4444 WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A., Maj. Gen. B. HUGER, Norfolk, Va.: SIR: I have the honor of acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 13th instant. The question of closing the, harbor of Norfolk, suggested by you, is decided against your views. None of us are of opinion that it would be proper to lose the vast advantages resulting from the enemy's fright at the bare idea of the Virginia reappearing among the wooden ships. The fact of her presence guarantees you against any attempt to blockade the river. It is, however, necessary to keep the necessary means of closing the Elizabeth River ready at hand for use at a moment's warning in case the Monitor should attempt an entrance. The Nansemond River ought to be obstructed without delay. I inclose you a letter, to be forwarded to General Wise after perusal by you. It explains itself. I also send herewith a voluminous report, 143 pages, sent to me by General Wise, for your remarks. You will find at pages 109 and 116 copies of his letters to you of February 10 and 11, which he evidently regards as his report, and which I asked you to send me, but which you seem not to have received. Congress has made a call for this report; but it cannot be sent in, if at all, without your comments, as it should regularly have been forwarded through you. I am, your obedient servant, With GENERAL: As far as I can judge at this distance the plan of constructing a defensive line between Yorktown and Mulberry Island by damming and defending the Warwick River promises the happiest results. I would therefore recommend to you, should you concur in this opinion, to apply as great a force on the work as possible. your left resting on the batteries on York River and your right defended by the batteries on James River, with the aid of the Virginia and other steamers, I think you may defy the advance of the enemy up the Peninsula, supported as this line would be by your second system of defenses. I am, &c., Gen. R. E. LEE, R. E. LEE, General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PENINSULA, Commanding Armies of the Confederate States: GENERAL: The enemy again drove in the pickets to-day on the Warwick road after exchanging fire. He appears to be operating with a considerable advance guard, supported by heavier bodies, between it and Newport News, so that it is difficult to cut off the advanced troops without entangling my handful of men with very superior forces lying in wait. The country is open from the wood to James River, ascending with heavy wood on the right of it all the way. He generally advances a column on the road and one on the beach under the bank, and he occupies the wood in force. A party sent out by me this morning fell in with what was represented to be a large body of skirmishers in this woods, fired upon them, and one of the enemy fell. Our party consisted of five men, who retired to report the result of their observations. I immediately sent out about 1,000 men, all I had down here, to support the pickets, but the enemy had withdrawn. I presume this will be repeated daily until he either gains ground or keeps my forces from Yorktown and Mulberry Island, with a view of attacking a more vital point. I cannot keep my troops so far down as this without incurring great risk of losing the vital positions in my rear. So, if the enemy persevere, I shall be compelled in a very short time to withdraw the four regiments which are now in front to the second line, viz, from Yorktown to Mulberry Island. Upon the successful defense of this and its water flanks that of the whole Peninsula entirely depends. I inclose you a communication from Colonel Cabell in relation to Harden's Bluff. I applied more than three months ago to have this work transferred to my department, and sent Colonel Randolph and Mr. St. John, the engineer then in charge of the works of this Peninsula, to Richmond to press this subject upon the consideration of the War Department, but could get no answer. It is too late now probably to effect anything, but I am willing to do what can be done. The battery has been a naval battery, and is now commanded by Captain De Lagnel (late of the Navy, but now temporarily a captain in the Confederate Army). I recommend that the whole be placed under the command of the commanding officer, whoever he may be-at present Colonel Archer-while the guns and the men who serve them should be under the immediate command of Captain De Lagnel, who, however, I believe, is junior to the captains of artillery serving the guns; and, if so, ought to be made a major, as has been done in many similar cases, and as his services at this time cannot be spared. I recommend that General Colston, who commands that portion of General Huger's department, be ordered to call out forthwith all the negroes, with their axes, spades, &c., for the purpose of executing without delay any work which Captain Rives, in charge of the Engineer Bureau at Richmond, or Captain Clark, the engineer in immediate charge of the work, may require to be done. The decision as respects the rank, relative positions, and responsibilities of the officers at Harden's Bluff I think had better come from yourself or the War Department, as I understand there is some feeling among them on this subject. Has anything been heard at headquarters of Porter's mortar fleet? I presume that now Yorktown will be the object of attack by the Monitor and that fleet, and I am doing my best to provide against this new danger. I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant, [Inclosure.] Brig. Gen. LAFAYETTE MCLAWS: CURTIS' FARM, March 13, 1862. SIR: As directed by Major-General Magruder, I proceeded to-day to Harden's Bluff. Seven of the largest guns have been placed en barbette, having been previously placed in embrasure. There are six other guns to be placed en barbette. The position I think singularly strong, if further assisted by art. The guns should be immediately placed in position. Traverses should be immediately thrown up. The fort is small, and this could be completed in a very short time. The woods come up immediately to the fort and surround it on all sides, except on the river front. They afford perfect shelter for an attacking force. The forest should be cleared with the utmost possible dispatch. In the woods a very short distance from the fort is a marsh, which nearly surrounds the fort. Over this marsh a road passes leading to the camp of Lieutenant-Colonel Archer. The road can be completely commanded by the fort, but the guns for this purpose are not yet in position. There are several wooden buildings