Isaac I. Stevens to Montgomery C. Meigs, December 10, 1861
Beaufort, 8. C., December 10, 1861. WILLIAM H. NOBLES, Esq., Collector of Cotton:
SIR: I have received your letter and inclosures of this date, claiming that you are authorized to take possession of the cotton in the deserted portions of South Carolina, and also of all other public property. The instructions of Brigadier-General Sherman clearly give you authority to collect, gin, and pack cotton. I am not advised of the extent of your authority in regard to quartermaster and commissary stores. The letter of instructions of Captain Saxton does not give the information. I have, however, to inform you that I have taken military possession of Ladies Island, and shall proceed to collect and take charge of such quartermaster and commissary stores as my parties may take possession of— not interfering, however, with your operations in collecting cotton on that island or the quartermaster or commissary stores you have already collected.
I shall not permit you to establish an agency at Beaufort, or to intertere in any way with the steps already taken by the commanding general to collect the cotton and the quartermaster and commissary stores on Port Royal Island and its dependencies.
very respectfully, your most obedient,
Brigadier-General, Commanding. ,
Port ROYAL, S. O., December 10, 1861,
General MEIGS,
DEAR GENERAL: After the representations of the medical director
and my own observations as to the great number of deaths here anc
the continued sickness among the troops, I gave the quartermaster directions to put up a temporary hospital to accommodate 300 men. This is not a healthy climate; not near as healthy as the Potomac. The actua?