"P.S. Since the forgoing was written Captain Moreno has been telegraphed to construct the battery at the 'Narrows' for three guns instead of two, and to substitute two 32-pounders from Fort Gaines for the 18-pounder originally designed for the 'Narrows' work.

"T. J., C. S."

24. On the 12th of December, General Beauregard informed the War Department, by telegram, that General Banks's fleet had left, suddenly, two days before, with about ten thousand men, diverging from its southern course and making directly for Cape Lookout. The information, General Beauregard said, could be relied upon.

The enemy had been making preparations for some time past for a descent along the Southern Atlantic coast, and all General Beauregard's disposable troops were held in readiness to move at once to any threatened point of his Department. To hold his own within its limits was all that he could reasonably hope to do. But, whatever may have been his expectations, he certainly had no idea that troops would be taken from him to reinforce neighboring commands. Such was the case, however, as will appear by the following telegram:

"General BEAUREGARD:

66

RICHMOND, VA., Dec. 13th, 1862.

"General Lee has just telegraphed to General Smith* as follows: 'For Wilmington and the coast of North Carolina, draw reinforcements from North Carolina and General Beauregard.' Other intelligence induces General Smith to conjecture the purpose of the enemy to march, in conjunction with the force from the fleet to be landed at Beaufort (N. C.), on the railroad, and then to assail Wilmington in reverse. It is recommended to you, in case of a telegram confirmatory of such movements, to act on the suggestion of General Lee, and send reinforcements, if, and to the extent you think it can be done, without too greatly risking your command. Should communication between Wilmington and this city be broken, you will give to Wilmington special attention and such aid as you can spare. Of this order General Whiting will be notified. JAS. A. SEDDON, Secretary of War."

This telegram was far from explicit, and left upon General Beauregard the responsibility of following or not following its instructions. He determined, however, to give Generals Whiting and Smith all the assistance in his power, even at the risk of the enemy breaking through his coast-line, by a sudden coup de main

* General G. W. Smith, then commanding in South Virginia and North Carolina.

-an eventuality not altogether unlikely, owing to the great resources in men and means of transportation at the disposal of the Federals. Immediate orders were issued to the district and subdistrict commanders of the Department, and all possible diligence used to hurry on the transfer of the troops.*

On the 14th this letter was written to General Whiting:

"General,-I send one of my volunteer aids, Colonel A. G. Rice, with a telegraphic cipher for use between us in cases of importance. You will please give him all necessary information relative to your present condition, future intentions, and present available means.

"I have ordered 5000 men and three light batteries (all excellent troops) to be held in readiness, under Brigadier-General Gist, to be sent to your assistance whenever called for by you, if they can then be spared from here. Should the contingency contemplated by the War Department occur, and my presence be required by you, I will hasten to join you, although I have little doubt that you will be able to take good care of General Banks and his associates. Respectfully, your obedient servant, "G. T. BEAUREGARD."

On the next day the following despatch was forwarded to the War Department:

"CHARLESTON, S. C., Dec. 15th, 1862.

"General S. COOPER, Richmond, Va. : "I am sending five thousand infantry and three batteries to Wilmington, to be returned as soon as practicable. All quiet here.

"G. T. BEAUREGARD."

The force of the enemy was greatly exaggerated, though it might with truth have been put down at twenty thousand men. His object was never well understood, nor was it at any time very well defined. He certainly failed to accomplish what his movements seemed to indicate as his purpose. General Beauregard's direct co-operation was desired by Generals Whiting and Smith. The latter was of opinion that, should Banks's forces unite with Foster's, as reported, more troops would be needed from General Beauregard, and that he could come over with them, as "all geographical lines" should then be considered as no longer existing. But General Smith's apprehensions were not realized. On the 18th, from Goldsboro', whither he thought the Carolina and Georgia troops should be sent, he forwarded this despatch:

"General G. T. BEAUREGARD:

66

The enemy's army have gone to Newbern, moving in great haste."

*See telegrams, in Appendix.

And on the same day he also telegraphed as follows:

"General G. T. BEAUREGARD:

"The enemy burned the railroad bridge yesterday. They were in force more than twenty thousand. Retired during the night towards Wilmington, devastating the country as they go. I have not transportation sufficient for ammunition even. Will move as soon as possible. They have a large army, and I believe are aiming at Wilmington.”

