CHAPTER XX OPERATIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA 448
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF PAMLICO
Kinston, March 18, 1862
General R. E. LEE, Richmond:
GENERAL: I. I have not given this section of country, as regards defense, any consideration until within the last two days, but from what I have seen of the country and the force of the enemy I have drawn certain conclusions.
II. This place cannot be defended, because it is an open, level country, with roads enabling the place to be flanked. A column of the enemy approaching by the road on the left bank gains our left flank. The stage road and railroad cross about a mile from each other in our front, and then another crossing at White Hall, some miles above us, gaining our rear; besides, wagon roads numerously intersect them. The river is also boatable.
III. If the rail of the road be taken np, which I would advise,, it would prevent its use by the enemy hereafter, and he could, if he advances, be better and more successfully fought near Goldsborough, farther from his base of operations and in a more defensible country.
Further, the country abandoned is sterile and destitute of supplies.
IV. The force concentrated at or near Goldsborough would be in a strategic position, and available for Wilmington and Suffolk.
V. From numerous sources, especially Captain Meade, Engineers, and other officers, I am informed that, should the expedition depart for Wilmington, they can land readily on the land which forms the sound south of Sandy Hall Inlet, and, as it connects with the main-land ,get to the rear of the city.
The sound also is at the south end easily forded; after which it becomes deep and the main shore easily approached by boats; hence a land force in strength is necessary for the defense of the place. This might probably be sent in time from Goldsborough.
(449)VI. Hence I recommend the destruction of this road to Goldsborough and concentration of forces at that point. I know, however, that you have better means of knowing the ease with which a force can be landed for the attack on Wilmington than I have collected in the two days I have been here, amidst a press of business.
The defenses against attack on Wilmington by water are represented as being good. You will excuse my making these suggestions to you, who have doubtless considered them. I have thought they could do no harm in any event. One of the surgeons who went to New Berne has returned. He reports that General Buruside told him candidly that he had 27,000 men, and that lie knew every regiment and the exact nature of the fortifications at New Berne before the attack, and he named all the regiments with perfect familiarity.
Yours, very truly,
S. G. FRENCH,
Brigadier- General, C. S. Army.
GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DISTRICT OF THE CAPE FEAR No.13 Wilmington, N. C., March 22, 1862
The undersigned, by virtue of Special Orders, No. 60, Adjutant and Inspector General’s Office, Richmond, dated March 15, 1862, hereby assumes command of the District of the Cape Fear, embracing the counties of New Hanover, Onslow, Brunswick, Robeson, Cumberland,
Bladen, Columbus, and Sampson.
S. G. FRENCH,
Brigadier- General, commanding
(459)
HEADQUARTERS,
Richmond, Va., April 19, 1862.
General J. G. MARTIN,
Adjutant- General of North Carolina, Raleigh:
GENERAL: Your letter of the 16th instant to Major-General Holmes, in reference to the condition, &c., of the new North Carolina troops at Raleigh, has been referred to me. I regret very much to hear of the great reduction in their strength by sickness and of the inability on the part of the State to furnish them with arms. All arms that were available have been forwarded to General Holmes, to be placed in the hands of the unarmed troops in his department it was hoped that the State would succeed in collecting numbers of private arms for the new regiments and by this time have them ready for the field. I have been compelled to remove one regiment from General Holmes’ command and may have to deprive him of more. I had relied upon the new regiments to replace those removed. It is earnestly requested that you will spare no efforts to get them in condition for active field service.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. E. LEE,
General
(461)
HEADQUARTERS,
Richmond, Va., April 20, 1862
Maj. Gen. T. H. HOLMES,
Commanding, &c., Goldsborough, N. C.:
GENERAL: The demand for arms from all sides is so great and their scarcity so keenly felt, that I deem it proper to call your attention to the importance of making a judicious distribution of the rifles recently sent you. By a letter from General Martin to you, of the 16th instant, I am advised of the inability of the State of North Carolina to arm the regiments now in camp at Raleigh. I have written to him, urging that the State make all possible efforts by procuring private arms, &c., to arm them. The rifles sent you were of a very fine quality, and I suggest that you place them in the hands of the flanking companies of the regiments, and give the balance muskets or such private arms as can be procured. The rifles will thus be made to do much towards enhancing the efficiency of each regiment. If you can use them and desire it, I cart order a number of pikes to be sent you. Owing to the lack of fire-arms some of these have been sent to nearly every army in the field, and, if well handled and wisely distributed, will undoubtedly do good service.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. E. LEE,
General.
