CHARLESTON, March 11, 1861-5.30 p. m.

Honorable L. T. WIGFALL,

Washington, D. C.:

We are prepared at all points and we defy re-enforcements to be sent to Sumter*.

G. T. BEAUREGARD.

[1.]

SAVANNAH, March 12, 1861.

His Excellency Governor BROWN,

Commander-in-Chief, present:

SIR: In case it is decided to occupy Pulaski with the regular troops of the State, permit me to suggest that, so soon as the most advanced of the companies now organized are provided with their proper equipment, they be placed in garrison there, under command of Captain Gill, the senior captain, as I understand, being required at the barracks; that upon the occupation of the fort by the Georgia regulars, the volunteers be for the present withdrawn, subject, of course, to be in readiness as they always are, for sudden requisitions for their services in case of attack. This is desirable, for the reason that until the regularx acquire the necessary proficiency and also that confidence in themselves possessed by the volunteers, and fort the purpose of the rigorous discipline required in the regular service, the two organization should be separated. The volunteers have had a severe term of duty, and might, I think, be relieved. As the companies become filled and partially drilled at the barracks they can be transfered to Pulaski, to make room for the recruits continually arriving. The barrcks only accommodate comfortably about 200. In this way, as a recruiting depot, they would serve as a reserve to supply the garrison without extra quarters, &c., until the proper number is obtained for the defense of Pulaski. In the meantime the companies already organized can be instructed in their garrison duties, and should an attack be imminent, be re-enforced at once by the admirable corps of volunteers of the city of Savannah. The companies now organized are ample to work with distinctiokn the heavy guns, and present not only excellent material, but, for the time they have been at work, most creditable proficiency and discipline. To carry out this, however, it is requisite that they should have at the very earliest possible moment clothing, especially greatcoats and blankets, and their accounterments and ammunition, belts, bayonet scabbards, and cartridge-boxes. The commanding officer should be authorized to procure them with the least possible delay. In case the policy of garrisoning Pulaski with the regulars and relieving the volunteers be adopted I make these suggestions as your military engineer. In addition, in view of the defense of that work, I regard for the purposes of labor than kind of force as most economical.

Very respectfully,

W. H. C. WHITING,

[6.] Major of Engineers.

GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. PROVISIONAL FORCES, C. S. ARMY, Numbers 4.
Charleston, S. C. March 13, 1861.

I. One company of artillery and one of infantry (to be called into service) will be sent forthwith to Battery Island, on the Stono River,

* This in reply to Wigfall, VOL. I. p. 273.