E. K. Pliny Bryan to Hugh W. Mercer, July 1, 1863

Brig. Gen. H. W. MERCER, Savannah : Hold two regiments of infantry, with three days’ cooked rations,

dy to move here at a moment’s notice. Collect transportation. ieee pees! G. T. BEAUREGARD.

CHARLESTON, 8. C., July 1, 1863.

Brig. Gen. JoHNSON HaGoop, Adams Run:

Hold your infantry and one light battery ready to move here at

moment’s notice, with three days’ cooked ges RAUREGARD,

(Same to Brigadier-General Walker, Pocotaligo.)

CHARLESTON, July 2, 1863.

Wilmington, N. C.: Enemy’s transports, supposed to contain troops, and his monitors, left North Edisto last night; not known where bound. Please return my letter to Johnston.

Troops in the District of Georgia, Brig. Gen. H. W. Mercer, C. S. Army, commanding, July 2, 1863.

1st Volunteers (Georgia), Companies G, H, I,and K, Col. C. H. Olmstead. 12th Georgia Battalion, Comparies A, B, D, and F, Lieut. Col. H. D. Capers. 82d Georgia, Col. George P. Harrison, jr. 54th Georgia, Col. Charlton H. Way. Jo Thompson Light Artillery, Capt. C. R. Hanleiter.

Fort McAllister.

1st Volunteers (Georgia), Company C. 12th Georgia Battalion, Company E.

Heavy Artillery. 1st Volunteers (Georgia), Companies D, F

18th Georgia Battalion, Maj. William S. Basinger.

‘ 22d Georgia Battalion, Companies D and F.

32d Georgia Infantry, Company C.

63d Georgia Infantry, Col. George A. Gordon.

River Batteries.*

Col. E. C, ANDERSON. 1st Volunteers (Georgia), Companies A dB

22d Georgia Battalion, Companies A, B, C, and E.

29th Georgia, Companies A and G.

380th Georgia, Company K.

Siege Train.

12th Georgia Battalion, Company C. 54th Georgia, Company A.

Light Artillery.

Chatham (Georgia) Artillery, Capt. J. F. Wheaton.

Regular Georgia Artillery, Capt. J. A. Maxwell.

Terrell (Georgia) Artillery, Capt. John W. Brooks.

4th Georgia, Col. D. L. Clinch.

5th Georgia, Col. R. H. Anderson.

20th Georgia Battalion, Maj. John M. Millen. 24th Georgia Battalion, Maj. E. C. Anderson, jr. Hardwick Mounted Rifles, Capt. J. L. McAllister.

Hpars. Dept. SourH CAROLINA, GEORGIA, AND FLORIDA,

Brig. Gen. THoMAS JORDAN,

Chief of Staff :

Charleston, July 3, 1863.

GENERAL: In obedience to Special Orders, No. 127, from these headquarters, I proceeded to Wadmalaw Island to ascertain the character of the Abolition fleet in North Edisto River.

The fleet, on the morning of the 30th of June, was composed of

* Now in Savannah.

+ At Créemaillére Lines, Forts Bartow and Mercer, Greenwich and Savannah, three iron-clads, one wooden gunboat, five schooners, and one transport. These iron-clads have not been moved since they came into the river, so was informed. One had smoke issuing from her smokestack ; the picket said he had noticed the same thing several times. The schooners were all loaded, excepting one. I mentioned in a former report that these vessels carried coal, provisions, and army stores only. The transport, a large passenger steamer, went to sea, light and without troops, early in the morning, while I was at the point of observation. In the evening, the pickets reported the arrival of four more transports (those are vessels to carry troops and sometimes freight). ;

Rockville, a small village on Wadmalaw Island, the place from where the observations are made, is distant 14 miles from the fleet. The reports from there are made by the pickets.

I think it would be much better to have one man regularly stationed at Rockville to watch the fleet. He could make himself acquainted with the different vessels in a short time, and though a vessel should be away for a week or more he could recognize it on its return, and, besides, if it was one man’s duty he would very probably take a pride in watching and reporting more minutely anything that occurs than the pickets, who are there once in four days.

I take this occasion to bring to your notice that there is a regiment of the Abolitionists stationed on a point of Seabrook Island a little over 1 mile from Rockville. They are encamped on a very small piece of ground, consequently their tents are very close together.

A little distance from Rockville there is a hill that slopes back from the river. Major Jenkins, in command of the forces on the islands, is exceedingly anxious to get a Whitworth or a Parrott gun, if only for a few days. Hesays the hill is asafe place and a natural breastwork for both the men and the gun, and if General Beauregard will let him have a Whitworth or a Parrott gun, he will drive the Abolitionists off Seabrook Island.

I am convinced that Major Jenkins will do marked service with the gun. If he only breaks up their encampment, they will have to go back where it is unhealthy (in the middle of the island), on account of the stagnant water, or to the sea beach ; in either event it is very probable that they would leave the island altogether. There are two encampments on the island, perhaps only two regiments.

During a little skirmish between Major Jenkins’ troops and the Abolitionists on Seabrook Island, a shell 17 inches long and 8 inches in diameter was fired with great accuracy by a rifle gun from one of the iron-clads. The distance fired was about 24 miles, certainly not short of that distance. The cap exploded, but the powder was wet. I brought the shell to the city. It is pretty good proof that they have on their iron-clads other guns than 15 and 11 inch.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,