R. S. Ripley to Brigadier- General, November 18, 1861

Coosawhatchie, November 18, 1861.

Oapt. T. A. WASHINGTON, Assistant Adjutant- General :

CAPTAIN: Being about to repair to Charleston, in obedience to the orders of the general commanding, I have the honor to subinit the following information concerning the troops in this vicinity:

Bluffton is held by Lieutenant-Colonel Colcock’s cavalry, in observation only. It has been reported to me that there are two companies of infantry of Heyward’s Ninth [Eleventh] regiment remaining there, but I have nothing definite. This section of country is under charge of General Drayton’s command, which it is intended to move forward as soon as possible to occupy positions to cover Bluffton and the roads to Hardeeville. General Drayton’s command is composed of Heyward’s and De Saussure’s regiments, Ninth [Eleventh] and Fifteenth South Carolina Volunteers, Lieutenant-Colonel Colcock’s cavalry. Colonel Clingman’s regiment of North Carolina volunteers (Twenty-fifth), occupies a point on the Honey wood road in advance of Grahamville, intended to be a guard for that town and to cover the roads leading from Tenny’s or Boyd’s Landing. His quartermaster and commissary are directed to

establish depots and obtain supplies of subsisterce at Grahamville, as far as possible; whether they will be successful remains to be seen, and the regiment will have to be looked after in the general depots.

Captain Trezevant’s company of cavalry is in advance of Colonel Olingman, in observation of Boyd’s and Tenny’s Landings. General Drayton’s command is supplied from his own depots at Hardeeville.

At the estate’s landing, near Huguenin’s plantation, are stationed the 8-inch howitzer battery, under General Gonzales, as volunteer aide-decamp to myself. The howitzer battery is manned by the Palmetto Guard (State troops), and has attached to the command the Charleston Light Dragoons and Rutledge Mounted Rifles; the last are, however, in observation near Pocotaligo and Port Royal Ferries. :

Colonel Radcliffe’s Eighth North Carolina Volunteers is on the right of Gonzales! command, in position to support the battery or to defend the roads from Eutaw Church or to move forward to support Clingman. He is supplied partly by purchase and partly from the depot here. —

A. force of negroes, under the supervision of General Gonzales, is engaged in obstructing the Coosawhatchie below the landing; and, this being done, the steamer John A. Moore and several flats, sent from Charleston, are available for transportation from the railroad to the landing by water. Mr. Gregory is engaged with his negroes in obstructing the Tulifiny.

At Coosawhatchie is Colonel Edwards’ full regiment and Captain Moore’s light artillery, both waiting orders, &c.

Six companies of Dunovant/s Twelfth South Carolina Volunteers are at Pocotaligo Corners, the remaining four being at Hardeeville. It is supposed thatit was intended to order them to rejoin their regiment, but the order may be delayed until the arrival of the general.

Colonel Jones’ Fourteenth South Carolina Volunteers holds Garden’s Corner, and is stretehed in observation towards Combahee Ferry, in advance towards Port Royal Ferry. This is guarded by Fripp’s cavalry. Another force of Colonel Martin’s regiment, which has its headquarters at Pocotaligo (it may be well to add that Lieutenant-Colonel Colcock’s regiment is a portion of Colonel Martin’s regiment, with one or two [companies] under Major Farr, a force of Martin’s regiment), is also guarding the district of country about Combahee, Ashepoo, and Paw Paw.

Capt. Leo. D. Walker, assistant adjutant-general, with Messrs. Walter Blake, Rawlins Lowndes, and Paul, volunteer aides-de-camp, are now engaged in endeavoring to block the rivers at some point below the railroad bridges. They are to be assisted by Mr. Nolan, who has been sent out by the superintendent of the railroad for the purpose.

The general idea of the disposition of the troops has been to cover the railroad bridges in the direction of Savannah and have them not too far from the railroad, that they might move in either direction, in case of an attack on the road or on Savannah or Charleston.

If everything were in order, and the troops well disciplined, there would be no great diffieulty in aecomplishing the ends of the disposition, but General Drayton’s command has not mo ed from Hardeeville, and our troops are very raw; they require severe discipline and con. stant watching; it will take some time of this to make them efficient.

very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Brigadier- General.
Omar. XV.) CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.—CONFEDERATE. 825

Tallahassee, Fla., November 19, 1861.
His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS,
President of the Confederate States of America:
DEAR SIR: The presence of General Grayson, although unable to