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

Maine Regiment has this day been ordered to Fort monroe, and that to-morrow about 200 sailors, skilled as artillerists, will be sent down. Several companies of volunteers drilled as artillerists will also be sent to you, as soon as they can be made ready, under the orders of the War Department.

It is the desire of the Navy Department, in which the Secretary of War and the General-in-Chief concur, that thou put the Ripraps in the hands of the Navy, giving them charge of the guns and batteries there, and they will be responsible for the defense of the work and the channels commanded by it, of course under your general command.

It is probably the Nave Department will soon have such a number of men at the ripraps as will enable the naval commander to detach, on your request, small parties to aid you in making up expeditions, when they may b deemed advisable.

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

E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA, Fort Monroe, October 8, 1861.

Brigadier General THOMAS WILLIAMS, Fort Monroe, Va.:

SIR: The major-general commanding the department directs that you repair to Hatters Inlet, relieve Brigadier-General Mansfield, and assume command of the troops in that neighborhood and in North Carolina. In directing the military operations in that quarter you cannot be too careful to guard against being surprised by the enemy, and in all cases to treat the people it would appear are favorable to the preservation of the Union with care and kindness, and protect all who will take the oath of allegiance.

It is unnecessary to say that you will be careful, in establishing your encampments, not to separate your regiments too far from each other, at least not beyond supporting distances. As soon as you can you will not fail to send a special report of the condition of the troops and conduct of those who preceded General Mansfield, and to report how it happened that the Fanny was so disgracefully surrendered to the enemy, and the losses sustained by the Government.

We have not yet received any returns from the regiments nor any reports of their condition. These will receive your attention as soon as practicable, and you will transmit such reports and returns to these headquarters.

In conclusion, you will do all in your power to protect the inlet, and report all that you may deem necessary for that purpose.

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

WM. D. WHIPPLE, Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA, Fort Monroe, Va., October 11, 1861.

Lieutenant General WINFIELD SCOTT, General-in-Chief:

GENERAL: Herewith I have the honor to transmit two reports, one from Brigadier-General Mansfield and the other from Colonel R. C. Hawkins, of the Ninth Regiment New York Volunteers. The colonel, to vindicate his bad management in sending the Indiana regiment, commanded