All of General Howard's troops (the right wing) lie behind the Little Ogeechee, and I doubt if it can be passed by troops in the face of an enemy.

Still, we can make strong feints, and if I can get a sufficient number of boats, I shall make a cooperative demonstration up Vernon River or Wassaw Sound.

I should like very much indeed to take Savannah before coming to you; but, as I wrote to you before, I will do nothing rash or hasty, and will embark for the James River as soon as General Easton (who is gone to Port Royal for that purpose) reports to me that he has an approximate number of vessels for the transportation of the contemplated force.
I fear even this will cost more delay than you anticipate, for already the movement of our transports and the gunboats has required more time than I had expected.

We have had dense fogs; there are more mud-banks in the Ogeechee than were reported, and there are no pilots whatever.

Admiral Dahlgren promised to have the channel buoyed and staked, but it is not done yet.