Confidential
Office of Chief
Engineer Ex Corps
Hilton Head S.C. Dec.
30" 1861
Brig, Genl" T. W. Sherman
Commanding Ex Corps
Hilton Head S.C.
Sir,
I have the honor to communicate some information obtained
from the colored man Brutus who accompanied me from Tybee this morning. He is
the most intelligent slave I have met here, and is quite familiar with the
rivers and creeks between Savannah City and Tybee Island. He made his escape
from Wilmington Island last week in a canoe.
He says the enemy's pickets are thrown forward every day to
the eastern extremity of Wilmington Island; that the Skiddaway battery is about
three miles above the position abandoned at Wassaw and mounts 6 guns; that the
Thunderbolt battery is six miles higher up still and mounts 6 guns — (possibly
8 by this time) and that the road from the Skiddaway battery to Savannah,
passes within half a mile of the Thunderbolt battery and is commanded.
He also communicates the very important piece of information,
that boats of not over 10 ft dft", can pass from Wassaw Sound to Savannah
River at high tide, through Wilmington Narrows and St. Augustine Creek, leaving
Wilmington Island on the left and thus turning the Skiddaway and Thunderbolt
batteries. There were no guns on Wilmington Narrows when Brutus came from there.
By this route St. Augustine Creek is entered about three miles to the Northward
of the Thunderbolt battery.
The Steamer St Mary one of those observed to be in
attendance on Fort Walker before its capture — has been plying on this route
for the last two or three summers.
In entering Savannah River from St. Augustine Creek, it is
necessary to pass within about two or two and a quarter miles of Fort Jackson.
Elba Island, in Savannah River just below Fort Jackson, and opposite the
entrance to St. Augustine Creek, is several miles in length and contains some
fine ground. There is a ship channel on both sides of it. Savannah River has no
tributary on the South side, between St. Augustine Creek, and Fort Pulaski.
Oyster Creek makes in so near the Savannah River, about 3 miles above Fort
Pulaski, that a vessel in it, would appear to an observer on Tybee Light House,
to be directly beyond the Fort. Oyster Creek, some miles above the point where
the passage leads from it to Wilmington Narrows, loses itself in the marsh, or
as the negro says, “runs out to nothing.”
I must say that I place great reliance on Brutus' statement,
for everything he said of Big Tybee Inlet, was verified with remarkable
accuracy by my examination. What he says is moreover confirmed by other slaves
at Tybee Island. I recommend a gun boat reconnaisance up Wilmington Narrows,
and solicit the privilege of accompanying it.
If we can get into Savannah River, by a line of
communication that we can retain and control, it seems to me a far better
policy to reduce Pulaski by cutting off its supplies, than by the very doubtful
and very expensive operation of bombardment from Tybee Island.
I estimate, that after the armament applied for arrives, it
will require at least one month of hazardous labor to get the pieces in
position ready for opening on the Fort. A preliminary work of three or four
weeks, will certainly be necessary to prepare the platforms, embrasures,
bomb-proofs and service and store magazines. The landing of the ordnance stores
will be an immense operation of itself. If we suppose all the mortars to be 13 in,
and all the solid shot to be thrown from 8in Columbiads, we will require storage room and land
transportation for about,
300
|
Tons of
|
powder
|
1900
|
" "
|
shells
|
470
|
" "
|
shot
|
The powder will require an immense magazine. I disclaim any
wish to shrink from this labor, but as there seems to be at least two ways of
accomplishing the reduction of Pulaski, we ought to select the one offering the
greatest advantages as regards rapidity and economy.
The reduction by bombardment and cannonade I deem
practicable, on the supposition of exhaustless means. Whether it is expedient
to make the attempt, and incur the risk of failure is another matter. Fort
Pulaski is fully as strong a work as Fort Pickens, and we are informed that the
interior arrangements to protect the garrisons are extensive.
We cannot reach the casemate blindage except by fragments of
shells, which would do them very little injury. My chief reliance would be, as
I have already intimated to you, in heavy rifled guns, to be used in breaching
the walls and dismounting the guns. I respectfully ask the Commanding Generals
cordial attention to this subject, in all its bearings.
Appended to this is a tracing which gives a general idea of
Big Tybee inlet, as developed by my examination of it, and also of the Islands
and waters between Tybee Island and Wilmington River, as I understand them from
the statements of Brutus and other negroes, claiming to be familiar with that
neighborhood.
Very Respectfully
Your most Obdt Servt
Q. A. GlLLMORE
Capt" &
Chf" Eng Ex Corps
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. 90-3
