CHAP. XIII.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.-UNION.
navigate the sound. They can all, however, move outside, and with their guns afford great defense by taking in flank any force that might approach from the northward, the only place they can advance on the inlet by land. I consider the inlet extremely well protected, a sit is but twelve hours' steaming from Fort Monroe.
At high water the sea comes up to the exterior slope of the parapet of Fort Hatteras, so as to leave but a circular sand ridge dry towards Fort Clark.
I had the pleasure to escort Mrs. Butler and her daughter from Baltimore, and received your note. Mrs. Butlerwent to Norfolk the day of our arrival here.
A regiment has just arrived here, by order, from New York, and has gone into camp to await further orders. It is from Rhode Island, and its further destination is not known here. It was taken on board at Fort Hamilton, New York.
I believe I have given you all the information in this quarter that is material. General Wool assigns me to-day to the command of a brigade over the bridge. I shall endeavor to do my duty there till required at some duty I can do better.
I trust this will find you will, and may God spare your life for your country's good and a blessed future!
I am, general, very truly, your obedient servant,
JOS. K. F. MANSFIELD.
WASHINGTON, October 30, 1861.
Major General JOHN E. WOOL, Commanding Department of Virginia, Fort Monroe, Va.:
SIR: On receipt of your letter I requested the Chief of Ordnance to forward from 300,000 to 500,000 rounds of ammunition for small-arms, as desired. He informs me this morning that 2,550,000 rounds have ben ordered from Watervliet Arsenal, October 28, and shipped to the commanding officer of the arsenal at Fort Monroe.
Very respectfully, yours,
THOMAS A. SCOTT, Assistant Secretary of War.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Washington, November 6, 1861.
Major General JOHN E. WOOL, Commanding Department of Virginia:
GENERAL: Your letter of the 5th to the Secretary of War, with its enclosures, is received, and I have instructed to reply to it.
There are many political considerations of extreme importance which, in the opinion of the President, render it inexpedient to abandon our position at Hatteras Inlet. In a military point of view it is important to hold it, both to preserve our prestige and to maintain a base for ulterior operations projected in that direction. I have carefully studied the ground from the charts of the Coast Survey, with the assistance of Colonel Woodbury, of the Engineers, and the two gentlemen of the Coast Survey who were employed in the surveys of that region. From the information thus obtained, and from my own experience in similar
