FEBRUARY 23, 1865.

Colonel ANDERSON,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

COLONEL: There are no indications of a move thus far. Do not think it necessary to send on the trains.

Respectfully, yours,

R. F. HOKE,

Major-General.

BURGAW, February 23, 1865-6 p. m.

Lieutenant-General HOLMES,

Raleigh:

Dispatch received. I am making such dispositions for defense of Fayetteville as my means allow.

BRAXTON BRAGG,

General.

FAYETTEVILLE, February 23, 1865.

(Received 2. 35 o'clock.)

General GORGAS:

Do the authorities appreciate the importance of Fayetteville? Eight cotton factories here, machinery of navy ordnance works, coal and iron of Deep River country, besides what we have.

F. L. CHILDS,

Lieutenant-Colonel.

[Indorsement.]

RICHMOND, February 24, 1865.

Respectfully referred to the honorable Secretary of War for his information.

J. GORGAS,

Chief of Ordnance.

FEBRUARY 23, 1865.

Lieutenant-Colonel CHILDS,

Fayetteville:

Two strong companies infantry and a battery will be sent to-morrow to operate on Cape Fear near Elizabethtown. General Bragg desires you to make every effort to obstruct the river, communicating with the detachment from here.

ARCHER ANDERSON,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

GOLDSBOROUGH, February 23, 1865.

General BRAGG,

Burgaw:

My own force, operatives, &c., number 250; 100 or 200 others may join; 1,000 re-enforcements might make a good defense. Advise me of movements in this direction on east or west bank. Have they cavalry?

F. L. CHILDS,

Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding.