Geo. B. McÓlellan to Thomas W. Sherman, February 12, 1862

Brig. Gen. THOMAS W. SHERMAN, Commanding, Port Royal : GENERAL: You will learn by the mail that brings you this of our success in the West and East. The line of the Tennessee is open to us. Our gunboats have reached Florence, Ala., after taking Fort Henry, on the line between Tennessee and Kentucky, and we hope to hear to-day that Fort Donelson, on the Cumberland, has also been taken. Burnside has most gallantly carried Roanoke Island, with some loss, but inflieting terrible destruction upon the enemy. All their positions are taken, their fleet of gunboats eaptured or destroyed. Ourraw troops, according to the rebel accounts, behaved most gallantly. General Meigs has just informed me that he has ordered a large number of small boats. He is not yet informed of their leaving port. Ihave to-day a dispatch from Philadelphia in regard to shipping forty-eight surf boats ready there to go to Port Royal. They will go forward at once. Ihave been daily expecting to hear more definite accounts of what can be done in the Savannah River and of the possibility of starving out Fort Pulaski. While awaiting further re-enforcements, and while the rebels are pushed so much in other quarters, I would suggest for your eonsideration whether, by reducing your garrisons to the minimum, a successful combined attack cannot be made on Savannah so soon as Pulaski has fallen. In great haste, I am, general, very truly, yours

GEO. B. McÓLELLAN,