(463)
HEADQUARTERS,
Richmond, Va., April 23, 1862
Brig. Gen. S. G. FRENCH,
Commanding, &c., Wilmington, N. C.:
GENERAL: In reply to your telegram of yesterday,* I am directed by General Lee to say that all available arms have been given to General Holmes for distribution to the troops under his command. There are none now on hand for issue save pikes. He thinks you might arm the regiment at Wilmington by placing pikes in the hands of the men at the heavy batteries, and giving their muskets, as far as they will go, to the unarmed regiment, and make up deficiency by arming some of the center companies with pikes, the flanking companies having the rifles. This is the best arrangement that can now be made.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. H. TAYLOR,
Assistant Adjutant-General
(468)
HEADQUARTERS,
Goldsborough, April 30, 1862
General R. E. LEE,
Commanding C. S. Army:
GENERAL: I telegraphed last night, asking permission to retain the brigade ordered from me to Virginia.
I know you will not consider me importunate when I tell you that it will be better to withdraw all the troops from North Carolina except a few regiments for the defense of Wilmington than to reduce this command, because that would give you material aid in Virginia, and the demoralization of the people here would be scarcely less than it will be if I am deprived of the means of fighting Burnside.
General French has made a positive and stern demand on me for troops and I must send them, because the great uncertainty and mismanagement of the trains will not justify me in trusting to them for defending Wilmington by the troops that are here.
As for the troops at Raleigh, it is doubtful when I shall get them and still more doubtful when they will be armed. The military camp there is a sort of hobby with the authorities, and they require all the arms they have to exercise their men.
I wrote immediately on the receipt of your letter for six regiments. This was three days ago, and yet I have had no word in answer and no evidence the regiments are coming, and if they do come they will be nothing better than raw militia.
Immediately on the receipt of your order yesterday I sent to the railroad authorities for transportation for the brigade, and was informed it could not be furnished before tomorrow, the 1st May.
I am, General, very respectfully and faithfully,
T. H. HOLMES,
Major- General, &e
P. S.—.The common council of Wilmington has sent a committee to the Governor and to me begging for help.
(472)
HEADQUARTERS,
Richmond, Va., May 22, 1862.
Brig. Gen. S. G. FRENCH,
Commanding, Wilmington, N. C.:
GENERAL: I have received your letter of the 20th instant, reporting attack on Fort Fisher, and asking for additional guns of long range. Colonel Gorgas has been directed to send to you as soon as possible two 32-pounder rifled guns, which are the only suitable ones that are
available at this time.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. E. LEE,
General
(473)
HDQRS. FIRST BRIGADE, ARMY OF THE PAMLICO,
Camp Johnston, June 17, 1862
Maj. Gen. T. H. HOLMES,
Comdg. Department of North Carolina, Goldsborough, N. C.:
GENERAL: On the 1st of this month I assumed command of this brigade, consisting of four regiments of infantry, one of cavalry, three batteries of light artillery, and two independent companies of cavalry; also Captain Whitford’s company of heavy artillery, acting as Partisan
Rangers, and Captain Nethercult, with about 20 men, on the same duty, the whole force making an aggregate of 5 329 reported present for duty, of which only 3,928 were reported present for duty.
The rest of the command were sick in hospitals in camp, some absent sick, with a few on detached service and furloughs.
My first attention was called to the large amount of sickness in camp and the probable cause, with the view to remedy it if possible. The ground on which the troops were camped was low, without any drainage, and a swamp on the side of each regiment.
