CHAP.XIII.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.-CONFEDERATE.

placed in the hands of the proper engineer officer here on the usual requisition.

* * * *

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,

J. R. ANDERSON, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA, Goldsborough, October 7, 1861.

General S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General C. S. Army, Richmond, Va.:

GENERAL: I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of a letter from the HonorableAsa Biggs, judge of the Confederate court, in reference to an unhappy state of feeling among a portion of the citizens of this department. If I am correctly informed the feeling is not confined to Washington County, but has its ramifications along the sounds in many settlements. I have , by establishing troops at such points as the limited means at my disposal permitted, attempted to restore confidence and control the more openly disloyal. Some arrests have been made. The District of the Pamlico is now in some sort of security, but that of the Albermarle, excepting the forces at Roanoke Island, is yet without troops. I must again urge my request that an active and discreet officer be sent to me, in order that I may establish and place him in command of the District of the Albemarle. It is large enough and of sufficient importance ot occupy the entire attention of such an officer, nor does the matter admit of delay.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. C. GATLIN, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

[Inclosure.]

WILLIAMSON, N. C., October 3, 1861.

General GATLIN, Goldsborough, N. C.:

According to your request I now address you to give information of the state affairs in this section. This week I have been visited by two intelligent and worthy citizens of Washington County, who consider themselves quite unsafe in the present situation of affairs. They represent that in consequence of the volunteers being taken away from their country it leaves it doubtful whether there is a reliable majority of the people in case of invasion, and while the number is few that make any demonstration by word even of their disloyalty, yet there is that indifference which excites district. An attempt has been made to obtain guns for the fortification of the Roanoke River. They were promised at Norfolk, but they have not arrived, and there is no prospect of preparation, and troops ought to be ready to sustain the fortifications in case gunboats of the enemy should pass the fortifications on Roanoke Island; and then it is though that the presence of a battalion at least of troops in Washington County would suppress the feeling of disloyalty which it is feared exists in that county; certainly it would give a sese of security to the people there which does not now prevail. That county is subject also to approaches up the Pamlico River and across the country through that portion of the county which is thought to be