intrenchments, hence the necessity of the main force being stationed near them. I do not believe the enemy will attempt anything beyond raids, but there should be preparations for a more serious attack. The picket-boats will enable the island to be held with a less force than would be otherwise required.

Saint Helena Island: Four companies, with an aggregate of 300 men, will be sufficient for this island, and I think it will be safe to place black troops there, for there is not much probability of the enemy landing while we have a gun-boat in Saint Helena Sound. As this island covers Bay Point the force now there, 25 men, I think sufficient for that point. For the district: Post of pulaski and Tybee, 300; Hilton Head Island, 3,000; Saint Helena and Bay Point, 325; total force, 3,625.

I deem the above the maximum force that will be required for the defense of the district under any contingency likely to arise.

I remain, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. W. H. DAVIS,

Colonel 104th Pennsylvania Vols., Commanding Post.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, Numbers 195.
Hilton Head, S. C., April 30, 1864.

* * *

VII. The First New York Volunteers Engineers, excepting Companies A, C, I, and G, are hereby ordered to proceed to Fortress Monroe and report to Major General B. F. Butler, commanding Department of Virginia and North Carolina, for the purpose of joining the Tenth Army Corps. The companies above mentioned will remain in this department under command of Major Place. All orders or parts of orders conflicting herewith are hereby countermanded. The quartermaster's department will furnish transportation.

By command of Major General Q. A. Gillmore:

ED. W. SMITH,
Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General.

Abstract from return of the Department of the South, Major General Quincy, A. Gillmore, U. S. Army, commanding, for April, 1864.

Present for duty. Pieces of artillery.

Command Officer Men. Aggrega Aggrega Heavy. Field.

. s. te te

present present

. and

absent.

General 53 106 160 186 ....... ......

headqua

rters..

Port 98 2,380 3,171 3,844 25 6

Royal

Island

(Saxton

)..

Norther 196 5,071 5,918 6,968 78 10

n

Distric

t

(Schimm

elfenni

g)..

Distric 159 4,085 4,959 6,547 46 17

t of

Florida

(Birney

)..

Hilton 151 3,588 5,015 6,358 ....... ......

Head

Distric

t

(Davis)

.

Total.. 657 15,230 19,223 23,903 149 33