CHARLESTON, S. C.,

October 20, 1863-7 p. m.

Honorable JAMES A. SEDDON,

Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.:

Enemy seem to be concentrating a force of Port Royal, whether for offense or defense, I cannot yet tell. Troops reported coming south from North Carolina may be intended to operate from that base. If so, railroad communication with Savannah will soon be interrupted, for my forces are too small to protect it.

G. T. BEAUREGARD.

HDQRS. DEPT. SOUTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA, AND FLORIDA,
Charleston, S. C., October 20, 1863.

General G. T. BEAUREGARD,

Commanding, &c.:

GENERAL: In compliance with your request, I herewith inclose a revised tabular statement of the "proposed armament of batteries along the eastern margin of James Island, from Secessionville to Fort Johnson, and also of the harbor batteries upon the same island." I also return the papers from which the statement was compiled, and which were sent to this office by you.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. F. GILMER,

Major-General, and Second in Command.

[Inclosure.]

Proposed armament of batteries along the eastern margin of James Island, from Secessionville to Fort Johnson, and also of the harbor batteries on the same island.

At present in To be placed To be taken Proposed

position. in position. away. armament.

REDOUBT

Numbers 1.

1 8-inch shell --- --- 1 8-inch shell

gun. gun.

1 32-pounder --- --- 1 32-pounder

smooth-bore. smooth-bore.

1 30-pounder --- --- 1 30-pounder

Parrott. Parrott.

1 24-pounder, --- 1 24-pounder,

rifled and rifled and

banded. banded.

SECESSIONVILLE

(REAR.)*

1 24-pounder, 1 30-pounder --- 1 24-pounder,

rifled. Parrott. rifled.

2 32-pounder --- --- 2 32-pounder

smooth-bores. smooth-bores,

must be put on

barbette

carriages.

1 30-pounder

parrott.

RYAN (RIGHT). 2 12-pounder --- 2 12-pounder

James (when James, reamed

reamed out). to 18-pounder

or 24-pounder

howitzers.

RYAN (LEFT). 2 24-pounder --- 2 24-pounder

Austrian Austrian

howitzers. howitzers.

2 8-inch siege 2 24-pounders, --- 2 8-inch siege

howitzers. rifled, and howitzers.

banded.

2 24-pounders,

rifled and

banded.

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*If it is desirable to rifle the two 32-pounders in the rear of Secessionville, they can be replaced by lighter gun on siege-carriages. These guns are now mounted on casemates carriages, which are unsuitable for the location, and should be replaced by siege of barbette carriages.

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