Captain T. A. Washington, Assistant uldjidant Gem red : Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith official reports from Brigadiei -General D. S. Donelson, Provisional Army ; Colonel James Jones, 14th Regiment South Carolina Vol- unteers ; Lieutenant-Colonel D. Barnes, 12th Regiment South Carolina Volunteers, and Major C. Jones, 12th Regi- ment South Carolina Volunteers, of their respective opera- tions against the enemy in the affair on the Ooosaw River on the 1st instant. About half-past nine, A. M., on that day hearing heavy and rapid firing, I moved with as much despatch as possible; from my headquarters, near Pocotaligo Station, towards the direction whence it appeared to proceed. On reaching the camp of the 12th South Carolina Regi- ment, located where the Shelden Road and that from Page^fi Point and Cunningham Bluff entered the Port Royal Road, I found that no positive information had been received as to the precise points whence the cannonading proceeded. To- wards 12, M., I received the first despatch from Colonel James Jones, commanding 14th South Carolina Volunteers, stating that the enemy was landing in strong force at Cliis- holm's Landing, and shortly after another informing me that there was an evident intention of landing a large force from Chisholnvs to Port Royal Ferry. I immediately directed Colonel Jones to have the siege howitzers and the large Im- pounder iron gun on siege carriage (the only two guns of greater calibre than 6 -pound field pieces which I had been able to place in position on the Coosaw Riyer) in readiness to be removed from the intrenchments at the ferry should their safety be threatened by the enemy's advance on our left. I will here remark that the 12-ppunder above referred to, being very Jjeavy and not equipped for transportation, was unfortunately, but accidentally, overturned in a ditch in the act of remoVal. The heavy fire from the enemy's gun- boats rendered it impracticable to extricate it without the risk of too great a loss of life, it was therefore spiked and left. I also directed Colonel Jones to move towards the enemy at once, and to attack him the moment an opportunity should offer; and if compelled to fall back, to do so fighting. In addition to his own regiment, Colonel Jones had under his command a section of Captain Leake's Virginia Battery, which, on several occasions during the day, was effectiv ly employed against the enemy's columns under Captain Leake in person. Forty cavalry under Major Oswald, and Captain Evans and four companies 12th South Carolina Volunteers, Lieutenant-Colonel Barnes commanding, (Colonel Dunovant being in attendance at the session of the State Convention in Columbia,) were moved forward with as much despatch as possible. Colonel Barnes arrived in time to assist in open- ing the first fire on the enemy's forces. To the report of these officers (Colonel Jones and Lieutenant-Colonel Haines) I respectfully refer for details of the operations of their respective corps, though during the engagement Lieutenant- Colonel Barnes acted under the immediate order of his su- perior. A large portion of the Tennessee Brigade under Briga- dier-General Donelson, and Thornton's Virginia Field Bat- tery were also ordered forward to the support of Colonel Jones. The}^ did not, however, reach the field in time to take part in the action, though moved with the utmost promptitude. The brigade was disappointed in its desire to meet the enemy. I respectfully refer to General Donelson's report herewith. During the day and Saturday night, I was in frequent communication with Major C. Jones, com- manding a detachment of three companies of his regiment, 1 2th South Carolina Volunteers, and a section of Leake's Battery, near Page's Point, and in observation of Cunning- ham's Bluff. The enemy, though expending a large number of shot and shell, did no further damage than to burn the wood work of a be.ttery which I was about completing, but #-/ for which Iliad not been able to obtain guns. Major Jones's report is respectfully forwarded herewith. Although the ene- my did not land in force at Page's Point or Cunningham's Bluff, it was entirely practicable for him to have done so, un- der cover of his gunboats, at any time. This compelled me to hold in reserve a sufficient force to meet him in the road in these directions, or should he so select, on that to Mackay's Point, where a landing was equally possible, and would have taken my advanced troops in rear should he succeed in forcing his way. For these reasons, no