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

I must keep a control over my force, but I have no doubt you and I can act in concert.

I hope soon to hear from you.

Very respectfully and truly, yours,

BENJ. HUGER, Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS, Mouth of Warwick River, October 17, 1861.

Honorable J. P. BENJAMIN, Acting Secretary of War:

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge to receipt of your letter of the 13th instant, and in answer state that I found two 32-pounder guns at Mulberry Point some six weeks since, and was told by Captain Fitzgerald, then in command there, that he had taken them from the steamer Teazer, in order to have something to fire with while the work was being prepared for heavy guns. I learned subsequently that the Teazer has been laid up for repairs in Richmond. I therefore had these guns, which were lying idle at Mulberry Island Point, transferred to the work then being corrected at the month of this river, where they are now in position with one other gun, a long 32-pounder. I send a map of the lower peninsula, which I had prepared solely from observation, but which is sufficiently correct to show the line I occupy.

The lowest fort on James River, on the left bank, is Mulberry Island Point; opposite is Harden's Bluff fort, both strong on the water fronts. By a glance at the map it will be seen that if the enemy can land at the month of Warwick River, he can march to Mulberry Island Point and take the fort there in rear. The troops on my line from the mouth of Deep Creek, which is the same as that of Warwick River, to Hardwood's Mill, at the head of Poquosin River, cannot go to the succor of Mulberry Island Point without making a march of some 20 miles line is below Warwick River. That flank must be secured and the fort at Mulberry Island Point, both in full sight of the enemy at Newport News, now at least 8,000 strong. I have therefore caused one regiment (500 strong) to take post at Land's End, on the right, at the month of Warwick River, and have thrown up an entrenchment there, but these guns of the Teazer are necessary for the armament of this entrenchment. I have caused rifle-pits to be made to protect the men, pounder guns without carriages at Williamsburg. I have made field carriages for them here (at Williamsburg), and have had them placed in position on the left bank at the month of this river. These obstacles at the mouth can easily be removed by the enemy unless I have a strong battery or batteries to prevent it. Some days since I received a message from Lieutenant Minor, of the Navy, saying that he could send me a heavy 32-pounder for the light 32-pounders, weighing 31 cwt. I answered that such an exchange would be very beneficial to my operations, but that heavy gun ought to be sent down at once and before the other was taken away. With this explanation I am ready to deliver up the two light 32-pounders, but beg that at least one heavy one be sent to replace them, and I respectfully suggest that as the enemy may attack us at any moment, it would be advisable to have the heavy gun in battery before the light ones are removed. The Teazer had better be sent to Mul-