| General Isaac I Stevens Response To William H. Nobles Port Royal Experiment |
| HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF PORT ROYAL, Beaufort, S. C., December 10, 1861. WILLIAM H. NOBLES, Esq., Collector of Cotton: SIR: I have received your letter and inclosures of this date, claiming that you are authorized to take possession of the cotton in the deserted portions of South Carolina, and also of all other public property. The instructions of Brigadier-General Sherman clearly give you authority to collect, gin, and pack cotton. I am not advised of the extent of your authority in regard to quartermaster and commissary stores. The letter of instructions of Captain Saxton does not give the information. I have, however, to inform you that I have taken military possession of Ladies Island, and shall proceed to collect and take charge of such quartermaster and commissary stores as my parties may take possession of-not interfering, however, with your operations in collecting cotton on that island or the quartermaster or commissary stores you have already collected. I shall not permit you to establish an agency at Beaufort, or to interfere in any way with the steps already taken by the commanding general to collect the cotton and the quartermaster and commissary stores on Port Royal Island and its dependencies. I am, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient, ISAAC I. STEVENS, Brigadier-General, Commanding. |
| General Stevens was correct in the limited nature of the agent's power. From the commissioning document (See William H. Nobles Commission) he was confined to cotton. This is going to lead to early and continual tension between the military command efforts and other efforts in the Port Royal Experiment. |
| General Isaac Stevens |