Unknown to Leroy P. Walker, September 1, 1861

September 1, 1861. Hon. L. P. WALKER,

Secretary of War:

SIR: Colonel Gregg has two companies here, and desires that they may be received for the war into his regiment. As the law only ad. mits of ten companies to a regiment, I refer the matter to you, and request an immediate decision, as I desire orders extended to these two companies. If agreeable to you I should most cordially assign these companies to his regiment, as he is a colonel of great experience and of the most distinguished standing. If there is any officer to whom twelve companies could be intrusted, then I should urge most respectfully the permission for Colonel Gregg. Ishall not be able toarm them, as we have not a single arm to spare out of this State, and I am now remodeling the old arms picked up in the country, so as to try and be able to get arms for the forty-two companies now in camp under your requisition. You recollect you directed them to be formed into regiments and to elect their field officers. One of these regiments has done so, and the others will in a few days.

The President has telegraphed me to retain Colonel Orr’s regiment for our coast defense. The exposed coast of North Carolina will now be in possession of the enemy, and it endangers our whole defenses.

Under these circumstances I would respectfully urge that Colonel Gregg’s regiment be ordered to our coast, for the season is just approaching when an invasion may be anticipated, particularly after our recent disasters on the defenseless coast of North Carolina. If you were to order Colonel Gregg’s regiment into this State I presume his commission given by the President would be of older date than any volunteer regiment in the State, and, if so, it would make him the ranking colonel, and his experience would thus give confidence to the country.

I shall also place Colonel Dunovant and his regiment, recently organized under your requisition for the 3,000, under orders for our sea-coast. I can arm and equip his regiment. Colonel Orr’s I have already armed and equipped, and I will go on to arm the others as fast as I can, and if you inform me immediately that Colonel Gregg’s regiment will be stationed in South Carolina, I will try and arm these two companies now here for his regiment, if you decide to receive them. Please inform me by telegram. With Orr’s, Dunovant’s, and Gregg’s regiments I would feel safe, as I have a stationary force organized in the city of Charleston of 3,000 well armed and trained men, ready to act, besides Colonel Heyward’s State regiment, now in actual service on the Beaufort coast and at the batteries recently erected.

I have also Colonel Manigault’s State regiment on the coast of Georgetown, above Charleston, and in the batteries. I have ordered another State regiment of well-trained men, under Colonel Hagood, into the forts at Cole’s Island, on the Stono, 25 miles from Charleston. These three colonels are thorough military men and of the highest standing and military education. 1 have also six companies of infantry (regulars) on Sullivan’s Island, and four of the battalion of regular artillery in Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie. I have ordered five months’ supplies into the former, to stand a siege, if necessary, and am raising two new artillery companies to put into it, but in the mean time will order other companies into it for the present. Besides Colonel Hagood’s regiment, now in the forts on Stono, I have there three regular companies of infantry and the battalion of regular dragoons, mustered in as infantry. under Major Lueas, so that I have in the forts and islands around

Charleston about 1,800 men, all well drilled, and a reserve in the city of about 3,000. This, with the State regiments under Colonels Hey ward and Manigault, constitute about 7,500 men, and the additional regiments of Colonels Orr, Dunovant, and Gregg would make good 10,000 men. With this force, and ten cavalry companies I have on the coast and the reserves of about 3,000 men at the two camps of instruction, I think I could feel safe for the present. I am thus particular in details that you may understand our position and let the President know it. All I beg is an answer as soon as possible, so that I may act as soon as possible.

I also earnestly beg, if possible, that you will order me, if you have it at Norfolk, 40,000 pounds of cannon powder. I loaned the governor of North Carolina 25,000 pounds, and also the governor of Florida, for Fernandina and Saint Augustine, 5,000 pounds, besides what I sent to Memphis, Tenn. If I could be sure of getting 40,000 pounds as a reserve for Charleston, I would immediately order a full supply of cannon powder for about 100 guns I have now on our coast below Charleston. As it is, I fear to drain Charleston entirely. I bought for the State last December and January about 300,000 pounds from Hazard’s Mills, in Connecticut, but I have distributed all of it but about 40,000 pounds, and used a great deal in our batteries in the harbor of Charleston. Please let me know immediately as to this point.

I now desire to get from you permission to raise for the war another regiment of rifles, and Ithink, if you give me the power, I can get it up with men who will arm themselves from our private rifles and arms in their own hands. I think I could make a choice regiment, and with little or no expense as to arms, and selected from men who would ineur the necessary expenses, and, if you will give me the power to do 80, and for me to appoint the fleld officers, and even the company officers, I eould select men who were graduates of our State military institutions and of West Point, and I eould select officers who are now in our regular State forces, and in the first volunteer regiments now in Virginia, to put in position. I would do so, because our regular forces and our forces in Virginia are only for one year, and most of their terms will expire in January and February next, and I desire to secure, in advance, the services of their officers * for the war,” as many of them have been in the late United States Army, and all of our regular forces have military education. I know them, and could make selections of officers for companies that would advance the publie service greatly.

Please let me know on this point as soon as you can, and I will then proceed, in a quiet way, to raise a rifle regiment for the war, with officers all selected with an eye single to secure military education and qualifieations. I would also desire to raise two full companies of cavalry, to be attached to it, of men who would arm themselves.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully,