W. H. Taylor to State Of South Carolina, A. And I. G. O, December 10, 1861

SPECIAL ORDERS, ! HEADQUARTERS,

December 10, 1861.

No. 17. Coosawhatchie, S. O., December 10, 1861.

Freie coast of South Carolina will be divided into five military stricta :

The First, or Eastern District, will extend from Little River Inlet to the South Santee River, under the command of Col. A. M. Manigault, headquarters at Georgetown.

The Second, beginning at the South Santee, will extend to the Stono River and up Rantowles Oreek, under the command of Brig. Gen. R. S. Ripley, headquarters at Charleston.

The Third will comprise the country between the Stono and Ashepoo Rivers, under the command of , headquarters at Adams Run.

The Fourth will extend from the Ashepoo to the Port Royal entrance, thence through the Colleton River and Ocella Oreek to Ferebeeville, under the command of Brig. Gen. J. O. Pemberton, headquarters at Coosawhatchie.

The Fifth will embrace the country between the last-named boundary and the Savannah River, under the command of Brig. Gen. T. F. Drayton, headquarters at Hardeeville.

V. The Third Military District, as organized in Paragraph I, is for

the present attached to the Second.

By order of General Lee:

Assistant Adjutant- General.

Columbia, S. O., December 12, 1861.

General R. E. LEE,

Commanding Southern Department, Coosawhatchie :

GENERAL: Having understood from unofficial sources that you feel

somewhat embarrassed as to the control and disposition of the State