After careful examination in every direction in the vicinity of Kinston I found it necessary to remove my camp to Falling Creek, where there is a high and dry encampment on the railroad, and to all appearances healthy, at least as much so as any place in this section of the country. There is an excellent drill ground at the camp, large enough for the entire brigade.
I left one regiment of infantry on picket around and 6 miles in advance of Kinston. The cavalry pickets extend to within a few miles of New Berne, nearly to Deep Gully, on the Trent road, and from the railroad near Tuscarora, running across to the Neuse. This duty was done by five companies of cavalry, which I intend to strengthen by three more.
On the other side of the Neuse, on Swift Creek, Captain Carraway’& company of cavalry and Captain Whitford’s Partisan Rangers picket and keep the enemy close to New Berne in that direction. Captain Tucker’s cavalry company picket on the Tar River from Greenville to within a short distance of Washington. Captain Nethercutt, with his(474) Partisan Rangers, operates with the cavalry near Deep Gully and across the Trent River, in Jones County.
On account of retiring 6 miles from Kinston I desire to strengthen my cavalry pickets by a regiment of infantry and a battery of artillery to support it, should there be any necessity for it. There is also another reason: There is a large amount of grain and meat in that section of the country which I want to secure. As soon as the three additional companies of cavalry are sent there instructions will be given them to collect all the grain and provisions possible and send them to a safe place to the rear, from which point I expect to haul it to Kinston.
The most reliable information that can be received of the enemy’s forces at New Berne estimates it from 8,000 to 10,000. The balance of General Burnside’s forces are with General McClellan in Virginia. Should the enemy take Richmond or withdraw from the Peninsula,
Burnside’s forces will doubtless return to him, and he will at once commence his onward march through North Carolina. He has a large number of wagons and means of transportation at New Berne. He is also making arrangements for railroad transportation and is rebuilding the railroad bridge across the Trent. Several engineers have already been sent to him, and it is supposed some engines and cars are at Beaufort. He is building at New Berne two iron-clad cars or batteries, to carry six guns each.
The railroad track was taken up from Core Creek to the Dover road, about 10 miles, when I took command. Since then I had strong parties to work on it. The ties have been burned and the iron bent so as to render it useless. Several additional miles of the track are being taken up and the iron taken to a safe place by the railroad. This would render the enemy’s advance by railroad, should he attempt it, slow and laborious. In his advance, should he take either of the roads along the Neuse or Trent Rivers, I could offer but feeble resistance with my present force. An advancing column can march on both sides of the roads for any distance that its strength will permit it to extend. Should he take the Trent Road it would be extremely hazardous to go below Kinston with my command, as there is only one bridge, and that a very poor concern, and the river not fordable. If the enemy should march on the south side of the river, instead of crossing at Kinston little or no resistance could be offered to him to White Hall.
The river is at present navigable to Kinston, and is higher than it has been for years. The obstructions placed in the river below Kinston are entirely covered by several feet of water, and I fear damaged, if not washed away.
As far as I have been able to examine, this section of the country is level and intersected by many roads, making it extremely difficult to defend. The enemy can only be met with any degree of safety by a force equal to his own and well supplied with transportation.
Since I assumed command of this brigade it has been increased by two small new infantry regiments, who report less than 400 men each present for duty. My aggregate effective infantry force to-day fit for duty is 3,887 men—cavalry, 648, and 212 artillery. The cavalry are deficient in arms and equipments, and I have been informed by the ordnance officer at Goldsborough, in answer to a requisition made on him, that he cannot supply any.
The batteries are greatly in need of men. In their present weak condition they cannot be expected to render good service. A few days ago one of them did not have a sufficient number of men for duty to drill with four pieces. An officer should be detailed from each of these (475) batteries to recruit, and furnished with money to pay the men their bounty.
The entire command is deficient in transportation. About one-half of what is on hand has been furnished by the State, for which the Confederate States have refused to refund the State or give a per diem.
