Enemy passing close in, somewhat scattered. Two of his steamships reported ashore near Georgetown. Crews prisoners. Commodore Tattnall at Port Royal. Am in connection with General Lawton and General Anderson. Desire authority to retain services of General Trapier, should the enemy land, for a time. Port Royal to be reinforced and supplied to-day and to-morrow.
RIPLEY,
General.
In Port Royal, CSN Flag Officer Josiah Tattnall is assembling his tiny squadron to take on the Federal fleet when it arrives. Tattnall has a total of eight vessels: four small gunboats, a coastal cutter, and three converted tugboats. Each ship is armed with 1 or 2 guns each. Just one warship in Du Pont's armada, the USS Wabash, carries 40 guns.
Mary Boykin Chestnut of South Carolina writes in her journal:
"Now I remember Mr. C[hestnut]’s talk when he came back to our rooms. Lee and the president thought any movement on our part premature. The enemy was still too near his cover. I bear that in mind, and also Mr. C’s praise of General Lee’s clear, soldierly views–and his disgust because I would inteerrupt him to say how handsome General Lee was—such a splendid looking soldier—but that I liked Smith Lee best [R.E. Lee’s older brother]."
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