Military District of South Carolina, I ordered Major Bryan to proceed to Sullivan's Island and I repaired in person to James Island, where I visited the works of Batteries Ruam and Haskell. I beg leave to report as fllows: About 1,500 negroes are now emplyed on James Island, or, rather, have been sent there. Four hundred of them, I understand, are working at Battery Cheves and 1,100 at Battery Haskell. No work at all had been done at Battery Ryan for the Jast four days. Catain Gregorie, of the Engineer Department, informs me that he was drected to complete the wokrs at Legre's Point before proceeding further with Battery Ryan. It is easy to perceive, however, that all the works on James Island could and

should be carried on simultaneously. When I reached Battery Haskell the negroes were leaving it at double-quick step, becuse of a few shots that had been fired at the works from Morris Island. The very large gang of negroes employed at Haskell is not properly organized. The overseers, nine all, are not acquanted with the hands they work. They cannot manage them. They do not keep them in hand. The fact is that instead of nine overseers we should have at least twenty to thirty. It is absolutely necessary that more should be procured. They could be detailed from our own troops now stationed on the island. No night work had been done so far. Captain Gregorie is of opinion that as long as long as there is no shelling by the enemy there can be no loss of time by working during the day only. Night labor with such a non-organized gang of negroes would, he thinks, amount to very little. Battery Haskell was begun on the 14th instant. It covers about 15,000 square yards. It is very much exposed to the enemu's fire and would require very strong traverses. A magazine for the mortar battery and a central magazin for the whole line were all that remained for the completion of the works. The laborers are much in wantof water buckets and of cooking utensils. They have no water near at hand, and lose much time in providing themselves with it. The assistantinspectors of the department will be actively employed in visiting the different works worksd of this district and will report daily the results of their inspections.

Respectfully,

ALFD. ROMAN,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Inspector-General.

[28.]

RICHMOND, vA., August 6, 1863.

His Excellency M. L. BONHAM,

Governor of South Carolina:

SIR: Your letter of the 28th ultimo was received by me a day two since. Within a very recent period an increased number of heavy guns, smooth-bore and rifled, of both navy and army pattern, have been sent to Charleston. Doubtless most of them have already arrived there and are now in service. Evans' brigade has been ordered to Charleston, and the reminder of Colquitt's will be at once. In relation to the incommplete gun-boat (Charleston) it is deemed proper and best that whatever shall be done with her must be done under full consultation with Captain Tucker, and under his command. The Secretary of the Navy, I am informed, has communicated by telegraph with you on this subject. Be assured that the executive branch of the Government will continue to do all that is possible for the safety and relief of the city, which we pray will never be polluted by the footsteps of a lustful, inhuman foe. It must never pass to the even temporary subjection of