T. W. Sherman to George B. Mcclellan, U. S. A, December 22, 1861

December 22, 1861.

3 Port Royal, S. C., December 22, 1861. General LORENZO THOMAS, Adjutant-General U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.:

SIR: I have just been informed by Commodore DuPont that a reconnaissance, under Commander Drayton, with the gunboats Pawnee and Seneca, has discovered that the rebel forts at both South and North Edisto are abandoned and guns withdrawn. He alsostates that a camp of 500 men, in the vicinity of North Edisto, left with their arms on the approach of the gunboats, leaving tents, provisions, and camp equipage in his possession.

I think it would be well to occupy Edisto Island, and would do so with part of my own forces were it not necessary to remain here as much concentrated as possible, to be ready for movements already contemplated. Troops pushed up towards Stono Inlet at this time would produce a good effect at Charleston.

From all the information I can gather the South Carolinians are strongly fortifying Charleston Neck and James Island, on the Stono River, and are removing some of the guns from Fort Sumter and the islands for that object, evidently supposing that Charleston is to be attacked by land.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Brigadier- General, Commanding.
PorT ROYAL, S. C., December 23, 1861.
General GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, U. S. A.:
DEAR GENERAL: I have not yet been able to see Commodore Du
Pont, but have thought somewhat of the Charleston problem, which is
rather difficult to solve, and will demand much thought; but the premises on which much of the data must be based are that the South
Carolinians have long come to the conclusion that Charleston is to be