SPECIAL ORDERS, ADJT. AND INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 262.
Richmond, Va., November 8, 1862.

* * * *

VI. Brigadier General W. H. C. Whiting is assigned specially to the defense of the Cape Fear River. He will proceed to Wilmington, N. C., and enter upon that duty.

* * * *

By command of Secretary of War:

JNO. WITHERS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

ORDNANCE BUREAU,

Richmond, November 10, 1862.

Honorable ZEBULON B. VANCE,

Governor of North Carolina:

SIR: Colonel Gorgas requests me to state in reply to your favor of the 8th instant that the Secretary of War has given general directions in regard to the equipment of forts, and that Wilmington will not be forgotten.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

T. S. RHETT,

Colonel, Inspector of Ordnance.

RICHMOND, VA., November 11, 1862.

Governor VANCE, Raleigh, N. C.:

Yours of the 9th and 10th received. The re-enforcements sent. Evans' brigade is all that is now disposable. It is not practicable at this time to reduce the command in Tennessee. The vigilance of deepest interest watches affairs in North Carolina. We will try to anticipate the enemy.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

HEADQUARTERS,
Richmond, Va., November 11, 1862.

Major General S. G. FRENCH,

Commanding, Petersburg, Va.:

The Secretary of War directs that you send four regiments to the vicinity of Wilmington immediately-the two recently withdrawn from there and two others to be selected by yourself. He suggests that General Clingman be assigned to command them, reporting to the commander of the defenses of Cape Fear River, Brigadier General W. H. C. Whiting.

G. W. SMITH,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS,
Richmond, Va., November 12, 1862.

Major General S. G. FRENCH,

Commanding, &c., Petersburg, Va.:

GENERAL: Since my telegram of yesterday, directing that four regimens be sent to the vicinity of Wilmington with orders to report to Brigadier General W. H. C. Whiting, commanding defenses of Cape Fear River, the Secretary of War has requested me to ask your views in regard