Dabney H. Maury to Samuel Cooper, July 16, 1863

General S. CooPER, Adjutant and Inspector General, C. S. Army: GENERAL: After the fall of Port Hudson, the army of Banks may be available for an early attack on Mobile. I therefore desire to impress “upon the War Department the condition of this place.

112 = W. FLA., 8. ALA., S. MISS, L. A., TEX., N. MEX. [Cnar. XXXVIIL

The harbor seems to me very defensible, on account of the powerful and well-placed batteries, the artificial obstructions to navigation, and the shallowness of the channels approaching the city. On the land side, a very formidable line of square redoubts encircles the city. They will be connected by other works, so as to forma continuous and strong line, which can be manned by about 10,000 men. This line has been drawn in (from considerations of economy of labor and of troops) to the very edge of the city proper, and, therefore, during an attack from the land side, as the ground is everywhere level, the whole city will be exposed to fire. The total absence of non-combatants, of helpless people, women and children, becomes on this account-one of the most important elements of a successful defeuse, as it is one of the most difficult to deal with, for at this time Mobile has become a place of refuge to homeless people from other parts of the Confederacy, while the active trade which has been going on has attracted an unusually numerous population, so that there are more than 15,000 people in the city who should be removed before the attack is made on it. There are nineteen redoubts in the line of defense; seventeen are defensible now, and the other two can be made so in a few days. The stores of all kinds now here will not suffice to enable a proper garrison (20,000 men) to stand a siege. I have forwarded requisitions for ordnance, made out on a siege basis, and have made the best practicable preparation to secure or bring in supplies of subsistence with the same view. The garrison should be increased at the proper time to 20,000 men. Forts Morgan and Gaines are victualed for six months.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,