other troops than those mentioned were advanced, though others were held in readi- ness at a moment's notice. Colonel Martin's Cavalry Corps acted during the day principally as pickets and videttes, the Colonel himself rendering efficient service as my aid-de- camp when his other duties permitted. Our troops evinced from first to last a laudable desire to meet the enemy when- ever and wherever it could be done, upon any thing like equal terms. On every occasion of his attempt to advance beyond the cover of his gunboats, he was driven back or his troops dispersed. At no time during his occupation of the river's bank did he leave their protection, and finally, when withdrawing to the island, did so under fire from his vessels almost as heavy as that under which he had landed. I also transmit, herewith, reports of killed and wounded, many of the latter were slight. By far the larger portion of the casualties being from the shells of the fleet, yet from all the information I have been able to obtain, I am convinced the enemy's loss, at least equalled ours. My A. D. C, Lieut. J. W. Morrison, Provisional Army, was necessarily engaged during the day in office duties. I am much indebted to my Volunteer Aid-de-Camp's, Messrs. J. Heyerman and George Elliott. To the officers whose reports are transmitted herewith, I have to return my thanks, and through them to those under their immediate command, also to Surgeon Turnipseed, 12th South Carolina Volunteers, for his untiring, professional zeal, as well on the field as in the camp3. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, J. C. PEMBERTON, Brig. Gen. Commanding , 4th Military Division, S. C. (Official.) John Withers, A. A. General, A. & T. G. 0., March 3. 1862. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL DONELSON. Brigade Headquarters, > Pocotaligo, S. C, January 5th, 1862. ) General : I refer you to the enclosed report of Col. James Jones, of the 14th Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers, which I found at my quarters last night, of all that trans- pired in the engagement of the forces under his command, with the enemy at Port Royal Ferry, on the 1st inst. I reached the encampment of Col. Jones between the hours of 4 and 5 o'clock, P. M., the 1 st instant, and proceeded about two hundred yards, after a moment's halt, to a point in the woods near the Kean's Neck road. Here I halted my com- mand, which consisted of eight companies of the 8th Tennessee Regiment, the 16th Tennessee Regiment not having come up, until I could make a personal reconnoisance, by going into the field in which the Chaplin House was situated, with the view of taking position and to co-operate with the forces of Col. Jones. I saw upon entering this field, our troops falling back along the road leading from the Chaplin House, perpendicular to the Kean's Neck road, near the point I had stationed the 8th Tennessee Regiment. The troops of Col. Jones, without halting, passed to his camp. Here, after mak- ing the acquaintance of Col. Jones, I ordered the whole force to halt. I found at once that the enemy's shells could do us much injury without any ability on our part to return the enemy's fire ; they, the enemy in the field, having previously retired under cover of their gunboats, out of sight. It being now near sundown, I ordered the entire command to fall back to a point out of the range of the enemy's gunboats. During all this time, both at the camp of Col. Jones, and on the march to the rear to take position, there was a quick and constant firing by the enemy. No casualty happened; the shells falling to our right. They ceased firing just at dark, I have omitted to say that before getting to Col. Jones's camp, Col. Martin, commanding regiment of cavalry, rode up, introduced himself, and gave me the direction to lead my 8th Regiment Tennessee Volunteers, to the point occupied by them, until he and myself could survey the open field, through which Col. Jones's Regiment was then retiring. We then remained until they passed into the Kean's Neck road, near the point of location of the 8th Tennessee Regiment. At this moment, in the preparation of this report, I re- ceived the enclosed official report of Lieut. Col. Barney, of the 12th Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers, who com- manded a detachment of four companies of said regiment in the action with the enemy on the 1st inst., at Port Royal Ferry, all of which is respectfully submitted. I am, with high respect, Your obedient servant, D. S. DONELSON, Brigadier- General, 