CHAP. XIII.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.-UNION.

responsible for any disaster that may befall us at Newport news. The danger, I assure you, is imminent. This subject I presented to the President in Cabinet council, when I assured them of the intentions of the rebels, and that it was their design to attack Newport News, and, as it was reported, very soon. The flag-officer is satisfied that such will be the case. He says there is no mistake as to their intentions. He further expresses his apprehension that they will succeed in capturing Newport News and that the steamers may get to sea. He also says the Merrimac is so constructed that no cannon shot can make an impression upon her.

If it is the intention of the Government to strengthen my position and the Navy, no time is to be lost. Why should this position, more important than Washington, be left, as it is, without means of defense? If from this fact any injury should result from it, it might prove no less fatal to the Union than to the administration. I send this by Major Jones.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN E. WOOL, Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA, Fort Monroe, Va., October 6, 1861.

Lieutenant General WINFIELD SCOTT, General-in-Chief:

You have been informed of the disgraceful surrender of the Fanny at Hatters Inelt. Apprehensive that Colonel Hawkins had committed a great error in placing his troops at so great a distance from his batteries, I regretted extremely the withdrawal of Brigadier-General Reynolds. I am not without apprehension that we shall hear of further disasters, as the Pawnee has been withdrawn, leaving a very limited naval force, upon which we placed our main reliance for protecting our batteries. I shall send with Brigadier-General Mansfield 500 troops. The force on his arrival at Hatters will exceed 2,000, and be sufficient to protect and defend the batteries and stores until I can learn what force will be sufficient to maintain the position. It will be unfortunate, indeed, if we lose Hatters Inlet and Newport News, and from present appearances both are in danger.

I have received an order from the Secretary of Waar to send the officers and men of the four companies of artillery recently sent to washington. These men in part are used for the instructing of volunteers fort artillery service. As soon as these men can be used at the guns I will send those men to Washington.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN E. WOOL, Major-General.

P. S.-We want more regiments. I only ask that you will give me a sufficient number of troops to defend this place. The enemy have been re-enforcing their troops.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Washington, October 8, 1861.

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

SIR: The General-in-Chief directs me to acknowledge the receipt of your two letters of the 6th instant, and to say in reply that the Tenth