CHAP. XIII.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.-UNION.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Washington, D. C., September 4, 1861.
Major-General WOOL, U. S. A., Commanding, &c., Fort Monroe, Va.:
SIR: Your letter of the 3rd instant, improperly addressed to the Secretary of War, has been referred to the General-in-Chief. Besides the regiment the arrival of which is acknowledged by you the 2nd instant (the Sixteenth Massachusetts), the governor of New York was requested, about a week ago, to send you three additional regiments, which may begin to arrive in a week from this date. That re-enforcement will enable you to hold you reposts in Hampton Roads and in Hatters Inlet. Your reported acts in respect to the latter are approved, over which you will continue to exercise command, consulting from time to time the naval commander in Hampton Roads, and obtaining from him such assistance as he and you may deem necessary to enable you to execute your duties.
The general suggests for your consideration whether it may not be expedient to send a company or larger detachment of regulars to serve as a basis of discipline for the principal work in hatters Inlet.
The above is written at the direction of Lieutenant-General Scott.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA, Fort Monroe, Va., September 4, 1861.
HonorableSIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War:
SIR: Colonel Butler will hand you this communication. The object is to obtain from you your views in regard to the keeping and defending the position recently captured at Hatters Inlet. Besides vessels of war-how many I am unable to say-we have 812 rank and file at the inlet. How well they are commanded, being volunteers, I am unable to say, from the circumstance that I have not been long enough acquainted with the officers to pronounce upon their ability or efficiency to command. If the Government intends to hold the position I ought to know the fact, in order to know how to perform what may be required from the army or the troops in this department. With a sufficient number of vessels of war the present force, with the addition of some 400 or 500 rank and rifle, might defend the position. A communication, however, should be kept up between Fort Monroe and the inlet, not only to furnish additional troops, if required, but to supply the troops with water, provisions, and ordnance stores. For this purpose we should have two first-rate steamers, but certainly one. All the water to supply the troops must be taken from Baltimore. Some light-draught vessels of war, such as could traverse the sound, should be furnished. These should not draw more than seven feet of water-at most eight feet-and they should be armed with rifled guns. The prize is too great to be lost, butt defend it properly and securely, it will depend on the Navy. Without vessels of war it cannot be defended by by a large military force.
It is rumored by passengers from North Carolina and Virginia that the people are determined to retake it. It will be well, however, whether true or false, to be on our guard and prepared for coming events. As
