SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, Numbers 43.
Hilton Head, S. C., February 5, 1864.

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XX. One the departure of Brigadier-General Seymour, Colonel J. B. Howell will assume command of Hilton Head, Fort Pulaski, and Tybee and Saint Helena Islands.

By command of Major General Q. A. Gillmore:

ISRAEL R. SEALY,
Captain, Forty-seventh New York Vols., Actg. Asst. Adjt. General

[35.]

FINNEGAN'S CAMP, February 9, 1864.

Major-General GILLMORE:

SIR: I arrived here last night about 9 o'clock. About sundown a train come to the depot and hurried off all that could be got away before we could reach it. The Forty-seventh, Forty-eighth, and One hundred and fifteenth [New York] are here; the Seventh Connecticut, Third United States, and Eighth United States-Henry's command-I sent on last night to Baldwin. It is probably there before this time. I shall move on that far to-day unless you think proper to order differently. The subject of provisions will be one of great difficulty. Unless a train is put on the road you cannot subsist any force beyond Baldwin with wagons. I hope therefore, all haste will be made to get up the Fernandina train; we are not likely to take any other. Colonel Henry announces the capture of a battery of five guns last night two miles in advance of this. I send back for the train to bring up whatever is now in the wagons to this camp, and then will order it to return for hard bread, coffee, sugar, and salt, or hard bread and salt alone. We can find cattle in the country. But the train should have been up last night. The Second South Carolina I propose to leave at Jacksonville to work; the Fifty-fourth to come out here with ten days' hard bread, &c., to this camp. All troops that come out must come very light, but with plenty of hard bread.

Respectfully,

T. SEYMOUR.

If you want to see what Florida is good for come out to Baldwin.

[35.]

JACKSONVILLE, February 12, 1864.

Colonel TILGHMAN,

Baldwin:

Send scouts to the fords of the Saint Mary's River, and send any important information you get to General Seymour and myself. Report by telegraph when they start. The dispatch just sent to General Seymour through you shows the object in view.

GILLMORE,

General.

[35.]

BALDWIN, February 12, 1864.

General GILLMORE:

I have sent a scout toward Saint Mary's River. They are not willing to go farther than six or seven miles to-night. At daylight they will