HEADQUARTERS,
Petersburg, Va., March 5, 1863.

General S. COOPER,

Adjutant and Inspector General:

GENERAL: Major General D. H. Hill reports a large force landing at New Berne, N. C. This force must be part of the command intended for the attack upon Charleston, which seems to have been abandoned.

I inclose herewith a letter* from Brigadier-General Whiting, commanding at Wilmington. He is anxious to have his armament increased, as also his laboring force. I hope that the Department may do all that is in its power to give him the aid that he desires.

I remain, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JAMES LONGSTREET,

Lieutenant-General.

RICHMOND, VA., March 5, 1863.

Lieutenant General JAMES LONGSTREET,

Petersburg, Va.:

GENERAL: The President desires that the troops which were drawn from Generals Samuel Jones' and H. Marshall's commands in Western Virginia should be returned to these commands, and that the brigade of General Joe [J. R.] Davis, which moved a short time since from Goldsborough, N. C., to the Blackwater in Virginia should be returned to Goldsborough. You will please issue the necessary orders in these cases.

Very respectfully, & c.,

S. COOPER,

Adjutant and Inspector General.

WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A.,

Richmond, Va., March 5, 1863.

His Excellency ZEBULON B. VANCE,

Governor of North Carolina, Raleigh, N. C.:

SIR: I have received your letter of the 28th ultimo, in reference to the conduct of Lieutenant Colonel J. A. Keith, Sixty-fourth North Carolina Regiment, and have directed General [D. S.] Donelson, commanding at Knoxville, to investigate the matter and report the facts to the Department.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. A. SEDDON,

Secretary of War.

SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DEPT. VIRGINIA AND N. CAROLINA, Numbers 39.
Petersburg, Va., March 5, 1863.

* * * * * * *

II. Jenkins' brigade is relieved from further duty with Major-General Pickett's division and will proceed to the Blackwater and relieve the brigade of Brigadier General R. E. Colston.

III. Brigadier General R. E. Colston, with his brigade, is assigned tempora

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

* See p. 904.

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