CHAP.XIII.] AFFAIRS IN NORTH CAROLINA.

land on the coast, and to establish a reserve of four or six regiments at Goldsborough, to be sent to the coast only upon the landing of the enemy. At this time the force under my command was as follows, viz: The Eighteenth and Twentieth Regiments and Edmunston's company of cavalry at Wilmington; Singeltary's battalion, Brem's battery, and Whitford's artillery at New Berne; the Seventh and Twenty-sixth Regiments on Bogue Banks; three companies of infantry and four companies of artillery at Fort Macon; two companies of the Seventeenth Regiment at Washington; and the third Georgia Regiment and a detachment of the Seventeenth Regiment at Roanoke Island. Moore's battery was at Raleigh, Lane's and Parker's regiments encamped above that city, and Clingman's regiment at Asheville. These three regiments and the battery were sent by the governor to Wilmington, where they arrived early in October. He also sent the Eighth Regiment to Roanoke Island, where they arrived the later part of September. Colonel McMillan's regiment, Georgia volunteers, ordered to report to me, arrived at Goldsborough on the 21st September, and was sent to Washington.

On the 14th of September Major Hall, Seventh Regiment, was directed to proceed to Hyde County, with two companies of his regiment. His force was afterwards increased by the addition of two companies of the Seventeenth from Washington, three companies of the Thirty-third, and two companies of the Second Regiment, not complete when the regiment left for Virginia. They ultimately joined their regiment. Authority being granted, a number of companies for local defense and special service were being raised.

Early in September the blocking of the Pamlico River, 8 miles below Washington, was commenced, and a battery on each side of the river erected for its protection. It was soon perceived that it would be impossible for General Anderson to give proper attention to the entire coast. The plan of dividing the coast into three districts, and placing each in charge of an experienced officer, then suggested itself. With this view I wrote to the War Department on the 18th September, requesting that two additional brigadier-generals be sent to me. Only one, however, was ordered, viz, Brigadier General D. H. Hill, who was assigned by the War Department to the command of all that part of the coast lying north of White Oak River. Before allowing him to assume command of Roanoke Island I urged upon the Department, in letters dated the 1st and 7th of October, the propriety of establishing the District of the Albemarle, and placing it under an experienced officer, but this was not permitted. Had it been acceded to at the time, it is fair to conclude that the island would have been placed in such a state of defense as, with a reasonable force, it might have been successfully defended against General Burnside's attack in February, and thus all our after-misfortunes on the coast avoided. I may dispose of this subject by stating that the district was finally established on the 21st of December, General Wise placed in command, and the district transferred to General Huger's department. General Hill's was named the "District of Pamlico," General Anderson's the "District of Cape Fear."

General Hill entered upon his duties about the 4th of October, and acted vigorously in placing his district in a state of defense. On the 21st of October I received notice from General Huger that a fleet was preparing to sail from New York for the South, and tendering assistance should a landing be effected on our coast, and on the 26th of October a telegram from the Secretary of War announced its having sailed, and that it was believed the enemy intended to land a force of