Quincy A. Gillmore to Rear-Admiral DAHLGREN, July 20, 1863

Rear-Admiral DAHLGREN, Comdg. S. A. B. Squadron, off Morris Island, S. C.:

DEAR Sir: I am in receipt of your communication of this date suggesting a method of attacking Fort Wagner. I am pleased with the project. I had already determined to advance my batteries, and eal commence doing so to-night. I also like your plan of assaulting the work, although I would much prefer making two columns of attack only, one in front along the beach and the other in rear landing on the east side of Morris Island.

It involves, however, the consumption of men, in which this arm has already been a very severe sufferer. I began here with the minimum force deemed safe for any offensive operations. Of that force, I have lost 33 per cent. in killed, wounded, missing, and sick

My actual loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners will not fall short of 1,200 men. As many more are laid up by sudden sickness, occasioned by excessive fatigue duty. With this more than triple decimation of my active available command, I hesitated to incur any further immediate loss in the absence of powerful reasons to the contrary.

If the navy can furnish sailors and marines for one of the columns of attack, I will supply the other or others, and a combined attack can be made on the work.

I can also issue to your men any arms they may require, either muskets or lances. I will engage to furnish a large proportion of the attacking force.

Should you desire to confer with me on this project, I will come to see you.

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