I will make requisitions on the depot quartermaster at Goldsborough for the amount of transportation required, and hope you will order it to be furnished. As the Tar River district has only been attached to my command temporarily (as I understand it), I will say nothing of
that section, or the troops there, in this letter.
I thus explain my position as far as I can at present, so that you may clearly understand it, and, in case of the enemy’s advance, that you may have a sufficient force with which to meet him.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J.G. MARTIN,
Brigadier-General
[Indorsement]
(476)
SPECIAL ORDERS,
No. 165 JULY 17, 1862
XVI. Maj. Gen. D. H. Hill is assigned to the command of the division and district lately commanded by Major-General Holmes.
By command of the Secretary of War:
JNO. WITHERS,
Assistant Adjutant- General
GOLDSBOROUGH, N. C., August 7, 1862
Maj. Gen. D. H. HILL:
GENERAL: There are some matters in relation to which, before acting, I should like to be instructed.
From the condition of things on this side of New Berne, and more particularly of Washington, I think the enemy have no difficulty in getting information through our lines.
(477) Captain Lawrence, stationed in Pitt, says that the enemy get the Richmond papers and other news regularly.
Satterthwaite, a member of the State Convention, lives within the enemy’s lines, unmolested, and has been allowed to some through our lines to Greenville whenever he wishes it. This is only one of many eases.
I fear, as yon suggest, that Colonel Williams is not in all respects fully qualified for the position he holds, but the other two colonels there are much lees so. In fact, Williams complains of their want of discipline, &c. The greatest difficulty, however, arises from the small force on the lines. In Pitt there are two cavalry companies, divided by the Tar River, and they are not sufficient to prevent intercourse, even if the officers were efficient, which they are not.
Negroes are escaping rapidly, probably a million of dollars’ worth weekly in all. It is estimated that one-third of the negroes in the State are east of this line of railroad, and gentlemen complain, with some reason, that that section of the State is in danger of being ruined if these things continue.
It strikes me that, if we had force sufficient to accomplish the object, negroes and other movable property of value within or near the enemy’s lines should be brought away and intercourse prohibited. I think it unwise to attempt it, however, until there is an effective force, because an alarm might cause the enemy to run away negroes more rapidly than they are doing. If the force could be had, a regiment of infantry might be well employed in the vicinity of Greenville, Pitt. I think Washington could be taken; but probably the best line of attack would be from Williamston. in Martin, there being no stream to cross.
If there were two or three reliable regiments here they might be moved by rail to Tarborough, Kinston, Wilmington, and Weldon, and could thus aid either in striking or defending those points.
If the separate cavalry companies could be united into regiments or battalions under proper officers they might be made effective, while at present they are almost useless.
I had written the above, general, when your dispatch reached me.
If the companies of Partisan Rangers are collected at this place they leave a number of the richest counties (eastern) entirely unprotected, and those having most slaves. If the enemy are allowed to establish themselves within 30 miles of the railroad, they can by cavalry dashes constantly interrupt it; whereas if we can confine them to the coast, we save the negroes and the growing corn crop, as well as secure the road.
I suppose I must send all applications for furlough to your headquarters, no matter how urgent the case.
The telegraph wire to Kinston has been interrupted for an hour; what I get I will send by telegraph, if worth it. I have felt it my duty, general, to lay before you the late dispatches from Kinston, as they come from persons said to be reliable. While I hope there’ may not be a formidable attack, yet if one were made, I fear that it would not be successfully resisted.
My anxiety is increased because I cannot just now either ride a horse or walk. Coming from Petersburg inflamed my foot somewhat, but it is getting better, and, unless hurt again, in three days I can be on horseback, I think. I then hope to get matters in better shape.
I hope you will excuse the frequency and length of my letters.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
T. L. CLINGMAN,
Brigadier- General
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PETERSBURG, August 19, 1862
General S. COOPER:
Tell General D. H. Hill that Clingman reports enemy landing at Swansborough from transports. Have been joined by cavalry and artillery.
S.G. FRENCH
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*not found