Quincy A. Gillmore to Thomas W. Sherman, December 5, 1861
Brig. Gen. THOMAS W. SHERMAN, Commanding Expeditionary Corps, Hilton Head, S. C.:
SIR: Should it be determined to attempt the reduction of Fort Pulaski from Tybee Island, I recommend the following armament for the batteries, inclusive of pieces held in reserve to replace those dismounted or otherwise rendered unserviceable: ,
Ten 10-inch sea-coast mortars; ten 13-inch sea-coast mortars; eight heavy rifled guns of the best kind, to be used some against the barbette guns of the fort and some against the walls; eight columbiads for firing solid shot principally, some of them to fire shells, in case it be found practicable to drop them in or explode them over the fort. The mortars should each have 900 rounds of shell, the guns and columbiads the same number of rounds of solid shot, and the columbiads 300 rounds of shell besides. It would be well to have a 15-inch columbiad, if one can be obtained.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Captain, and Chief Engineer Expeditionary Corps.
The project set forth in the foregoing communications received General Sherman's sanction at once, with some slight modifications as to the
number and caliber of the mortars to be used, and was forwarded to
that orders to prepare and forward the ordnance and ordnance stores
had been issued. For months, therefore, preceding the fall of Pulaski,
its reduction from Big Tybee, favored by a thorough investment, formed