recently erected inside the fort. I think they should be removed at once, with the exception, perhaps, of the one for commissary stores. Of this last I am doubtful. This should be removed as soon as a store-house can be erected in another position. The two artillery companies should be placed under the immediate command of the commander of the fort, and required to occupy their position either in the fort or immediately adjacent thereto. They should be drilled immediately at their pieces. The drill for some time has been suspended, I was informed, partly because some of the guns were being removed en barbette from the embrasures. I do not wish to be understood as interfering in any question existing as to the command between the officers, but the exigencies of the service, the importance of that position as bearing on the defenses of James River, and particularly Mulberry Island batteries, and the batteries on the north side of James River generally justify my allusion to the necessity of its being immediately put in proper state of defense, and that the authority and respective rights and commands of the officers be distinctly defined. I also recommend that bomb-proofs be erected and the batteries casemated with the utmost possible dispatch. Respectfully, your obedient servant, HENRY COULTER CABELL, Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Artillery, P. A. C. S. [Indorsement.] MARCH 14, 1862. Harden's Bluff batteries bear such a close relation to Mulberry Point Battery-the right flank of this department, for if that battery is taken the right flank may be considered as turned-that I feel authorized in calling the attention of the commanding general to the remarks of Colonel Cabell, within, in relation to the condition of that battery, especially as to the drill, the command, and its rear defenses. L. MCLAWS, Brigadier-General, Commanding. RICHMOND, VA., March 17, 1862. General J. B. MAGRUDER, GENERAL: I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 14th instant, and regret very much to learn the smallness of the number of your troops. I will endeavor to re-enforce you as soon as possible, but at this time I see no immediate prospect. The pressure of affairs in North Carolina renders it necessary to send there all available forces, even at the risk of hazarding the safety of other points, inasmuch as if the line of railroad through the State is possessed by the enemy it will cause us serious injury. The object of sending a portion of your command to Suffolk was to prevent the seizure of that point by the combined forces of Generals Wool and Burnside. The latter is now at New Berne, but can easily transfer his troops back to Albemarle Sound, and, unless a change in the supposed original plan of the enemy is more apparent, I think it unnecessary to cross your troops back to the left bank of James River yet awhile. I hardly think he will risk an attack upon you unsupported by his columns in other directions. I know, however, you will be vigilant in watching his movements, and should you ascertain that to be his intention, your troops will be immediately ordered back by the route you designate. The Quartermaster-General will be informed that the artillery horses you require have not reached you, and be desired to send them as soon as possible. I had hoped that you had sufficient cavalry for your purposes. I have no knowledge of the service on which the companies nained by you are placed, but will inquire. As regards the militia, it is the object of the State to fill up from those enrolled by volunteer or draft its companies and regiments. The disorganization of the regiments, &c., from the cause you mention is apparent, and some days ago the Military Committee of Congress were appealed to to draft a bill to accomplish what you desire. It is hoped some measure of relief will be passed. I am, &c., } R. E. LEE, General, Commanding. GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. ARMY OF THE PENINSULA, No. 161. Yorktown, Va., March 17, 1862. In going into battle commanding officers of companies will call the roll of their companies and in coming out of action the rolls will be called. Any member of the company absent at the latter roll call, unless killed or wounded, will be considered as having been derelict to the highest duty, and will be punished accordingly. The excuse sometimes given that men have left the field to carry off the wounded is inadmissible, as no man will be permitted to leave the ranks for such purpose, but when men are killed or wounded in the ranks their places will be filled by their comrades touching elbows toward the guide. By order of Major-General Magruder: HENRY BRYAN, Assistant Adjutant-General. CHAPTER XX. OPERATIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA. January 11-August 20, 1862. Jan. Feb. Mar. April SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS.* 11, 1862.-The Burnside Expedition sails from Fort Monroe, Va. Brig. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, U. S. Army, assumes command 22, 1862.-Brig. Gen. Henry A. Wise, C. S. Army, assigned to command at Roanoke Island. 8, 1862.-Battle of Roanoke Island. 10, 1862.-Action at Elizabeth City. 18-20, 1862.-Expedition to Winton, and skirmish February 19. 19–20, 1862.—Expedition into Currituck Sound. 14, 1862.-Battle of New Berne. 19, 1862.-Brig. Gen. J. R. Anderson supersedes Brig. Gen. R. C. Gatlin in command of the Confederate Department of North Carolina.‡ 20-21, 1862.-Expedition to Washington. 23-April 26, 1862.-Siege of Fort Macon. 24, 1862.—Maj. Gen. Th. H. Holmes, C. S. Army, supersedes Brig. Gen. J. R. Anderson. 31, 1862. Skirmish at Deep Gully. 7, 1862.-Skirmish at Foy's Plantation. Skirmish near Newport. 7-8, 1862.-Expedition to Elizabeth City. 13, 1862. Skirmish at Gillett's Farm, Pebbly Run. Skirmish near Haughton's Mill, Pollocksville Road. 27, 1862. 29, 1862. May 2, 1862. Skirmish near Deep Gully, Trenton Road. June 7-8, 1862.-Expedition from Roanoke Island toward Gatesville. 15-16, 1862.-Skirmishes near Trenton Bridge, at Young's Cross-Roads, and Pol locksville. 22, 1862.-Skirmish at the Trenton and Pollocksville Cross-Roads. 30, 1862. Skirmish at Tranter's Creek. 2, 1862.-Skirmish at Tranter's Creek. * Of some of the minor conflicts mentioned in this "Summary" no circumstantial roports are on file. + This department, to consist of the State of North Carolina, had been created January 7, 1862, by General Orders, No. 2, Headquarters of the Army, of that date. For General Gatlin's report of operations in his department from August 20, 1861, to March 19, 1862, see Series I, Vol. IV, pp. 573–579. 72 |