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

If I have within me any part of my nature which is good, it has all been brought to bear in this cause. I entered it because I wished to punish those people who were trying to destroy our Government. I was willing to sacrifice life and everything else, if necessary, in the performance of my duty, without honor or reward. I was willing to work without pay and to undergo any hardships which the service could impose upon me. But how different is the feeling now. I feel that I have an ungrateful and unappreciating Government at my back, which cannot or cares not to discern the difference between those of its servant who have its interests truly at heart and those who work for pay only.

Sending a new commanding officer here to step into my shoes, after all the duty work has been done, to supersede m, indicates that all confidence in my ability has been lost. This touches my pride. Next to doubting my integrity this is the most tender point in my nature, and now I have only to say that if by return mail you should inform me that you will accept my resignation, I will send it at once. One word more and I have done. I do not seek promotion. Brigadier-generals are made of such queer stuff nowadays, that I should not esteem it any very great honor to be made one. I had supposed, when I entered the service, that, if I should live to he end of my term, I might come out a very respectable colonel, but nothing more.

With great consideration and respect, I remain, your most faithful servant,

RUSH C. HAWKINS, Colonel Ninth Regiment New York Volunteers.

Major General JOHN E. WOOL, Commanding Department of Virginia, Fort Monroe, Va.

[Indorsement.]

Colonel Hawkins' remarks in relation to the Government are highly insubordinate, and ought not to pass unnoticed.

JOHN E. WOOL, Major-General.

[Inclosure Numbers 2.] HEADQUARTERS, FORT HATTERAS, Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina, October 8, 1861.

SIR: After leaving you on the afternoon of the 6th instant we proceeded in the steamer Spaulding without accident, and arrived at Fort Hatteras on the 7th at 8.30 a. m. I learned on my arrival that the Twentieth Indiana Regiment had fallen back before the enemy from Chicamacomico to this inlet. The circumstances were as follows: The day after the loss of the steamer Fanny Colonel Brown sent to Fort Hatteras his sick and extra baggage. On the 3rd instant (Thursday last) the steam-tugs Putnam and Ceres arrived at chicamacomico with five days' supply of provisions, which they lander immediately and returned to fort Hatteras. On Friday the camp was approached by a fleet of some nine steamers and sail vessels, besides flats, with he intent to land south of the camp and cut of the command from Hatteras. The command of Colonel W. L. Brown, being but seven companies-say 500 strong-and the enemy supposed to be at least 2,000 strong, Colonel Brown immediately, by orders received from Colonel R. C. Hawkins at that moment, took up his line of march on the east beach for Hateras lighthouse, when he was met by Colonel Hawkins, with his command, and