Isaac I. Stevens to L. H. Pelouze, February 27, 1862

SIR:

I have to report, for the information of the commanding general, that in pursuance to instructions from these headquarters Captain Ely, Eighth Regiment Michigan Volunteers, and commanding on Ladies and Saint Helena Islands, with 22 men of his own company and that of Lieutenant Doyle, and accompanied by Lieutenants Doyle, Badger, and Brown, all of the Eighth Michigan Regiment, left Ladies Island on the morning of Sunday, February 23, to make an examination of Bull River and the enemy’s force in that vicinity. The party employed three rowboats. The services of a negro belonging to Robert Barnwell, who had lately come down the river, were secured as guide. From Coosaw Island another negro, named Cyas, was obtained, who subsequently proved of great service from the intimate knowledge he possessed of the country under examination.

Captain Ely reports substantially as follows: After leaving Ladies’ Island at Brick-yard Point, and passing down the Coosaw to the mouth of Bull River, a distance of 9 miles, he ascended the stream to Schooner Channel. He then proceeded up Schooner Channel until he came to the mouth of the creek which passes by Willmar’s Island. There he landed, placed his men under cover of the woods, and with a small party passed over the island and found it entirely uninhabited. Starting at nightfall he passed up the creek to near within 80 rods of its intersection with North Wimbee River, which is about 12 miles from the mouth of Bull River. Here he left the bulk of his party, and in his own boat, with only bank. This point was entirely unguarded. He landed, examined the shore for some distance, and visited Robert Barnwell’s plantation. There he found an old plantation negro, who came to Robert Barnwell’s from Pocotaligo by way of Garden’s Corner on the 22d instant, and who reported that he saw but few troops at the latter place, probably not a , hundred all told; that the greater part of the troops had been withdrawn to Pocotaligo, and that the boats at the bridge near Garden’s Corner were guarded by 2 men. These boats were row-boats and flats, at least fifty in number (some negroes estimated the number as high as one hundred). Captain Ely also met another negro, who had come down from Walterborough the same day with a loaded team. From him he learned that the nearest picket, composed of 6 men, was 13 miles distant, at the fork of the roads connecting respectively with Garden’s Corner and Combahee Ferry. He likewise said he had seen no soldiers between that point and the ferry.

“With this information Captain Ely brought his whole party together at the Robert Barnwell Landing, placed them under cover, and with his and pushed about 1 mile beyond there, where the country became so densely wooded and was so intersected by streams and marshes that Captain Ely was unable to proceed farther. He learned, however, that the principal force of the enemy, estimated at possibly 300 men, is stationed at Combahee Church, about 2 miles from the ferry, on the Garden’s Corner road, and that to the left of the ferry there are two pieces of artillery, placed behind an earthwork and covered with pine brush.

On his return he proceeded tu Bush Church, examined the country in its vicinity, and, favored by the woods in its immediate vicinity, passed entirely around it. At Bush Church he found only about 30 men, quartered in the church itself. They stationed pickets a quarter of a mile down toward the Chisolm Landing, on the Coosaw, and about the same distance up the road toward Port Royal Ferry. Their headquarters are some 14 miles in rear of the Adams Landing, and the force there is about the same as at Combahee Church.

Captain Ely also examined the country between Stuart’s plantation and Bush Church. It consists of open woods and fields, and furnishes the best route to Bush Church from the river. At Stuart’s troops should be landed to operate against Bush Church. The distance is only 1 mile. Edward Barnwell has a plantation a mile below Stuarts. All these plantations are on the right bank of the river. From Robert Barnwell’s place a causeway leads to Bush Church. A wide gap has been made in it, through which boats can pass, and which compelled Oaptain Ely to make a long detour up the river to reach the latter place. Boats ean go above Robert Barnwell’s to Potters.

Captain Ely could easily have surprised and captured the pickets at Bush Church, and both he and his command felt some inclination to attempt it. His instructions were, however, to get information, and he found no difficulty in controlling his command.

In the morning, before the break of day, Captain Ely returned to his men and boats, crossed back to the channel from whence he came undiscovered by any of the enemy, and returning came in sight of Field’s Point, where he discovered a few men at work apparently repairing the fort, and on the left bank of the Combahee River were extensive rice fields on fire, which in the evening were visible at a long distance.

The enemy’s force, as far as Captain Ely could learn, is in that direction very small at the present time. Many of the picket stations have been taken up lately. The Combahee Ferry is made passable by flats, so that teams pass over as on a bridge. Oaptain Ely reached Brickyard Point on the morning of February 26, and was therefore absent two days and three nights.

The reconnaissance of Captain Ely does him great credit, and has resulted both in verifying and adding to the information already obtained. I have instructed him to continue his reconnaissances, looking particularly to the Ashepoo River. The above account is nearly in his own words, and I have adopted the above form in order to incor porate with the details of his written report details which I have gath ered from him on a personal conference.

very respectfully, your most obedient,