OR, Series 1, Vol. 35, Part 1, Page 321

Hdqrs. Dept. S. Carolina, Georgia, and Florida
Charleston, S. C.
March 25, 1864
 
General Samuel Cooper
Adj. and Insp. Gen.
C. S. Army
Richmond, Va.
 
General,
   In transmitting detailed reports of recent operations in East Florida I have to accompany them, for the information of the War Department, with the following:
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   On the night of the 11th ultimo, I ordered all our batteries bearing on Morris Island to open a heavy simultaneous fire on that position, as if a cover for an assault, and with the hope of forcing the enemy to withdraw from John's Island to the protection of his own works. This stratagem seems to have produced the desired effect, or assisted to make him abandon the movement on John's Island and withdraw hastily before daybreak, thus releasing and enabling Colquitt's command to reach General Finegan in time to meet and defeat the enemy at Ocean Pond, some 13 miles in advance of Lake City.
   In the meanwhile other troops (fast as the means of railroad transportation would enable me) had been dispatched to the theater of war from the works around Charleston and Savannah and the positions covering the {Charleston &} Savannah Railroad. This was done, indeed, to a hazardous degree; but, as I informed the honorable Secretary of War by telegraph the 9th ultimo, I regarded it as imperative to attempt to secure the subsistence resources of Florida. General Finegan was also apprised of these re-enforcements on February 11, and instructed to maneuver in the mean time to check or delay the enemy, but to avoid close quarters and unnecessary loss of men. While these re-enforcements were en route the enemy again attempted to delay them by a movement, with show of force, against Whitemarsh Island, near Savannah, and it became a measure of proper precaution to halt at Savannah two of the regiments on their way to General Finegan for the development of the enemy's plans, one of which regiments, indeed, I felt it but prudent to detain there to the present.
   The want of adequate rolling stock on the Georgia and Florida railroads {Charleston & Savannah RR, the Savannah, Albany & Gulf RR and the Pensacola & Georgia RR}, and the existence of the gap of some 26 miles between the two roads {the future Lawton and Live Oak connection}, subjected the concentration of my forces to a delay which deprived my efforts to that end of full effect.
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Respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. T. Beauregard
General, Commanding

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