1084 Series I Volume XLVII-II Serial 99 - Columbia Part II
Page 1084 | OPERATIONS IN N. C., S. C., S. GA., AND E. FLA. Chapter LIX. |
AUGUSTA, GA., February 3, 1865.
His Excellency President Davis,
RICHMOND, Va.:
The fall of Charleston and Columbia would necessitate soon abanodonment of Wilmington and East North Carolina. If troops from there and from Virginia could be sent me at Columbia, with their transportation, I would defeat, and might destroy, Sherman's army. No time, however, should be lost.
G. T. BEAUREGARD.
CONFEDERATE STATES,
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE WEST,
Agusta, Ga1865.Notes of conference had on the 2nd day of February, A. D. 1865, at Green's Cut Station, Ga., at which General Beauregard, Lieutenant General Hardee, Major General D. H. Hill, and Major General G. W. Smith were present. The following was the estimated strength of thhe forces in and about Augusta and the State of South Carolina which could be relied on as effectives to resist the advance of Sherman:
General Hardee: Regular infantry, Prvisional Armies Confederate
States. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,000
Nilitia and reserves. . . . . 3,000
11,000
Light artillery. . . . . . . . . . 2,000
Butler's division, mounted and dismounted (one-half only available at this date). . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,500 3,500
Total under command of
General Hardee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,500
Major-General Smith:
Georgia militia. . . . . . . . . . . 1,200
General Browne:
Reserves. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250 1,450
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,950
Total infanrty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,450
Lee's corps:
Infantry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,000
Cheatham's corps:
Infantry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,000
Stewart's corps:
Infantry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,000
10,000
Total infantry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22,450
Artillery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800
Army of Tennessee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,800
Wheeler's cavalry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,700
Recapitulation.
Total infantry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22,450
Total light artillery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,800
Total cavalry
mounted and dismounted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,200
Grand total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33,450
Cheatham's and Stewart's corps had not arrived. The head of Cheatham's corps was expected to arrive on the 4th or 5th, and the head of Stewart's on the 10th or 11th instant. In view of Sherman's present position, his manifest advance toward Branchville from Pocotaligo and Coosawhatchie, the weaknees of our forces, and the expocted arrival of the re-enforcements above referred to, it was deemed inadvisable to concentrate our foces at Branchville, and there offer battle
Page 1084 | OPERATIONS IN N. C., S. C., S. GA., AND E. FLA. Chapter LIX. |