| Engineer's Office, Galveston, August 2,
1863 |
| |
| Capt. Edmund P. Turner, Assistant
Adjutant-General |
| |
| Captain, |
| I have the honor to report
that, impressed with the necessity of speedy action in intrenching
Niblett's Bluff, in order to protect the retreat of any force
falling back from Louisiana, and not knowing where Colonel Forshey
was or what he was doing, I have instructed Major Kellersberg,
before receiving the reports of Colonel Forshey, to proceed to
Sabine and start the necessary works. I respectfully inclose a copy
of instructions given to Major Kellersberg. At Orange I do not deem
any works necessary, for the reason that both banks of the river,
with the exception of the spot where the town and {Texas
& New Orleans} railroad depot are situated, are
impassable marsh; at the same time it is inaccessible to gunboats,
in the first place, on account of a strong work with six guns at
Sabine City; then obstructions of the river at the same point, under
the guns, by piles; then the bar of the Sabine River where it enters
the lake (4 feet water). |
| The only access to Orange is
from the interior, by the Jasper and Beaumont road. I deem it,
therefore, unnecessary to fortify Orange against an enemy coming
from Beaumont or on the Jasper road, as in such event Orange ought
previously to be evacuated. I respectfully suggest that ten days'
rations be kept at Niblett's Bluff, twenty days' at Orange, and the
main depot at Beaumont, as the major-general commanding proposes. |
| These suggestions are based
on the conviction that the railroad to Orange will not be completed
before the rainy season sets in, and I consider it impracticable to
complete the railroad after that; and as for removing the stores
from Orange, I believe there would be sufficient time before the
enemy could cross the river above Niblett's Bluff, march across the
country, strike the Jasper road, and come down to Orange. |
| Should, however, the
major-general commanding conclude to fortify Orange, I would
respectfully suggest one redoubt to be built on the line H M of
Colonel Forshey's map. |
| In obedience to orders, I
will proceed to Beaumont and make the required examination |
| I have the honor to be, very
respectfully, your obedient servant, |
| V. Sula Kowski |
| Chief Engineer |
| |
| Inclosure |
| Report upon works proposed at Orange,
Tex. |
| Orange, Tex., July 18, 1863 |
| |
| Orange is situated on the
right bank of the Sabine River, 20 miles above Lake Sabine and 12
miles above the fort at Shell Bank. It is a town of some importance,
having two shipyards, three saw-mills, and several establishments
for the manufacture of shingles, pickets, and staves. The depot of
the Texas & New Orleans Railroad is at the lower end of the
scattered line of houses, a mile in length. |
| ***** |
| Very respectfully submitted. |
| C. G. Forshey |
| Lieutenant Colonel and Chief Consulting
Engineer |
| Major-General Magruder's Staff |
|