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

dition than to provide such troops for the same as on conference with Commodore Stringham should be found sufficient for the purpose. The expedition originated in the Navy Department, and is under its control.

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

E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General.

Major General JOHN E. WOOL, U. S. A., Commanding, &c., Fort Monroe, Va.

SPECIAL ORDERS, } HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA, Numbers 13. } Fort Monroe, Va., August 25, 1861.

1. Major-General Butler will prepare 860 troops for an expedition to Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina, to go with Commodore Stringham, commanding Home Squadron, to capture several batteries in that neighborhood. The troops will be as follows: 200 men from Camp Butler and 600 from Camp Hamilton, with a suitable number of commissioned officers, and one company (B) of the Second Artillery from Fort Monroe. They will be provided with 10 days' rations and water and 140 rounds of ammunition. General Butler will report as soon as he has his troops prepared to Flag Officer Stringham, and he will be ready to embark at 1 o'clock to-morrow. As soon as the object of the expedition is attained the detachment will return to Fort Monroe.

2. Captain Tallmadge, chief quartermaster, will provide a detachment of 860 men for the expedition to Hatteras Inlet, with a suitable quantity of water for 10 days' consumption, and the chief commissary of subsistence, Captain Taylor, will provide it with rations for the same length of time. These officers will report the execution of these orders by 10 o'clock to-morrow, if possible.

By command of Major-General Wool:

C. C. CHURCHILL, First Lieutenant, Third Artillery, Act. Asst. Adjt. General

Numbers 2. Reports of Major General John E. Wool, U. S. Army.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA, Fort Monroe, September 2, 1861.

GENERAL: Agreeably to your instructions of the 12th and 21st August last, after consultation with Commodore Stringham, I prepared 860 men, under the command of Major-General Butler, to proceed with the commodore's expedition against some batteries at Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina.

On Monday, the 26th ultimo, the expedition left the Roads for the inlet. Major-General Butler returned on Saturday morning, when he communicated verbally the following result, viz: Captured at the inlet 715 prisoners, 1,000 stand of arms, 30 pieces of cannon, one 10-inch columbiad, a prize brig loaded with cotton, a sloop loaded with provisions and stores, two light-boats, a schooner in ballast, 5 stand of colors, and 150 bags of coffee, &c.

Being considered a highly important position with reference to privateers, I ordered Major-General Butler to proceed at once to Washing-