The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official
Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Volume XIV: Series 1,
vol. 14, Part I, 463.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH,
Hilton Head, Port Royal, S. C., June 3, 1863.
Honorable E. M. STANTON,
Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.:
SIR: I have much pleasure in transmitting to you herewith certified
copy of a telegraphic report just received from Colonel James Montgomery,
commanding Second South Carolina Regiment, of the result of the first
of a series of raids upon the main-land, now organized and in process
of being carried out.
From the report you will see that Colonel Montgomery, with 300 men
of his regiment and a section of the Third Rhode Island Battery, commanded
by Captain Brayton, penetrated the country of the enemy 25 miles,
destroyed a pontoon bridge across the Combahee River, together with
a vast amount of cotton, rice, and other property, and brought away
with him 725 slaves and some 5 horses.
This expedition is but the initial experiment of a system of incursions
which will penetrate up all the inlets, creeks, and rivers of this
department, and to be used in which I am now having several of our
light-draught transport steamers supplied with bulwarks of boiler-iron
to protect the troops on board from musketry and rifles; such steamers
carrying 10 and 20-pounder howitzers in their bows.
I have also to report that Colonel Hawley, Seventh Regiment Connecticut
Volunteers, commanding Saint Augustine, recently made a raid into
the interior, in which he captured 118 head of cattle and many mules
and horses, the cattle belonging to one Feitch, who was a contractor
for supplying beef to the rebel army.
Colonel Montgomery with his forces will repeat his incursions as
rapidly as possible in different directions, injuring the enemy all
he can and carrying away their slaves, thus rapidly filling up the
South Carolina regiments in the department, of which there are now
four.
The Fifty-fourth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers (colored), Colonel
Shaw commanding, arrived to-day in good condition, and appears an
excellent regiment, over 900 strong. They will soon have abundant
and very important employment, as will all other regiments, white
or colored, that may be sent to re-enforce this department.
Congratulating you and the country on the favorable aspect of affairs
in the Southwest, and hoping soon to be in a position to send you
good news from this department, I have the honor to be, sir, with
the highest esteem, your very obedient servant,
D. HUNTER, Major-General, Commanding.
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HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH,
Hilton Head, Port Royal, S. C., June 3, 1863.
His Excellency Governor ANDREW, Massachusetts:
GOVERNOR: I have the honor to announce that the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts
(colored troops), Colonel Shaw commanding, arrived safely in this
harbor this afternoon, and have been sent to Port Royal Island. The
regiment had an excellent passage, and from the appearance of the
men I doubt not that this command will yet win a reputation and place
in history deserving the patronage you have given them. Just as they
were steaming up the bay I received from Colonel James Montgomery,
commanding Second South Carolina Regiment, a telegraphic dispatch
of which certified copy is enclosed. Colonel Montgomery's is but the
initial step of a system of operations which will rapidly compel the
rebels either to lay down their arms and sue for restoration to the
Union or to withdraw their slaves into the interior, thus leaving
desolate the most fertile and productive of their counties along the
Atlantic sea-board.
The Fifty-fourth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers shall soon be
profitably and honorably employed, and I beg that you will send for
service in this department the other colored regiments which Colonel
Shaw tells me you are now organizing and have in forward preparation.
Thanking you heartily for the kindness and promptness with which
you have met my views in this matter, and referring you to my letter
to Mr. Jefferson Davis as a guarantee that all soldier fighting for
the flag of their country in this department will be protected irrespective
of any accident of color or birth, I have the honor to be, Governor,
with the highest esteem, your very obedient servant,
D. HUNTER, Major-General, Commanding.
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