| Hdqrs. Dept. of South Carolina and Georgia |
| Charleston, S. C., June 26, 1862 |
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| Gov. Francis W. Pickens, Columbia, S. C. |
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| Governor,
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| Mr. F. J. Porcher is bearer of certain
papers relating to harbor obstructions, which I desire to lay before
Your Excellency' and the Executive Council for consideration. It is
useless to undertake this work unless an ample supply of labor is
sent here. So far from being able to furnish it from what is now at
my disposal, the force laboring here on the many indispensable works
is entirely inadequate. If you expect the city to be saved my
requisition for negroes must be promptly met. I find myself now
compelled to undertake many works which ought not to have been left
for me to do. I may have to call upon the Charleston & Savannah
Railroad Company to suspend the work upon the railroad bridge. This
I shall greatly regret, but it should have been completed months
ago.
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| You are aware that I have a small number
of troops for the defense of this city and Savannah. It is therefore the more necessary to supply the deficiency by
strong artificial defenses. As for the abandonment of Cole's
Island, if I am properly supported I believe it will yet prove to be the
safety of the city. Had I the number of troops at my disposal now
which I had when that measure was adopted we might defy the United
States Army.
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| J. C. Pemberton
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| Major-General, Commanding
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