Horatio G. Wright to William T. Sherman, February 28, 1862

Port Royal, S. 0., February 28, 1862.

GENERAL: The deserters just in from Savannah say there are about 65,000 troops in and about the city, which is well fortified both on the land and river sides. They are moving heaven and earth for a secure defense. So faras I can ascertain some of the smaller forts on the coast are being stripped of artillery with which to protect Savannah. The abandonment of Brunswick is an evidence of it. I hope to soon get under way at Tybee, though the rough stormy weather makes it very slow in getting the ordnance landed. We must get entirely ready before we open. The Massachusetts regiment has arrived, and we hope more will follow soon. Irather think we shall have to take Savannah by way of Vernon River. If the Navy could not assist us last month, when no guns had been put up on the river except those at Fort Jackson, it certainly cannot now, when the enemy have completed so many of them.

Our siege artillery is arriving. The news I have through Savannah papers (found with the prisoners) gives the most cheering and welcome accounts of your successes, and, general, I most sincerely congratulate you on your plans being carried out with such brilliant. successes. My opinion is that you have about crushed this rebellion already. The Savannah and Oharleston papers show a deeply saddened spirit among the people, though yet an apparently determined one; but I know the people of the South are unable to stand this state of things long. They are qnick to fight when occasion offers, but as quick to fall when misfortune occurs. Yours, very truly,

T. W. SHERMAN, Brigadier-General.

Absiract from return of the Expeditionary Corps, commanded by Brig. Gen. Thomas W Sherman, U. S. Army, for February, 1869. Present. 8 į +-

Stations. RE Remarks. z] Gz] 3 & “UN E u- [s a E a 4 Beaufort, S. C……….. 121 138 2,895 3,873 3,737 The 2d Brigade and Rockwell’s (Connecticut) battery. Daufuskie Island, S. C.. 34 790 852 906 Headgmertera 1st Brigade and 48th ew York. Edisto Island, S. C…… 21 22 538 572 613 47th New York. Fort Welles, S. C ……. 61 65 1,3810 1,570 1,705 gota Pennsylvania and 3d Rhode sland. Hilton Head, S. C……. 188 201 4,657 5,034 5,568 8th Maine, 28th Massachusetts 1st Massachusetts Cavalry a New Hampshire, 1st New Yor) Engineers, and 55th Pennsyl vania. Otter Island…………. 33 83 772 856 935 45th Pennsylvania. Savannah River …….. 2 2 60 63 146 3d U.S. Artillery, Battery E. Tybee Island, Ga …….. 59 66 1,316 1,546 1,655 Ux Connectica and 46th New ork. Warsaw Sound, Ga…… 129 131 3,006 3,267 3,708 Headquarters 3d Brigade, 6th Connecticut, 9th Maine, 4th New Hampshire, and 97th Pennsylvania. Division headquarters .. 28 28 26 26 55 Headquarters staff, &c. Total coveeterccacs 676 723 15, 870 17, 159 19, First Brigade.

8th Maine, Col. John D. Rust.

3d New Hampshire, Col. E. Q. Fellows. 46th New York, Col. Rudolph Rosa.

47th New York, Col. Henry Moore.

48th New York, Col. James H. Perry. 55th Pennsylvania, Col. Richard White.

Second Brigade.

8th Michigan, Col. Wm. M. Fenton.

79th New York, Col. Addison Farnsworth. 50th Pennsylvania, Col. B. C. Christ.

100th Pennsyl7ania, Col. Daniel Least re.

Third Brigade.

6th Connecticut, Col. John L. Chatfield.

7th Connecticut, Col. Alfred H. Terry.

9th Maine, Col. Rishworth Rich.

4th New Hampshire, Col. Thomas Whipple.

97th Pennsylvania, Col. Henry R. Guss.

Troops mot brigaded.

98th Massachusetts, Col. Wm. Montieth. 1st New York Engineers, Col. E. W. Serrell. : 45th Pennsylvania, Col. Thomas Welsh. 76th Pennsylvania, Col. John M. Power. 3d Rhode Island, Col. Nathaniel W. Brown. 1st Massachusetts Cavalry, Col. Robert Williams. 1st Connecticut Battery, Capt. A. P. Rockue

well. 3d U. S. Artillery, Battery E, Capt. John Hamilton.

HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE, ExPED’Y CORPS, ) Saint Andrews Sound, Ga., March 2, 1862.

Col. H. R. Guss, Commanding Ninety-seventh Pennsylvania Regiment :

COLONEL: Intelligence, deemed reliable, has been received to the effect that the enemy has abandoned Fernandina and its vicinity, removing the guns and property at that point. It has therefore been decided that, instead of proceeding aecording to the original project, a portion of the light-draught gunboats, with a part of the land force, shall proceed at once by the inland passage, while the remainder of the fleet will go outside. Your regiment, or rather the eight companies on board the Boston, will accompany the gunboats by the inland passage; and the transport will at onee move up the sound to join them.

On your arrival at Fernandina you will co-operate with the nava. force under the command of Capt. P. Drayton, of the Pawnee, by land ing your troops, taking possessionof the town and of the railroad anc its crossing over the marsh and the river.

The possession of this road in a serviceable condition may be of the utmost importance to our further operations, and you will consequently use every exertion to prevent its destruction by the enemy.

Should any of the enemy be still upon Amelia Island, you will effect their capture, if possible.

Preserve all publie property left behind, and afford every protection to private property, not permitting the appropriation of the smallest article by the troops of your command.

Wishing you every success, I am,

very respectfully,