among which was about 200 bushels of corn and meal and considerable ham and beef, and since there was no means of transportation by which it could be got to the boat it was destroyed. Considerable surplus ordnance, accouterments, and horse equipments were also destroyed. Several horses and mules were captured. having brought off or destroyed everything that could be of use to the enemy, and having accomplished all that circumstances could admit of, I returned to Barrancas with my whole force, where I arrived on the morning of the 28th.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

A. B. SPURLING,

Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding.

Bvt. Brigadier General J. BAILEY,

Commanding District of West Florida.

[Indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF WEST FLORIDA,
November 8, 1864.

Respectfully forwarded to Major-General Granger, commanding District of West Florida and South Alabama. Lieutenant-Colonel Spurling is deserving a very great deal of credit for his management of this and other expeditions. I find him a most invaluable officer.

J. BAILEY,

Brevet Brigadier-General, Commanding.

CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND FLORIDA, AND ON THE GEORGIA COAST, FROM JANUARY 1 TO FEBRUARY 29, 1864.*

UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.

HEADQUARTERS GORDON'S DIVISION,
January 1, 1864.

General TURNER, Chief of Staff:

GENERAL: I have the honor to forward the inclosed letter from Captain Balch, commanding U. S. sloop of war Pawnee, showing that an iron-clad would have no difficulty in entering the Stono River should it be necessary, in reply to an interrogatory of the major-general commanding.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. H. GORDON,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

[Inclosure.]

U. S. STEAM SLOOP PAWNEE,

Stono Inlet, S. C., December 31, 1863.

General GORDON, Commanding Post:

GENERAL: In reply to your question as to whether an iron-clad can come from outside into Stono Inlet, I have to reply that it is

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*For Union and Confederate Correspondence, &c., from March 1 to November 13, 1864, see Part II.

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