Annotation
[1] LS, CSmH. General Hunter wrote from Hilton Head, South Carolina, on May 22, sending the despatch by Captain Arthur M. Kinzie:
``It is more than six weeks since the attack by the iron-clads upon Charleston; an attack in which from the nature of the plans of Admiral DuPont the Army had no active part. . . .
``On the afternoon after the iron-clad attack on Fort Sumter the troops . . . were not only ready to cross Light-House Inlet, but were almost in the act . . . when they were recalled . . . by the announcement of Admiral DuPont that he had resolved to retire, and . . . we could expect no assistance from the Navy. . . .
``A lodgment on Morris Island was thus made impossible for us. . . . the crossing which could have been effected in a couple of hours and with but little sacrifice six weeks ago will now involve . . . protracted operations and a very serious loss of life. . . .
``I fear Admiral DuPont distrusts the iron-clads so much that he has resolved to do nothing with them this summer, and I therefore most earnestly beg you to liberate me from those orders to `co-operate with the Navy' which now tie me down to share the admiral's inactivity. . . . Liberate me from this order . . . and I will immediately place a column of 10,000 . . . in the heart of Georgia. . . .
``I deem this matter of so much importance and am so weary of inactivity that I send this letter by special steamer to Fortress Monroe, and have instructed the captain of the vessel to wait for your reply. . . .'' (OR, I, XIV, 455-57). See LINCOLN to Hunter, June 30, infra.