always healthy, and armies can operate at all times of the year. The accessions of blacks would be the greatest possible; large forces could soon be organized. By spring, when any troops sent from the North might be compelled to return, enough blacks might be organized to hold this region securely. This is the most important movement that we can now undertake; all others are insignificant in comparison, and but small force (comparatively) is to be met in putting it in execution. Neither Charleston or Savannah require to be taken in order to effect it; neither are even desirable; but both must fall as a sequence of an extended operation. At present we ignore our greatest advantages, the possession of the sea, and of these harbors, and our perfect ability to separate Lee from Johnston forever, and the future advantage of taking such a position can readily be seen by inspecting the map given here.

[35.]

SPECIAL ORDERS,
DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, HEADQUARTERS IN THE
FIELD, Numbers 18.
Folly Island, S. C., January 14, 1863.

* * * * * *

XVI. Colonel Guy V. Henry, Fortieth Massachusetts Volunteers, will proceed with his regiment to Hilton Head and report to Brigadier General T. Seymour. * * *

By command of Major General Q. A. Gillmore:

ED. W. SMITH,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

[35.]

SPECIAL ORDERS,
DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, HEADQUARTERS IN THE
FIELD, Numbers 20.
Folly Island, S. C., January 15, 1864.

* * * * * *

VII. The two posts heretofore established on Folly Island are hereby merged into one, under the command of Brigadier General G. H. Gordon, U. S. Volunteers.

* * * * * *

By command of Major General Q. A. Gillmore:

ED. W. SMITH,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

[35.]

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, Numbers 31.
Hilton Head, S. C., January 28, 1864.

I. The Forty-seventh, Forty-eighth, and One hundred, and fifteenth New York Volunteers and Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers will constitute a brigade, to be commanded by Colonel W. B. Barton, Forty-eighth New York Volunteers.

* * * * * *

By command of Major General Q. A. Gillmore:

ED. W. SMITH,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

[35.]