Quincy A. Gillmore to H. W. HALueck, July 21, 1863

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

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 5th instant, by the hands of Colonel Bell, Fourth New Hampshire Volunteers, suggesting that I send, to re-enforce Major-General Banks, such troops as I can spare from active operations here, unless Ishould in the meantime hear of the success of General Grant at Vicksburg, or General Banks at Port Hudson.

The official report of the surrender of Vicksburg, and apparently reliable information of like success at Port Hudson, relieves me from the operations of the order, even if it were possible to comply with it, without stopping all offensive operations here. It is not only impossible to spare troops from this department, but there is an imperative demand for re-enforcements here.

The enervating influence of the climate here, eenerianly when the men are chnatantly on fatigue duty, together with the casualties from three severe battles, has reduced my effective force in the field about one-third.

I urgently ask for 8,000 or 10,000 effective old troops, and that orders be issued to give the regiments in this department the preference in getting drafted men.

I feel that the successes in other departments will render it practicable to give me these re-enforcements, or I should not urge it.

24 S. C. AND G. A. COASTS, AND IN MID. AND E. FLA. _—[Cuar. X. L.

The siege of Fort Wagner should be pushed, and men enough to do all the hard work, without undue physical exertion, should be spared for that purpose. ;

I shall husband my strength until re-enforcements arrive. ‘

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