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

HEADQUARTERS FORCES ROANOKE ISLAND, Camp Georgia, October 20, 1861.

Major General B. HUGER, Commanding Forces, Norfolk, Va.:

GENERAL: The commodore sends up this morning one of his gunboats for repairs (the Raleigh), and I avail myself of the opportunity to let you know that we are still in statu quo. I have no news from the enemy. We have had for two days bad, rainy weather, and yesterday afternoon we had a severe blow from the southwest. I hope the rascals will be driven from Hatteras before many days by Providence, as it seems that we can't get at them. Commodore Lynch contemplates removing in a day or two his fleet from this quarter and going round to New Berne. If he leaves we will not be able to make any offensive demonstrations against the enemy for want of water transportation. I was greatly in hope that we would be able to give the Hessians a blow before he left, but I almost give it up now. I am ready to start at a moment's notice, and even without the expected re-enforcement; indeed, I should have gone yesterday but for the written order of General Hill forbidding it. I have been compelled to charter the Cotton Plant, as she is the only boat down here that can get about from the different defenses in progress here. The Navy have had her until yesterday, when at my request the commodore turned her over to me. She is a very poor boat, but we are compelled to have some of transportation between the different batteries.

The engineer is engaged now in perfecting the floating battery defenses, and if the weather permits we will commence the battery on Roanoke Sound to-morrow. General Hill directed some addition or alteration to be made (as I learn) to the Pork Point battery. I don't know what they are or how progressing, as he said nothing to me about it. I thought that it was due to me as the senior officer here that he should have given his order and direction through me; he, it seems, thought otherwise, and has left me in the dark as to his intentions and operations here. I hope soon to be relieved; indeed I (and the whole regiment) rely on your promise that we should be withdrawn from here and ordered to rejoin our old command. Weare more anxious now than ever. So long as you remain in command here we are content to remain, but as this place is assigned to the command of General Hill, we beg to be removed as soon as the interest of the service will permit.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

A. R. WRIGHT, Colonel, Commanding.

YORKTOWN, October 21, 1861.

HonorableR. M. T. HUNTER, Secretary of State:

You may rest assured that there should be re-enforcement sent here. I have conversed fully and freely with General Magruder, and his call for more troops should be responded to at once. You could not have a better man here. Rely fully upon his judgment.

HOWELL COBB.

NORFOLK, October 21, 1861.

General S. COOPER:

A large fleet is about sailing from New York for the purpose of attacking Beaufort and New Berne. This information been com-