1st Brigade, 4th Military District, S. C. To Major-General Pemberton, Commanding 4th Military District, S. C. (Official) John Withers, A^ A* General. A. &I..G. 0., March 3, 1862. REPORT OF JAMES JONES, COL. FOURTEENTH REGIMENT S. C. VOLUNTEERS. Headquarters 14th Reg't S. C. Vols., Tomotley, Jan'y 4tli, 1862. To Brigadier-General 1). S. Donelson, Com'g First Brigade Fourth Military Division S. C. General: In obedience to instructions, I have the honor to report the following occurrences of the 1st instant. My camp was pitched on the road from Garden's Corner to Port Royal Ferry, one mile from the latter place, and where a road diverged eastward at nearly a right angle with the Port Royal Ferry road, leading into Kean's Neck, and nearly parallel with, and about a mile distant from, Coosaw river. At the termination of the causeway of the Ferry on the northern bank of Coosaw river, an earthwork was thrown up to prevent a crossing at that point, armed with two siege guns, a howitzer, and a twelve pounder gun, under command of Lieut. Webb ; the twelve pounder being manned by an inexperienced detail from my regiment, and support- ed by a section of Capt. Leake's field battery. Two of my companies were sent out on picket duty. One, company B, commanded by Capt. West, at Adams' Place, two and a half miles distant on the Kean's Neck road, and the other company, H, commanded by Capt. Croft, at a Church two miles further on the same road, and near the bridge and causeway leading into Chisholm's Island, with orders to guard the bridge and causeway above referred to, and with orders to send out pickets and scouts into Chisholm's Island. Two other companies were at the Ferry to support the bat- tery there, leaving but six companies at my camp. About 7 o'clock on the morning of the 1st instant, Capt. Croft communicated the intelligence to me that the enemy had landed in force on Chisholm's Island. He estimated the number at two regiments, as he saw a long column advanc- ing with two regimental stands of colors and two pieces of artillery. Soon after this, about half-past 7 o'clock, Capt. West dispatched a courier to me with the information that the enemy had landed at Adams' Place, and were advancing in strong force to the Kean's Neck road. I ordered for- ward Lieut. Colonel McGowan with three companies of my regiment, commanded by Capts. Carter, Perrin and Tomp- kins, and one gun of Capt. Leake's section to support Capt. West, whom he met at about one and a half miles, retiring in good order towards my camp, when he formed his line of battle. I withdrew my two companies from the earthwork at the Ferry, and, assisted by Major Simpson, with the five companies commanded by Capts. Wood, Brown, Owens, Harper, and Faggott, took post near Chaplin's house, to in- tercept any column that might attempt to pass along the margin of the river to the Ferry, and at the same time to be in supporting distance of Lieut. Colonel McGowan. No attempt was made on the part of the enemy to advance in any direction (probably w r aiting for a sufficient tide to allow his gunboats to advance) until half-past 12 -o'clock, P. M., when the gunboats began to move up slowly towards the Ferry, and to throw shells rapidly, when a message from Lieut. Colonel McGowan informed me that the enemy were advancing along the Kean's Neck road. Regarding the earthworks at the Ferry, now r unimportant, as the enemy had effected a landing at another point, I ordered Captain Leake and Lieut. Webb to withdraw their guns from that position ; Capt. Leake to bring his gun to Lieut. Colonel McGowan's line, and I proceeded with my five companies also to his support. Soon after I arrived at Lieut. Colonel McGowan's line, my other company, Capt. Croft, which had been posted at the Church on the Kean's Neck road, and on account of the landing of the enemy at Adams', could not return by that road, made a circuitous march by another road, in obedience to my instructions, and joined the regiment. The whole regiment was then put in line of battle, the left resting on Capt. Leake's section of his bat- tery placed in the road, and the right extending towards the river as far as I deemed practicable. I had just got into position when Major Oswald, of Col. Martin's regiment, re- ported to me with 52 mounted men, and I directed him to take post upon my left. Almost at the same time Lieut. Col. Barnes, of 12th regiment South Carolina Volunteers, re- ported with four companies of that regiment, and I directed him to return to Chaplin's house, the