Confidential
Wabash, 25. May, 62
Port Royal S.C.
My Dear Mr Fox,
I arrived last evening from a weeks inspection on the Coast from Georgetown to Fernandina, taking two good looks at Charleston in Keystone State. I pushed the Gunboats into Stono! Two batteries were abandoned and I have told Marchand he must knock down the third. After much trouble about the bar we found 13 ft. This brings the military base within ten miles of C——n.
I have yr private letter and the Departments confidential
one. All will be done that it is in the power of man and men to do—but do not
underrate the work; all the defences for one year now have been seaward. Since
Pulaski fell, which has made them shake about Sumpter, a low fort is going up
on Cummings point. The middle ground is also fortified. Moultrie and Castle
Pinckney strengthened, the defences on Sullivan's island are not much I think,
but Ft. Johnson is the key of the position. Then you know we go into a bag, no
running past, for after we get up they can all play upon us.
The landward defences are nothing—but these Soldiers are
queer people to us. I had to write to Hunter to-day, that on his coming here I
had, to avoid delay and circumlocution put myself in official communication
with the Brigadier commanding this Division of his department—but that could no
longer be and in virtue of my assimilated rank as Major Gen', he (H) must
address me on all his wants &c.
I wrote to-night a private letter to Mr. Welles to give
Rodgers the Naval Academy when he can be spared here. No man living is more
capable or more deserving
Faithfully Yours in haste
S. F. DP.
SOURCE: Robert Means Thompson & Richard Wainwright, Editors,
Publications of the Naval Historical Society, Volume 9: Confidential
Correspondence of Gustavus Vasa Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1861-1865,
Volume 1, p. 120-1
