battery except the horses should be turned over to Captain Hennesey, and that a sufficient number of the men to work the batteries in the boats should be added to the boat infantry. The horses will be turned over to the quartermaster. I have the honor to be, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, ADRIAN TERRY, Assistant Adjutant-General, HDQRS. DISTRICT OF FLORIDA, DEPT. OF THE SOUTH, Capt. G. B. BALCH, Comdg. U. S. Naval Forces, Saint John's River, Fla.: CAPTAIN: The circumstances that recently compelled the presence of a larger naval force than usual at this point being no longer of paramount consequence I communicate the fact to you for your information. I cannot let this occasion pass without heartily thanking you, captain, for the promptness and cordiality with which arrangements were made by you to assist us at a moment when it appeared probable that the vigorous assistance of the force under your command would be necessary. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, T. SEYMOUR, Brigadier-General, Commanding. HDQRS. DISTRICT OF FLORIDA, DEPT. OF THE SOUTH, Brig. Gen. R. S. FOSTER: GENERAL: I desire that the troops of your division should be constantly employed, as far as means will admit, in clearing up and preparing the ground on the opposite side of the stream, so as to increase the strength of Jacksonville as a military position. With a direction of this preparation you are charged, and you will effect it in the shortest time possible, keeping as many of your command at work as can possibly be employed. All the axes on hand will be furnished by Major Place, of the engineers. As soon as this is effected a change will probably be made in your position. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, T. SEYMOUR, Brigadier-General, Commanding. CONFEDERATE CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. General JORDAN: JAMES ISLAND, January 2, 1864-11.15 a. m. No change of importance has been observed on this front to-day. I carefully examined enemy's works on Long Island from a point half a mile distant; only one face of it can be seen from this island, the rest of the work being masked by the trees and hillocks on Morris Island. From that part of the work it appears and seems to be a carefully finished work, with large magazine. This flank runs parallel with creek from Secessionville, and no guns are to be seen on it. The rear opening toward Folly Island is closed. It is not possible to determine if it is offensive against Secessionville or defensive for protecting this creek. Few men or tents to be seen. • HAGOOD, General. HDQRS. DEPT. OF S. CAROLINA, GEORGIA, AND FLORIDA, Col. EDWARD C. ANDERSON, Commanding River Batteries, Savannah, Ga.: COLONEL: Your letter of the 30th ultimo has just been received. I was not aware that the arms you refer to were State arms. I have, in consequence, ordered them restored to those companies, especially as the latter are ordered to the Third Military District (General Walker's), so as to be nearer to Savannah for future operations. I intend ere long to send in the same direction the rest of the troops I temporarily withdrew from Georgia, so as to put them under the control of General Gilmer, for the defense of Savannah. As regards the question of small-arms, I have ordered that all heavy artillery companies, or infantry doing permanent duty as heavy artillerists, shall be armed with smooth-bore muskets, and their rifles be used to equalize the armament of the infantry. That order has already been applied here, and will have to be complied with elsewhere in the department. Of course due regard will be had that State arms shall go to troops already similarly armed. Respectfully, your obedient servant, G. T. BEAUREGARD, HEADQUARTERS, GENERAL ORDERS, Savannah, January 2, 1864. I. Maj. John J. Clarke, Provisional Corps of Engineers, having reported for duty to Maj. Gen. J. F. Gilmer, second in command, in compliance with Special Orders, No. 307, paragraph 9, Adjutant and Inspector General's Office, is hereby announced as chief of the Engineer Department in the Military District of Georgia and the Third Military District of South Carolina, and will be obeyed and respected accordingly. II. All instructions from these headquarters in relation to engineering operations will be sent through Major Clarke, and all engineer officers in the above-named districts will render their reports and official papers to him. III. Commanders of districts and sub-districts desiring any modifications or additions to works as planned and directed by Major Clarke, chief engineer, will submit their views to these headquarters for consideration. By order of Major-General Gilmer, second in command: General COOPER: Major and Assistant Adjutant-General. CHARLESTON, January 3, 1864. Enemy has been reconnoitering and sounding in vicinity of Dewees Inlet north, and Long Island, indicating possible movement in that direction. His encampment on Cole's Island has lately increased. This shows great danger of uncovering Charleston to protect country and railroad from here to Savannah. G. T. BEAUREGARD, [Indorsement.] JANUARY 5, 1864. SECRETARY OF WAR: It would seem proper and advisable to call on Governor Brown for the balance of the 15,000 local-defense men in view of the apprehension set forth within. J. D. JANUARY 3, 1864. Col. D. B. HARRIS, Chief Engineer: COLONEL: The commanding general instructs me to direct your attention to the following points brought to his notice by a recent inspection of Fort Sumter by an officer of the general staff: The explosion and the fierce heat consequent upon the combustion caused the two chambers comprising the magazine to fall in, bringing down the superincumbent rubbish and forming a very large gap in the interior slope which protects the gorge wall. This is closed by the interior brick wall of the fort, a little strengthened at the base by a sand traverse revetted with gabions, but very weak at the top. In addition to this increased danger from artillery fire, the direct footpath from the top of the southwest angle along the gorge wall is temporarily interrupted, so that infantry cannot be deployed there with effect. The secret gallery on the north and northeast sides of the fort has been completed, except some covering needed on the northeast end. The nearest arch where it terminates, prepared for musketry fire, is so much shattered that it will be partly filled up, leaving room for about 4 men to fire; the next arch will be open. I would respectfully call attention to the necessity of putting a heavy force on the interior traverse at the southwest angle, as the enemy can interrupt it if they choose to open fire. Captain Johnson has only 90 negroes, who are very much worked down, having been nearly sixty days in the harbor. Captain Johnson is engaged in constructing a wooden stairway in the southwest angle, which is to wind up the area of the stairs to the second tier of casemates and then make a straight reach upward in the direction of the west wall, ending on that wall some 8 or 10 feet beyond the old exit. This will require a very strong traverse to protect it from the fire of Morris Island and of the monitors. Indeed, the upper work now going on could be seen from Morris Island and stopped or greatly checked by the fire of rifle guns. The commanding general therefore wishes you to ascertain whether or not this arrangement is susceptible of any improvement. He also wishes to know whether a portion of the room of the exploded magazine which was saved, and is now being used as a store-room, cannot be properly ventilated. Finally, it is the wish of the commanding general that an alarmbell shall be placed on the western casemates, and so arranged that it could be rung at Colonel Elliott's headquarters; that a similar arrangement be made with the center bomb-proof, and that the sentinel on the south angle be able to ring a bell in Colonel Elliott's toom. Respectfully, THOMAS JORDAN, |