Alfred Roman, The military operations of General Beauregard in the war between the states, 1861 to 1865

[521]

5th. What works did the enemy construct on Little Folly Island up to July 10th? What calibre and number of pieces did he put in position?

6th. How long did it take him from the time he broke ground until he opened fire?

7th. What was about his force then on Little Folly and Folly islands, and on board of transports?

8th. What were your forces of infantry in the district, and how distributed? (See note A.)

9th. Could a better disposition have been made of them?

10th. What should have been the full force at each point for the proper defence of Morris, James, and Sullivan's islands? (See note B.)

11th. Do our means of transportation, and other circumstances of tide and locality, admit a rapid concentration of force from one point to the other?

12th. Which of those three lines of approach was most vital to Charleston?

13th. Might not the enemy have intended a feint on Morris Island, and then a rapid concentration on James Island?

14th. How long would it have then required him to take possession or it? And what would have been the result as to the safety of Charleston and its harbor, by establishing his batteries from Fort Johnson to Battery Glover?

15th. How could we have then maintained our communications with Sumter and Morris Island, his ironclads having command, meanwhile, of the outer harbor?

16th. Was it not a fortunate circumstance the enemy attacked Morris instead of James Island?

17th. From the apparent number of troops and vessels in North Edisto, about the 10th July last, was it not possible for the enemy to have concentrated his forces rapidly on James Island, and attempt to cross the Upper Stono, to march into St. Andrew's Parish?

18th. Was it not, then, necessary to guard also that line of approach?

19th. From the small force of infantry in the Second, Third, and Fourth Military Districts (see Note B), the difficulties and insufficiency of our means of transportation, could much assistance have been expected or derived from them?

20th. Were not the forces in the Second and Third Districts absolutely required where they were, to the last moment, to guard our important communication with Savannah?

21st. When did they get here, and how many?

22d. How much infantry force was in Georgia? (See Note A.)

23d. How many came from there?

24th. When did they arrive?

25th. Did not, in your judgment, these Headquarters do all that our restricted means permitted to be done to afford you all the aid possible from other districts? And, so far as you are aware, even from North Carolina, and from the Government itself, at Richmond? (See my telegrams on the subject, if you desire.)

26th. Did not these Headquarters object most strenuously to the last in