Engineers at the seat of Government, and has suggested that I should write to you on the subject. If you can possibly spare him from your command, the Secretary desires you will give him the necessity orders to repair to this place without delay, as the service is suffering here for the want of a head of the burea. Please telegraph your answer. It is proper that I should suggest for your consideration the possibility, even the probablity, that the first attempt of the U. S. authorities, judgment from the proclamation of President Lincoln, will be to retake possession of Charleston Harbor.

Very respectfully, yours,

S. COOPER,

Adjutant and Inspector General.

[6.]

HEADQUARTERS PROVISIONAL ARMY, C. S.

Charleston, S. C., April 16, 1861.

Major W. H. C. WHITING,
Assistant Inspector-General, Morris Island:

MAJOR: Your favor of the 10th instant has been received*. I do not intend to increase the number of batteries on Morris Island bearing on the main channel, except at Vinegar Hill. The Dahlgren gun of Sullivan's Island and the rifled gun must be put in position at or about the Vinegar Hill battery. A moving traverse must be constructed at this position from the beach to the creek in the rear and a protecting traverse along the sea-shore, where even the natural ground is too low and from sand hill to sand hill. The Cummings Points batteries heading on Sumter must be destroyed. Two of their mortars may be put in position along the shore toward Gadberry's. The other must be sent back to the depot ordnance in the city. Brigadier-General Nelson's brigade will consist of Hagood's and Greeg's regiments. Brigadier-General Simson's of Cunningham's, Kershaw's, Rion's, and De Saussure's. All the troops on the island will be under command of Major-General Bonham. Brigadier-General Simson will concentrate his brigade in rear of the North Point batteries. Brigadier-General Nelson's brigade will remain in its present position until further orders.

Respectfully, your obedient servnat,

G. T. BEAUREGARD,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

[6.]

HEADQUARTERS PROVISIONAL FORCES,
Morris Island, S. C., April 17, 1861.

General BEAUREGARD,

Commanding Provisional Army, Charleston, S. C.:

MY DEAR GENERAL: The object of the occupation of Morris Island having been attained, that is to say, the capture of Sumter, suppose we abandon it altogether. In this view of the case we should commence by carrying out your orders, as expressed in your directions, for the present suspendend. If we are to maintain the position here, I am, as heretofore, in favor of occupying the whole line. But let us examine the question of abandning it. In the first place we leave an expensive locality; we place in safety a large amount of munitions of war; we post for the defense of Charleston a fine body of troops on more interior

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* See VOL. I, p. 298.

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