OPERATIONS IN N. C. AND S. E. VA. [CHAP.XIII.

of Hampton, on the other side of New Market Bridge. I have had the whole country scoured to Hampton, and to within half a mile of the enemy's camp at Newport News, and some 150 negroes brought up, the males to work on the fortifications and the rest delivered to their musters.

I sent yesterday 4,500 men to Young's Mill, and will join them there to-night. It is my intention to occupy and hold, if possible, the country between Fort Monroe and Newport News. I shall take some of the forces from here, and I shall be guided by circumstances in my future operations as to Newport News. There is a great deal of sickness on the Peninsula among the troops. Colonel Winston reported last week 1,450 sick at Yorktown. There have been, I am informed, nearly two deaths a day for some days past.

I went to a point opposite Newport News yesterday, and about 5 miles distant, returning last night, and I estimate the state of things there from my own observation and that of Colonel Pryor, who has had an opportunity for a month of comparing the relative number of tents at different periods observable there.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. BANKHEAD MAGRUDER, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS, Bethel, August 9, 1861.

SIR: As soon as I learned the result of the battle of Manassas, I ordered about 2,000 men, under Colonel Johnston, of the cavalry, to proceed to the immediate vicinity of Hampton and Newport News, to make reconnaissance of those places, and to be guided by the results. I directed him also to scour the country up to the enemy's pickets, and to capture and send up to the works at Williamsburg all the negroes to be found below a certain line. These duties were well performed by Colonel Johnston, and some 150 negroes were captured and delivered at Williamsburg. As soon as he appeared before Hampton a large balloon was sent up. Our force was reconnoitered, and a hasty evacuation of Hampton took place. The enemy kept close to their lines, and our troops returned to Yorktown and Williamsburg on the 29th and 30th July. As soon as these troops were rested, I ordered, at Young's Mill, in Warwick County, the junction of a part of the troops from Williamsburg with a part of the garrison from Yorktown-in all about 4,000 infantry, 400 cavalry, and two batteries of the howitzer battalion, under Major Randolph. Having established a depot of supplies at Warwick Court-House, 2 miles in rear of Young's Mill, I marched this force to Bethel Church, leaving a commissioned officer and one man from each company to guard the camps and supplies at Young's Mill and the Court-House.

On the 6th instant, in the afternoon, I took post with my whole force at Whitney's farm, within a mile of New Market Bridge, which I had rebuilt, the enemy having destroyed it. My force was then placed between the troops at and around Fort Monroe and those in garrison at Newport News.

In order to gain exact information of the force and movements of the enemy at Newport News, I had ordered Captain Jefferson C. Phillips, of the Old Dominion Dragoons, to make a close reconnaissance of the place, which was done by him in his usual gallant and skillful manner. He succeeded in reaching a point far within the inmost pickets of the enemy, and at a distance of about 300 yards from the works, where he remained