position I had left, and to guard to the river's bank. The enemy, instead of advancing, as I supposed he would do, along the Kean's Neck road to attack my camp, and the only route by which he could bring up his battery, left his artillery in his rear, and advanced close along the river's bank, and across the adjacent fields and woods, creeping 1 along opposite his gunboats, five of which steamed slowly along, throwing shells in advance of and over his troops. As soon as his column, advancing by the margin of the river could be seen, Capt. Leake opened fire upon it, scatter- ing it right and left, and driving it out of view down the slope to the marsh ; and when those advancing across the fields appeared before my right wing, I opened fire upon them with musketeers, dispersing and driving them back to the river under shelter of their gunboats. When I became satisfied that the enemy would not ad- vance by the Kean's Neck road, I changed my position to Chaplin's house, near the Ferry, in support of Lieut. Col. Barnes's command ; but when I arrived with the head of my regiment at that point, I saw that it was too late to accom- plish any useful purpose. The enemy had reached the earth- work at the end of the causeway in large force, and were protected by the guns of three steamers in the river, near the bulkheads of the Ferry. I then withdrew the whole command to my camp to wait for further orders from gene- ral headquarters. On arriving at my camp, I met you at the head of the 8th Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers, and placed myself under your orders. I cannot state with certainty the loss of the enemy, but I have reason to believe it was considerable, in killed and wounded. Wherever we met him, we invariably drove him from the field in confusion, to the protection of his gunboats. We saw many dead* upon the field, and captured two priso- ners badly wounded, both of whom have since died. I Avas not only satisfied, but highly gratified, with the conduct of all my officers and men during the engagement. Their coolness and enthusiasm was admirable. I herewith transmit a complete list of the casualties in my regiment. I also transmit two orders received during the engagement from the General, commanding the 4th Mil- itary Division of South Carolina. I have the honor to be, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES JONES. n Headquarters 14th Reg't S. C. V., £ Tomotley, Jan'y 5, 1862. S Gen'l D. S. Donelson, 1st Brigade, 4th Mil. Div. S. C. General: I transmit herewith the report of Lieuteannt- Colonel D. H. Barnes, of the affair at Port Royal, on the 1st instant. I have no remarks to make on it, except to correct the distance of my line from my camp, at the time the Lieute- nant-Colonel reported to me, which is probably immaterial ; but the line was about one mile from my camp, instead of half a mile, as was stated by Lieut. Col. Barnes. I am, General, Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, JAMES JONES, Col. Uth Reg't S. C. F., Commanding. (Official :) Jno. Withers, A. A. General. ■ A. & I. G. 0. March 3 '62. REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL BARNES. Headquarters 12th Regiment, S. C. V., ) January 4th, 1862. ) Lieutenant Reedy, Adjutant \Ath Regiment S. C. V : Sir : I submit the following report of the part performed in the recent affair at Port Royal Ferry, by the detachment of the 12th Regiment, under my command. Between 1 and 2 o'clock, P. M., of the 1st instant, I left Camp Pemberton, near Garden Corner, with Adjutant Talley, and four compa- nies of the 12th Regiment, to wit: Company "A" Captain McCorkle, Company "B" Capt. Miller, Company "G" Lieut. Moody, and Company "I" Lieut. Campbell, under orders from the Brigadier-General, commanding the Fourth Military District, to proceed to join the 14th Regiment, in resisting the reported advance of the enemy from Chisholm's Point, where it was said they had landed in force. On reach- ing the camp of the 14th Regiment at the junction of the road, leading to Kean's Neck with the Port Royal Ferry road, I ascertained that the earthworks at the Ferry had been abandoned, and that the 14th Regiment, with some of the pieces had advanced down the former road, leaving a small guard with a howitzer at the camp. I followed with my command, the direction being nearly parallel to the river, and within easy range of the heavy guns of the enemy's vessels, but we came up with Colonel Jones's Regiment about a half mile from their camp, without having sustained any loss from the few