ordered to return. I inclose a copy of the telegram sent by me advising the Department of the evacuation of Savannah.*

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. T. BEAUREGARD,

General.

[44.]

HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE WEST,
Charleston, S. C., December 29, 1864.

Lieutenant General W. J. HARDEE,

Commanding Dept. of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida,

Charleston, S. C.:

GENERAL: First. The lines in Chirst Church require the special attention of your engineer and the commander of the Second Sub-District. The woods in front of the lines should be cut into abatis at once and positions for field guns in embrasure should be established immediately along them. Second. The batteries commanding approaches through the creeks should be put into perfect order and garrisoned. Third. A pontoon bridge should be thrown across Cooper River at the most favorable point, if practicable. Fourth. I think you ought to apply for the promotion of Majors Lucas and Manigault to give them more authority over their battalions.

Respectfully, yours, &c.,

G. T. BEAUREGARD,

General.

[44.]

MONTGOMERY, ALA., January 9, 1865.

Major General HOWELL COBB,

Macon, Ga.:

Altamaha bridge must be destroyed soon as no longer required. Cannot iron from Gulf road be employed to finsh it to Bainbridge? If so telegraph Major Screven on subject.

G. T. BEAUREGARD,

General.

[47.]

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,

Columbia, January 11, 1865.

His Excellency Z. B. VANCE,

Governor of North Carolina:

GOVERNOR: The bearer of this, Colonel William S. Mullins, one of the special aides of the Executive of this State, has been charged by me with the duty of handing it to you, explaining to you, if necessary, more fully my views and wishes in relation to its subject, and receiving from you such suggestions, presuming upon your concurrence, as you may desire to make. You will find that what I will say it the practical application of the principles announced in my inaugural, a copy of which I now send you. It is my great desire to keep these States united by every tie of sympathy in a common destiny superior to any conventional compact, because resting upon these relations which a power superior to man has created-the conviction of a common interest, resulting from a common political condition, connected with a common social system, all developed now fully, and intimately interwoven

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* See Beauregard to Davis, VOL. XLIV, p. 974.

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