| Head Quarters Dept. So. Ca., Ga. & Fl. |
| Charleston S. C. Feby 10th 1863 |
| |
| Col. W. Porcher Miles |
| Member of Congress |
| Richmond Va |
| |
| Dear Col., |
| Yours of the 3d & 5th inst
have been received. I believe that even the blind can now see what the
Enemy's intentions are or were, before our naval onslaught upon their
fleet here. If they had intended seriously to attack Wilmington & the
Rail Roads you refer to, they would have done so before withdrawing
part, if not most of their forces from Newbern & whilst they had two
Ironclads, the Passaic & Montawk, at Beaufort N. C., but these & 6 or 7
others have gone Southward with a large part of their land forces, it
becomes evident that Charleston or Savannah is their objective
point, probably the former before the attack on their fleet as
already stationed for Savannah is only comparatively a secondary place.
***** Meanwhile hurry on the heavy ordnance & ammunition as rapidly as
possible, via Raleigh, for the other route is too slow & uncertain.
{ie ship via the North Carolina, Charlotte & South
Carolina and South Carolina RRs rather than by the Wilmington & Weldon,
Wilmington & Manchester and Northeastern RRs} ***** |
| Yours truly |
| G. T. Beauregard |
|