Abstract from return of the District of Cape Fear and Defenses of Wilmington, Major General W. H. C. Whiting, C. S. Army, commanding, October 31, 1863; headquarters Wilmington, N. C.

Present for duty.

Command. Officers. Men. Effective

total present.

General 9 30 31

staff..

Martin's 100 1,729 1,830

brigade..

61st North 6 104 99

Carolina (two

companies)..

2nd C. S. 3 78 80

Engineers,

Company A..

Cavalry.. 18 336 376

Heavy 98 1,829 2,321

artillery..

Light 21 500 524

artillery..

Total.. 255 4,606 5,261

Pieces of artillery.

Command. Aggregate Aggregate Heavy. Field.

present. present

and

absent.

General 48 62 .......... ...........

staff..

Martin's 2,143 2,852 .......... ...........

brigade..

61st North 119 151 .......... ...........

Carolina (two

companies)..

2nd C. S. 94 101 .......... ...........

Engineers,

Company A..

Cavalry.. 431 552 .......... ...........

Heavy 2,839 3,616 132 ...........

artillery..

Light 577 740 .......... 30

artillery..

Total.. 6,251 8,074 132 30

Organization of troops in the District of Cape Fear and defenses of Wilmington, Major General W. H. C. Whiting, C. S. Army, commanding, October 31, 1863.

Martin's Brigade.

Brigadier General J. G. MARTIN.

42nd North Carolina, Colonel G. C. Gibbs.

50th North Carolina, Colonel J. A. Washington.

61st North Carolina (two companies).

66th North Carolina, Colonel A. D. Moore.

Cavalry.

Colonel GEORGE JACKSON.

5th North Carolina (one company).

5th South Carolina (two companies).

7th South Carolina (three companies).

Light Artillery.

3rd North Carolina Battalion, Major John W. Moore.

Adams' (North Carolina) Battery, Captain Z. T. Adams.

Paris' (Virginia) Battery, Captain A. B. Paris.

Southerland's (North Carolina) Battery, Captain T. J. Southerland.

Heavy Artillery.*

Fort Caswell, Colonel T. M. Jones.

Fort Fisher, Colonel William Lamb.

Fort Pender.

Fort Anderson.
Colonel J. J. Hedrick.

Fort Holmes.

Wilmington, Colonel G. A. Cunningham.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
November 2, 1863.

Brigadier General J. D. IMBODEN,

Commanding, &c.:

GENERAL: I have received your letter of the 31st ultimo, by Captain George W. Stumpt.

I think it very important, in the quiescent state of affairs in your department, to endeavor to drive the enemy from Hardy and hampshire Counties, and break up his position at Romney and Petersburg; but I am unable, at this time, to detach any portion of this army to your assistance. The enemy is reported to be again advancing toward the Rappahannock, and, until I can discover his intentions, I do not think it prudent to diminish my present force.

---------------

*Troops not indicated on original.

---------------