shell which were fired. That regiment was then filing off from the road to the right, and upon reporting to Col. Jones, I was informed that the enemy were advancing on the right, and was ordered to countermarch to a gateway, some 300 yards to the rear, from which a road extended di- rectly toward the river, and thus to gain a position to the right of that occupied by the 14th Regiment. On reaching the gateway indicated, I discovered that the road to which I had been directed, ran through the middle of an extensive cotton 14 field, bounded on our right by the Port Royal Ferry road, and on the left, for some 200 yards, by a wood of small pines, into which the 14th regiment had filed, and beyond that wood on the left, by a rail fence which separated the cotton field from other open lands. Directly in front of the gate was, about a quarter of a mile distant, a ridge whereon stood a dwelling and out-buildings, (known as Chaplin's,) and which was partially covered with trees and undergrowth, ex- tending from the Port Royal Ferry road on the right to a considerable distance beyond the fence above referred to on our left. My detachment marched from the gate to the left, cross- ing the cotton field diagonally, so as to advance nearer to the position of the 14th regiment, and, at the same time, gain a point between its right and the river. This we did, and formed in line under cover of the fence, our right rest- ing near the ridge. The 14th regiment was hidden from us by the intervening growth of pines, but to the front of our line the view was unobstructed for a considerable distance. Through this open area we soon saw the enemy, advancing as skirmishers, upon the right of the 14th, apparently in ignorance of our position. That regiment opened fire, and immediately afterward I ordered my detachment to advance. They responded promptly with a cheer, and, leaping the fence, we advanced at a run, firing upon the enemy ; they re- turned the fire, wounding two of our men, and fled, screening themselves behind a point of wood-land to our right. The firing from the 14th regiment also ceased ; and it having been reported to me, by a few men of Company " B," posted on the ridge to our right, to observe the movements of the enemy in that direction, that they were moving down to- ward the Ferry, between our right ami the river. I pro- ceeded to deploy one company, and subsequently, the re- maining three, along tke ridge at right*angles, to the line of our former position, and about one hundred yards further to the right. We had scarcely gained this ground, before the enemy were seen advancing directly toward our new front, and shortly afterwards a body of them appeared towards our right, at a gate on the Port Royal Ferry road The right of our line fired upon the body of men at the gate, who gave way and ran precipitately, and about the same time our left fired upon those near our front. These latter also disappeared among the thick growth of pine, and the fire of the enemy ceased entirely. 15 I now ordered the detachment forward, into the wood which covered the eminence. We had, however, advanced but a few paces, when Col. Jones rode up to our line, and I then saw the regiment of the latter, and another regiment, which I afterwards learned was the Eighth Tennessee, ad- vancing to our support, marching by a flank along the road, through the cotton fields in our rear. At this moment, the enemy's gunboats opened a heavy fire of shell, and the whole force was ordered to fall back. While retiring through the field, my detachment lost one killed and two wounded ; this loss resulted from the enemy's shells exclusively, their infantry making no farther demonstration whatever. Throughout the affair. Adjutant Talley rendered me great assistance, in the execution of the various movements, and did his duty in every respect in a manner entirely satisfac- tory to me. Surgeon Turnipsccd joined the command a short time be- fore we first opened upon the enemy, and entered at once upon the discharge of the duties of his position. His ser- vices were valuable, especially in the removal of the wounded from the field, while it was still under fire of the enemy. The conduct of the whole command was good. They obeyed orders promptly, and exhibited enthusiasm when the prospect was presented of meeting the foe, face to face, upon a fair field of battle. I forward, herewith, the report of Surgeon Turnipseed. I am, very respectfully, &e., Your obedient servant, D. BARNES, Lieut. Colonel commanding detachment. (Official.) John