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[556] manner already indicated in special instructions from district headquarters. But the fuses must not be set on fire until it is certain that there is transportation for the removal of all the garrison, or except the enemy become aware of the evacuation and are evidently about to storm and enter the work. The men must be embarked with arms loaded, ready to repel an attack by both parties of the enemy.

5. The garrison of Battery Gregg will stand stanchly at their post until the last company from Battery Wagner shall be embarked. It will then take to the boats with silence and deliberation, provision having been duly made at Battery Wagner for the destruction of the work and its ordnance. Both explosions shall be as nearly simultaneous as possible, and the complete success of the evacuation will probably be in the hands of those whose high duty will be to apply the fire to the fuses at Battery Wagner.

The garrison of Battery Gregg will be embarked with the same precautions and regulations as prescribed for Battery Wagner.

In case the enemy should carry Battery Wagner immediately after the garrison shall have evacuated, or in any way the explosion of the magazine shall be prevented, a signal of three (3) rockets, discharged in rapid succession, shall be made from Battery Gregg, when the naval vessels in position and our land batteries bearing on Battery Wagner will be opened with a steady fire on the sight of that work, as will be likewise done immediately after an explosion shall take place, and this fire will be maintained slowly during the night.

Brigadier-General Ripley will give such additional orders as will be calculated to secure the successful evacuation of Morris Island, or to meet emergencies. He will confer with Flag Officer Ingraham, and procure all necessary assistance.

The operation is one of the most delicate ever attempted in war. Coolness, resolute courage, judgment and inflexibility on the part of officers; obedience to orders and a constant sense of the necessity for silence on the part of the men, are essential for complete success and the credit which must attach to those who achieve it.

By command of General Beauregard.

Thomas Jordan, Chief of Staff.
Official: John M. Otey, A. A. G.


Memorandum in reference to the removal of troops from Morris Island.

headquarters Department, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, Charleston, September 6, 1863, 3.30 P. M.
Brigadier-General R. S. Ripley, commanding First Military District, Charleston, S. C:
The steamboats to take position near the south edge of the channel, and about midway between Forts Johnson and Sumter. Small boats to ply between steamers and Cummins' Point; should steamboats be driven from their position, must go to Fort Johnson.

First trip of small boats to take off the sick and wounded to steamboats.

First (and possibly the second) trip with troops, to be landed at Sumter, the rest at steamers. If the steamboats are driven away by shot and shell, then at Johnson.

The trips to be continued until all are off of Morris Island, notwithstanding the shelling of the enemy.

The troops landed at Sumter to be removed to steamers or Fort Johnson, as soon as the transportation of the whole from Morris Island shall have been finished.

A fast boat to be left behind for the dozen (about) officers who are to blow up magazines, burst guns, etc.

Officers in Sumter must be notified of the intention to land troops at that work, from Morris Island.

All the batteries must be notified of this movement of small boats and steamers in the harbor to-night.

When the officers left at Wagner and Gregg to explode magazines, &c., shall have got sufficiently far from Cummins' Point for our batteries to open on the site of those two works, those officers will set off from their boat three rockets, or make some other agreed signal to notify the batteries that they can commence firing.

A blue light at Gregg will indicate when the ten-minute fuses in Wagner are to be lighted; those in Gregg are not to be lighted until the officers from Wagner have reported.

Troops in Wagner and Gregg will march at proper times to Cummins' Point beach, by companies, each company being halted about one hundred yards from the position of the boats; their officers will then send them by squads equivalent to the capacity of each boat destined to receive them. All the men must have their arms loaded on entering the boats to defend themselves in case of necessity.

The most complete silence and order must be maintained throughout the entire operation.

G. T. Beauregard, General, commanding.
Official: A. R. Chisholm, A. D. C.
Official: John M. Otey, A. A. G.


Report of Major Elliott.

headquarters Fort Sumter, September 9, 1863.
Captain W. F. Nance, A. A. G.:
Captain: I have the honor of making the following report:

About eight o'clock, yesterday, the Ironsides, and five monitors, took positions close to Sullivan's Island, and engaged Fort Moultrie, and the batteries on that island. They kept up a very severe fire for several hours, our batteries replying promptly.


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