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

last letter received from the Navy Department, that the columbiads at Yorktown will soon be mounted on army barbette carriages, after which I recommend that those on James River be so mounted with the least possible delay. I beg leave to ask the attention of the Navy Department to the immediate necessity of placing in battery at Yorktown the 32-pounder rifled guns mentioned in the above.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. BANKHEAD MAGRUDER, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS, Williamsburg, September 20, 1861.

General S. COOPER, Adjutant-General:

SIR: Some wealthy men of Lancaster County, and a Mr. Underwood, of Surry, have refused to send their slaves, on requisition signed by myself, to work on the fortifications. They are very incomplete, and my troops have worked until they are too sick to work any longer. I have ordered detachments of dragoons to bring them. They have done and will do it. It these gentlemen are sustained in their refusal, no negroes can be had when wanted. The laws of Virginia do not specify negroes, but it is a necessity of war. If sustained, I will carry out my plans. I have already the sanction in writing of the Secretary of War to this course, but will use the free negroes as far as possible. I have never called for more than one-half of the male working hands. I inclose one of my proclamations on this subject.

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

J. BANKHEAD MAGRUGER, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

[Inclosure.]

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

The undersigned having received full authority from the Secretary of War to press into service all the slaves of the country, if necessary, he prefers to rely upon the patriotism of his fellow-citizens for the needful supply of labor, and therefore calls upon the inhabitants of the counties of --, --, -- to send one-half of their male slaves to work on the fortifications for the protection of their families and property. They will send with their slaves the necessary implements of labor-spades, shovels, picks, grubbing-hoes, and axes. The negro will be allowed 50 cents a day and plenty of provisions; the money to be paid by the quartermaster to their masters. All free negroes who are capable of labor will also be employed and paid at the same rate. The bearer of this is hereby authorized by the under-signed to give receipts for the negroes, and from that time the Confederate Government will be responsible for them.

These negroes will be sent to the nearest wharves, to be conveyed to Williamsburg.

J. BANKHEAD MAGRUDER, Brigadier-General, Commanding.