The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-08-03

asmuch as tho siege armament, the STEAMBOATS, ana
rowboats were ordered 10 be sent received re-
enforcement OF four regiments OF infantry Of cavalry
and light harnessed battery the Of the winter
but the steamers which from New York in the
latter part December reached ma-not The
reason suppose will some day come TO light The row.
boats though had been officially advised in the middle
January they been hurried on reached
until about the Gath OF March, i've days before WAS
rseved from duty thore and then bat half that had been
asked for So unless the army could have been possess
cd OF the attributes OF Moses system Of internal
operations could have been pursued during the time
commanded the expedition. to s5e aLy9 bas
eectualy made TO isolate Pulaski from Savannah and all
the enabled to bring to bear on that OBJ
ject put to use. Had few gunboas been able 70
get into the Savannah river, batteries would have
boon erected the mud fats In time to prevent the sup.
plying Of the fort with provisions, and thus insured m
fall without the slow and expensive mode OF bombardng
1t. But as was its fall was thereby hastened and
threat upon Savannah, planned by Commodore Dupont
and myself, which resulted In the quiet fall or Bruins
wick Fernandina, ST. Johns and ST. Augustine, materially
assisted
When turned over my command to Major Genora
Hunter instead Of Its being in state of confusion as
you assert, everything was in most orderly condition
condition, indeed that itself indicated the happy sue.
that had crowned the efforts Of the combined expo
dton--thc base Of action and supplies at Hilton Head
strongly fortified and ready to DO left with but small
small bn. suncen. garrison Port Royal Island oc
cupied by large and splendidly instructed bri
gade, ready for any movement; Dawfusko Island
with strong guard TO protect communication with
the Savannah river and to support the force occupying
the batteries the marshes Of Jones and Bird islands
ceaed array Of mortar and preaching batteries ready
open Puaski fort Otter Island, in st. Helena
Sound, shutting off the inland water approaches from
and giving complete security TO our whole sys'
tenn on that side; Fernandina and St. Augustine occu-
pied with sufficient garrsons aud Jacksonville held by
and as nucleus on which thew were 70 rally and prompt
y carry out their plan State organization and regene-
ration And further as orders had been received from
Washington to suspend all operations on Savannah from
two to three regiments had been to North Edso as
nucleus which TO form large force operate in the
direction OF Charleston the moment the fall OF Pulaski
rendered the troops and transportation there
poyed available There certainly confusion in all
this, and all that is unsatisfactory about TO me
lays In the fact Of the timely asked for
failing to reach me. Had it arrived whom 1t ought,
Savannah would have been In our hands in January,
bringing with 1t the whole coast south, as well the
control Of the whole railroad system Of Georgia and For
da the States Of Florida and Georgia, part Of the
military chcssboard, if not politically also would have
been more than neutrazed and the problem Of Charles
ton would have then become so simple as TO involve but
little or labor.
ruitess in results had far than covered its original
purposes. When left the command tie whole coast
from St. Augustine 70 North Edsto was securely IN our
hands and II the opinion of one Of Our most distinguished
officers be CORRECTIVE: that in the possession Of Fort
Pulaski we hold all that is realyIvaluabc about Savan-
nahthen there nothing left that coast worthy
OF the expedition but Charleston and its dependencies.
AS to what has TRANSFERRED since my departure, know
nothing sufficiently well to remark upon If felt
authorized 10 do So
1t is with some hesitation that believe ii important
TO word the subject OF the proclamation to the
"stupd and silly" still think we'll of it. What may
have been wise and expciient then may not be SO now;
but in tho situation of affairs at that time and at that
stage Of the deem just tho thing and so far from
regretting having issued IT, would certainly do the like
again under the circumstances, could they ever
And my confidence in its proprioy was somewhat
strengthened from the datterng encomiuns you were
pleased to pass upon in the editorial columns of the
HERALD, in November last. II you have changed your
opinion have not NINE,
Lest you may be deceived in the views Of Flag officer D-
pont when you speak Of his 'tamey submitting al
lance with such mpotency, shame and disgrace in his
codepartment." beg leave TO append herewith copy
Of hs letter to me- giving official views on the subs
ject. Your obedient servant,
T. w. SHERMAN, Brisadier General Volunteers.
FLAGSHIP WABASH,
PoRr ROYAL HAIBoR, s. O., April 2, 1882.
GEEERA-I understand you transferred TO another
military department. and about to leave Port Royal
II would be doing injustice my feelings and TO our late
intimate Official relations TO permit you to depart
without expressing high appreciation OF the vigorous
and harmonious cooperation with which you have ever
been ready TO assist in or tighten the heavy responsible
ties Of my own command.
shall remember our past associations, professionally
and sonay, with pride and satisfaction and shalt ever
bear testimony to the un1agging zeal with which you
have avaied yourself OF every means in your power to
effective tenure Of this coast while preparing
base OF operations which, with the renforccments you
had right to look for would have led to brilliant
but tn more important results than those you
have accomplished.
Wishing you every success in your new sphere Of &C
tion, am, Genora with great respect your NEST obed
ent servant, s. DUPONT,
Flag 0nncer South Atlantic Blockad!ng Squadron.