Withers, A. A. General. A. & I. G. 0., March 3, 1862. REPORT OF MAJOR CADWALLADER JONES, OF THE TWELFTH SOUTH CAROLINA REGI- MENT. Page's Point, January — , 1862. Brigadier General Pemberion: ■•~' Sir : In obedience to your orders, I proceeded from Camp Pemberton, at 10 o'clock, on the 1st instant, to Page's Point, and took command of the forces at this place. They consisted of three companies of the 12th regiment South Carolina, (Colonel Dunovant,) to wit : Captain Bookler, Captain Davis, (Lieutenant Delany, commanding,) and Captain Clyburn's company; also, one section of Captain Leake's Virginia, Lieutenant Leake commanding. I found the command well placed, under direction of E. F. Bookler, senior Captain. On my arrival a heavy cannonading from two of the enemy's gunboats, chiefly in the direction of the island battery, (not yet completed) was going on. I immediately sent a small detachment to this battery, who reported that the enemy had burnt it and made their escape. Very soon another of the enemy's gunboats came in sight from the direction of Cunningham's Bluff, and lay off Page's Point. The gunboats then com- menced a heavy fire of shells in all directions — I suppose with a view of effecting a landing. I immediately moved the command, under a considerable shelling, but without loss, to a point of safety, about three-quarters of a mile from the boats, where I remained during the day. About four o'clock, the enemy threw on shore some twenty men under protec- tion of their guns. They remained a short time and re- turned to their boats. At night I fell back to the Spring, and, at about two o'clock in the night, I sent forward a de- tachment of fifteen men, under command of Lieutenant Rowbrought, and burnt all the cotton and corn on the 18 Point. This was effected in the face of the enemy, -who lay in their gunboats off Page's Point during the night. In the morning I returned to my former position. The boats of the enemy were still off the Point, where they remained without attempting to land, but passing occasionally in the direction of Cunningham's Bluff, until the afternoon, when they left. At the same time I observed the enemy leave Port Royal Ferry,- as reported at the time. I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, your obd't serv't, CAD. JONES, Major 12th Regiment S. C. (Official.) John Withers, A. A. General. 19 CASUALTIES. Headquarters 12th Regiment S. C. V., ) Near Pocotaligo, S. C, January 5th, 1862. ) Lieut. Wm. II. Talley, Adjutant Twelfth Regiment S. C. V. Dear Sir : By order of Lieut. Colonel Dixon Barnes, commanding four companies of 12th Regiment S. C. V., at the battle near Port Royal Ferry, on January 1st, 1862, I hereby report the casualties of that day, viz : Company G. — Wm. Duke, wounded by a musket ball on the left side of the head — not serious. Company I. — W. M. Barton, wounded by a musket ball in the left pictoral muscles — seriously ; A. A. Caskey, wounded by a fragment of bomb in the right ghitial mus- cles — not serious ; J. T. C. Valandingham, killed by the ex- plosion of a bomb. Company A. — H. M. Gwinn, concussion produced by the explosion of a bomb — not serious. Total wounded 4. Total killed 1 . We have to record the inhuman conduct of the enemy in firing upon the Surgeons while dressing the wounds upon the battlefield. Very respectfully, E. B. TURNIPSEED, Surgeon \2th Regiment S. C. V. 21 CASUALTIES IN THE FOURTEENTH REGIMENT, SOUTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEERS, ON THE FIRST JANUARY, 1862. Company B. — Captain West. Killed — Privates A. Bait- ley, F. M. Riser, 2. Wounded — Lieut. James Boatwright, Sergeant E. A. Roach, Corporal Robert Brooks, Privates E. D. Merchant, M. Plymale, Joel Niminch, Caleb Hare, 7. Total killed and wounded, 9. Company C. — Captain Wood. Wounded — Sergeant Geo. Weathnall, 1. Total 1. Company E. — Captain Brown. Killed — Lieut. J. A. Pow- ers, Privates S. D. Bryd, 2. Wounded — Privates John B. Jones, W. Howens, J. H. Gartell, R. B. Falk, 4. Total 6. Company G. — Captain Taggart. Wounded — Private Sam- uel Cothrore, 1. Total 1. Company H. — Captain Croft. Killed — Corporal James Ewbanks, Privates Daily Ewbanks, James Withe rford, 3. Wounded — Privates Peter Day, Calvin Cushman, John Jourkin, Corporal James Coulter, 4. Total 7. Company K. — Captain Tompkins. Wounded — Lieut. W. L. Stevens, Corporal Noah J. Sterts, Private Ransom Tim- merman, 3. Total 3. Total killed and wounded 27. Missing none. JAMES JONES, Col. \\th Rp.g. S. C. Vols. Commanding. Hollinger Corp. pH8.5