The reason for such "great haste" on the part of the enemy was not perceptible, as General Smith's forces did not exceed six thousand men, without cavalry, and exclusive of the troops sent by General Beauregard, which, owing to unavoidable delays from Wilmington, had not reached their destination in time. On the other hand, the danger apparently threatening General Whiting's Department was not a serious one; and this expedition, from which so much was expected at the North, proved to be a complete failure.

Less than three days after these events General Beauregard was informed, through Colonel Clinch, commanding in Southeast Georgia, that the enemy's gunboats had left St. Simon's Bay, on their way to Charleston, which, it was reported, would soon be attacked, by land and water. This news was in some degree confirmed by the following telegram from the Secretary of War:

"General BEAUREGARD:

"RICHMOND, Dec. 24th, 1862.

"Information from L. Heylinger, a friend to our cause in Nassau - with the assurance that it comes from New York by a trustworthy source-states that the attack on Charleston will be made, about the holidays, by four ironclads. This news has not got into the papers.

"JAS. A. SEDDON, Secretary of War."

The substance of the foregoing despatch being repeated the next day, General Beauregard began to prepare for the emergency.

As might have been expected, his first step was to recall his troops from North Carolina. He telegraphed General Whiting to that effect, and at the same time authorized him to select either a 42-pounder rifled gun or a 10-inch columbiad, which would be sent him from Richmond to Charleston, and to use it for the defence of Wilmington. General Whiting, in a letter dated December 31st, thanked General Beauregard for his readiness to assist him, and took occasion to say, in his characteristic

manner, that, having served under him at the opening of the war, he would ask nothing better than to continue doing so until the very end.

Meanwhile, on the 27th, General Beauregard received the following telegram from Colonel William Porcher Miles:

"Have appealed to President in vain for the two 7-inch guns. Says they belong to navy, and must go to Mobile, for floating-battery just finished and waiting for guns. Secretary of War did all he could for us."

General Beauregard was astonished, for the President knewor believed, which amounted to the same thing-that Charleston was on the eve of an attack. On the other hand, he should have been aware that no real danger threatened Mobile at that time; and yet, in spite of repeated entreaties, he preferred acceding to the request of General Forney, as though (even admitting that both cities were equally menaced) Charleston were not of more importance than Mobile to the safety of the Confederacy.

CHAPTER XXIX.

Delay of the Federal Attack on Charleston.-General Beauregard makes Arrangements for Concentration of Troops by Rail.-His Letter to General Ripley. His Desire to Test the Merits of the two Ironclad Rams.-Commodore Ingraham Adopts his Suggestion.-The Federal Fleet is Attacked on the 11th.-The Palmetto State Disables the Mercedita, and gives Chase to two other Steamers.-The Chicora Sets Fire to a Propeller, Cripples the Quaker City, and Disables the Keystone State.-The whole Blockading Fleet Retires. - The Blockade of Charleston Harbor undoubtedly Raised.—General Pemberton's Error in Abandoning the Defences of the Stono.-Federal Gunboats run up the Stono.-General Beauregard Plans the Capture of the Isaac Smith.-Colonel Yates's Report.-Attack upon Genesis Point Battery.-Federal Monitor Crippled and Forced to Withdraw.-General Beauregard's Letter to General Ripley.-His Dread of a Night Attack on Sumter.-Second Attack on Fort McAllister.-Small Force in General Beauregard's Department.-He Demands Additional State Troops from Governor Bonham.-Preparation Made for the Impending Attack on Charleston.

"CHRISTMAS WEEK" and the "holidays" had come, were gone, and the Federal attack on Charleston had not taken place. The rumors circulated were generally well-founded, but the preparations necessary for the accomplishment of so formidable a project consumed more time than had been anticipated. The delay was of advantage to General Beauregard, as it gave him additional time for the completion of his various arrangements.

Foreseeing the eventual necessity of a rapid concentration of troops by rail at any threatened points, in or out of his Department, he caused an earnest request to be sent to the President of the Northeastern Railroad, for the adoption of more efficient measures on the line from Charleston to Wilmington; he drew attention to the necessity of accumulating wood at various stations, and of increasing the personnel required for swift and unencumbered running, under any emergency.

The Georgia troops sent back to Savannah were ordered to Charleston, so as to be ready, if necessary, to go again to Wilmington, where, it was reported on the 6th, the enemy might make