General JOS. G. TOTTEN,
Chief Engineer, U. S. Army, Washington, D. C
GENERAL: The only work being done this morning in the surrounding batteries is on Cummings Point, where small parties, apparently of soldiers, are at work on the parapets of battery No. 3 (looking towards Fort Moultrie) and the redoubt on the sand hill in rear of the Star Of the West battery. They appear to be repairing the damages caused by the wind and rain of yesterday and last night. More guns were landed on Cummings Point, but how many I cannot tell. Three of them, apparently 24-pounders on Siege carriages, are now on the beach at the place of landing.
Two messengers from the city, Lieut. S. W. Ferguson, formerly of the Army, and Colonel Chisolm, came yesterday as bearers of a letter to Major Anderson from General Beauregard.
My operations are confined to the collection and counting of materials, clearing of the parade, construction of splinter-proof traverse in front of ordnance room, and cutting of interior slope of parapet, so as to allow the 10-inch columbiad at the west gorge angle to traverse so as to firre on all the batteries on Cummings Point.
It was with great pleasure that I received the expressions of the approval of the Department contained in your letter of the 23d.
I inclose herewith a sketch showing the arrangement of guns, &c., on the first and third tiers of this work. This arrangement will probably not be altered unless active operations be commenced against the work.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. G. FOSTER,
Captain, Engineers.