P.G.T. Beauregard to P.G.T. Beauregard, June 25, 1863

General G. T. BEAUREGARD:

From causes into which it is needless to enter, the control of the Mississippi connection between the States east and west of it will be lost unless Johnston is strongly and promptly re-enforced within the next sixty days.

Can you give him further aid, without the probable loss of Charleston and Savannah? J need not state to you that the issue is vital to

the Confederacy. Greene TEV 1 IL AVIS.

[JUNE 25, 1863. ] His Excellency JEFFERSON Davis:

Telegram is received. No more troops can be sent away from this department without losing railroad and country between here and Savannah. Georgetown district would have also to be abandoned.

See my letter of 15th instant to General Cooper.

Hpagrs. Dept. SOUTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA, AND FLORIDA,

; Charleston, S. C., June 25, 1863. His Excellency Governor M. L. Bonuam, Colwmbia, S. C.:

Sir: Your letter of the 19th instant, inclosing the original report of Major Niernsee, on the obstruction of the Santee River, and the battery at Taber’s Point, has been received, and I return herewith his lucid report. I can find on my files no correspondence with the State Military Council relative to that battery, but my impression is that I agreed to give a few guns for it, if practicable; but since that period I have had to send Bdaitional guns to Georgetown and other

oints in the department, which leaves neither guns nor artillerists or the Taber Battery.

In case of necessity, however, one of the siege-train batteries could be sent there. One or two traverses in the battery would have added greatly to its strength and efficiency. I will remark here that Captain Gaillard’s light artillery company is in charge of a battery at Lenud’s Ferry on the Santee, with two heavy and four light pieces, of which three are rifled.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,