| Headquarters |
| Savannah |
| April 30, 1864
|
| |
| Maj. Giles B. Cooke |
| Assistant Adjutant-General |
| Charleston, S. C. |
|
|
| Major, |
| I have the honor to report for the
information of the Major-general commanding that the Fifty-fourth,
Fifty-seventh, and Sixty-third Georgia Regiments have left Savannah
for the Army of Tennessee. |
| The very moment the troops returning
from Florida
arrived at Savannah
they were sent to relieve the pickets and the garrisons at the
different posts within my command, and the companies composing the
regiments ordered to march were concentrated without delay and
forwarded by rail as fast as transportation could be had. |
| I have telegraphed Maj. Gen. Patton
Anderson to send forward the Sixty-fourth [Georgia] speedily. As soon as this regiment arrives I will have it sent on. |
| The first body of Federal prisoners, 688
in number, arrived here yesterday about 3 p.m.; they were sent
forward as soon as rations could be issued. |
| The second body arrived this morning,
and it becomes necessary for me to send them in charge of the guard
that accompanied the first lot from Charleston. A guard could not be supplied from the forces about
Savannah
without an unjustifiable exposure of important batteries. |
| None of the regiments ordered to Savannah
from the Army of Tennessee have yet arrived, not even the Fifth
Georgia, to relieve which the Fifty-seventh [Georgia] was sent to
Andersonville. Under these circumstances it may become necessary to send the
guard that arrived here this morning from Charleston
forward with any additional prisoners that may be sent here, but I
will avoid this if possible. |
| Very respectfully, your obedient servant, |
| J. F. Gilmer |
| Major-General, Commanding |