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

SPECIAL ORDERS, HEADQUARTERS OF THE FORCES, Numbers 261.} Richmond, Va., August 26, 1861.

I. The counties of Gloucester, Matthews, and Middlesex are added to the District of yorktown, and the troops serving therein will be included in command of Brigadier-General Magruder.

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By order:

GEO. DEAS, Assistant Adjutant-General.

MONDAY, August 26, 1861.

The SECRETARY OF WAR:

MY DEAR SIR: In pursuance of the very satisfactory interview which we held with you this morning, we proceed to submit to you, very briefly, the objects of that interview in writhing, as you desired: Some six weeks ago General Magruder, commanding in the Peninsula,made a requisition on the slaveholders of the counties of Charles City and New Kent for one-half of their farm operatives, to throw up entrenchments at Williamsburg. The requisition was promptly complies with. The much longer detention of the slaves, which has delayed the thrashing of the wheat crop, has engendered some little feeling of discontent among some of our people, who begin to question the legal authority of the proceeding; nor has this disquietude been allayed by he fact that many of the slaves have returned to their masters, which has been followed by hope to recover the fugitives [sic]. To allay all discontent, we ak to be informed, not for ourselves so much as for others, of your opinion of the legality of this proceeding on the part of the general, your opinion being entirely sufficient to quiet all further uneasiness.

We also submit whether it would not be altogether proper that the officer having charge of the laborers should give a certificate for the negroes of each proprietor, so as to protect the master against possible contingencies of loss.

We are, dear sir, truly and respectfully, yours,

JOHN TYLER, M. C. C.

HILL CARTER, Colonel Fifty-second Regiment Virginia Militia.

NORFOLK, August 27, 1861.

General S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General:

The enemy's fleet-2 steam frigates, 2 transport steamers, 8 smaller steamers with boats in tow, and a body of troops-left last evening, passed out of the capes, and steered south-I think to coast of North Carolina. No news of him this morning.

BENJ. HUGER, Brigadier-General.

RALEIGH, N. C., August 29, 1861.

L. P. WALKER, Secretary of War:

A fleet of steamers, with boats with men, left Fort Monroe on Monday evening, going south. Tuesday evening they appeared off Hatteras.