RICHMOND, September 3, 1861.

General R. C. GATLIN,

Goldsborough, N. C.:

Information is brought here that the commanding officer at Fort Macon intends to abandon that place. You must prevent this at once at every hazard and with all your means.

S. COOPER,

Adjutant and Inspector General.

[4.]

SPECIAL ORDERS,
ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 143.
Richmond, September 4, 1861.

I. Brigadier General Charles Clark, Provisional Army, will proceed to Manassas, Va., and report for duty to General Johnston, commanding.

* * * * * *

By command of the Secretary of War:

JOHN WITHERS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

[5.]

RICHMOND, September 4, 1861.

General R. E. LEE,

Staunton, Va.:

GENERAL: Your several communications were duly submitted to the President, who has read them with much satisfaction and fully approves of all you have done. He has not ceased to feel and anxious desire for your return to this city to resume your former duties, even while satisfied of the importance of your presence in Western Virginia so long as might be necessary to carry out the ends set forth in your communications. Whenever, in your judgment, circumstnaces will justify it, your will consider yourself authorized to return.

I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,

S. COOPER,

Adjutant and Inspector-General.

[5.]

GOLDSBOROUGH, September 4, 1861.

General S. COOPER,

Adjutant-General:

I have just returned from Fort Macon. The idea of abandoning it has never been entertained. It is in good condition for defense, and will hold out to the last. No enemy has as yet appeared before it.

R. C. GATLIN,

Brigadier-General.

[4.]

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA,
New Berne, September 4, 1861.

General S. COOPER,

Adjutant-General, &c., Richmond, Va.:

GENERAL: Your dispatch of yesterday relative to fort Macon was replied to this morning by telegraph, but I must be permitted to remark that the person giving the information is devoid of all truth. The post