| On Board Steamer Ben De Ford |
| February 1, 1863 |
| |
| Brigadier General Saxton |
| Military Governor, &c. |
| |
| General, |
| I have the honor to report the safe
return of the expedition under my command, consisting of 462
officers and men of the First Regiment South Carolina Volunteers,
who left Beaufort on January 23, on board the steamers John Adams,
Planter and Ben De Ford. |
| ***** |
| I have the honor to state that I have on
board the Ben De Ford 250 bars of the best new railroad iron, valued
at $5,000, and much needed in this department. This was obtained on
Saint Simons and Jekly's Islands, Georgia, from abandoned rebel
forts, ***** |
| I have the honor to be, general, very
respectfully, your obedient servant, |
| T. W. Higginson |
| Colonel, Comdg. First Regiment South Carolina
Volunteers |
| {the iron would have provided
some 3,000 feet of track, both rails} |
|