Quincy A. Gillmore to H. W. Halleckk, August 21, 1863

Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLEckK, General-in-Chief, U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.:

GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 8th and 11th, the former in reply to mine of the 4th, and the latter in regard to newspaper correspondents.

The orders of the Secretary of War upon this last-mentioned subject will be carried out to the letter.

I inclose herewith a sketch of Fort Sumter,* showing the condition of the gorge wall at 10 o’clock to-day, taken by one of my assistants.

At the present moment, 1 p. m., it looks much worse. Matters progress satisfactorily with the army.

By to-morrow I hope to be able to announce to Admiral Dahlgren that the fire of Fort Sumter is practically destroyed, so that the monitors can get in.

My battery on the marsh, midway between Morris and James Islands, is ready to open.

T inclose copy of a letter this day sent to General Beauregard under a flag of truce, via Fort Wagner. +

I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient