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

During the afternoon of the 30th a delegation, on behalf of the citizens of this island, waited upon me, and place din my hand a paper, as copy of which is herewith inclosed, and marked A. In answer to this communication I requested that as many of the citizens as could should meet me next day, for the purpose of arranging terms by which they might be permitted to remain here. Agreeably to my request about thirty came to see me, and the terms contained in an oath, a copy of which is herewith inclosed, and marked B, were greed upon. On my part I have agreed verbally to give them all the necessary protection against the vigilance committees which infest all parts of the State, and are organized for the purpose of suppressing Union sentiments and pressing men into the service of the Confederate Army, and to afford them such other protection as may appear necessary. Two hundred and fifty have taken the oath, and they are still coming in.

I am informed by some of these people that secret Union meetings have been held in several of the counties bordering on the Pamlico Sound, and that they would openly avow themselves true to the United States Government if they were sure that they would be protected against the violence of the secessionists. It is also thought that a Union convention would be called at once, and that these countries would vote themselves back into the Union, and take up arms to defend themselves if necessary.

In view of the foregoing facts, I would suggest that a force of at least 1,000 men be scattered through one or two of the counties which are supposed to be Union in their sentiment; that the people call their convention and vote, and that he United States forces at hand afford them such protection as may be necessary. Could this be done now, I have no doubt that one-third of the State of North Carolina would be back in the Union within two weeks.

I am over-anxious that these suggestions should be acted upon at once, and that I may be allowed to continue in the work which I have commenced. These people who look to me for protection I have already taken a very deep interest in; I sympathize with them in their misfortunes, and would do anything for them in my power. I fear the if I am superseded the promises I have made will not be carried out, and that the measures I have commenced will fall to the ground.

I retreat to be compelled to state to you that the conduct of the men and some of the officers of the Twentieth Regiment New York Volunteers has been that of vandals. They have plundered and destroyed. The first night they were on shore they visited one of the encampments which had been abandoned by the enemy. I am informed that this party was under the charge of three or four commission officers; that they first commenced breaking open trunks left behind by the officers and men who had abandoned the camp. After they had broken all the trunks and boxes open,a nd partly destroyed what they did not want or could not carry away, they then set fire to the buildings,and everything except a few tents was consumed. After this they went to Fort Clark, where they had a repetition of the above. By these two transactions the United States has lost a large amount of valuable property, consisting of arms, cooking utensils, medical stores, &c.

The next day they commenced braking open private house and stores, and I saw party after party come in, some of them headed by commissioned offices, loaded down with the results of their plundering. This conduct continued until I was compelled to adopt the most severe and stringent measures. You ill see by the inclosed copies of letters, marked C and D, what I have done, and I hope it will meet with your