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

DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, Williamsburg, Va., September 7, 1861.

General S. COOPER, Adjutant-General, C. S. Army:

SIR: Additional re-enforcements have arrived at Newport News, and our lower picket has been driven in to-day. The enemy's re-enforcements are now all sent to Newport News, none being kept about Old Point, as has been the case up to this period. His parties are advancing farther up the country than usual.

I have ordered about 2,000 men to take post at Warwick Court-House, under Colonel McLaws, with one battery of artillery. There will be, after their departure, about 1,500 men left at Williamsburg, and 1,000 of these will be advanced to within 5 miles of Warwick Court-House as soon as the wagons return. Warwick Court-House is a healthy position, and 2 miles in the rear of the line of defense (that is, from Young's Mill to Harrod's Mill), the advantage of which, when occupied by the enemy, in command of both flanks, by his vessels of war, I have had the honor to explain in person to his excellency the President. These flanks are on Warwick River and on the Poquosin River. The first emptying into the James River, and the second into York River, 12 miles below Yorktown.

For the sake of health, as well as with a view of defense, I have encamped at and within 2 or 3 miles of Harrod's Mill, at he head of Poquosin River; about 3,000 men (infantry and artillery) on the York road, and intermediately all the cavalry except one company, half of which is kept here and the other half at Yorktown, for express duty. One regiment and a battalion of two companies are also at Mulberry Island Point, covering the fortifications on James River, now being erected there, opposite Harden's Bluff. I have left only two regiments at Yorktown. The Fifth North Carolina Regiment, which had (when heard from a few days ago) only 230 for duty out of 1,150 (total strength), is in Gloucester County, at a healthy position 6 miles from Gloucester Point, and I fear no great improvement in its sanitary condition can be expected until after frost.

The troops near Harrord's Mill are under the immediate command of General Hill. I shall take command of the forces in front within a few days, as soon as it is possible to get through the arrangements necessary for their transportation and supplies, and for the organization of the artillery here, a portion of which I am endeavoring to supply with horses or mules, caissons and harness. An excellent gun carriage for a 32-pounder has been manufactured here under my orders by Captain Morrison, of the artillery, the ordnance officer stationed here. I have also detailed a party of workmen from the Warwick volunteers, and put in operation, with the assistance of Captain Carter, of he Virginia Ordnance Department, a large saw-mill, on Warwick River, where there is already a large quantity of seasoned timber of the best quality. I have also erected earthworks for heavy guns at the mouth of Warwick and Poquosin Rivers, but have no guns of that description to place in them. This is necessary, to enable me to hold the line of defense, above mentioned, between Young's and Harrod's Mills, interrupted by the enemy's ships of war.

I have caused four additional canal-boats, loaded with stone, to be sunk in the Swash Channel, near Mulberry Island Point, and hope soon to be enabled to sink twenty-five others across the mouth of Warwick River; but these latter will be of no avail unless the embankments which I have caused to be thrown up on the shores there can be furnished with the heavy guns above mentioned. I have written to Captain