Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-09-21
Ihs Siapaafa.
sls.r--For the Standard.
COAST DEFENcEs.


efences of the State of North Carolina, which did
not belong to this Office deem 1t due to myself
and more to the cause of truth to make PLAIN
statement of facts and no more. IL is not my pur.
pose to cast ceusure or blame on airy one and VIII
cndeavor to make no disclosures which might De
awaited of by our common enemy, whose nag no"
unhappily waves over our shores.
To the State Of North Caroiina owe aeot Oh
gratitude which have endeavored to repay, by
faithful discharge of the duties OF the hlgh omces
which it has been her pleasure to bestow upon me
from time to time during the last twenty. years
After the reduction Of Fort Sumter, IN which l
was engaged as Chief Engineer in the construction
of the batteries for this purpose, resigned my COM
mission as chief of the Engineer Corps in the army
of the State of South Carolina, and through Colonel
d. K McRae offered my services to North-Caroli-
ma But the State not having seeded and events
crowding so rapidly on each other, entered the
service of Virginia as Brigadier General in command
of the forces at Norfolk. Wilhelm the exercise of
that command, oyertnres were made to me by the
late lamented Governor of NoIth-Carolina, to take
the position of the chief military officer of the State,
which Iwould have accepted, if could with propri-
ETY. at that time have left my post at Norfolk but
as soon as was relieved from the command at NOR
folk and assigned to other duty, resigned my
commission of Brigadier General in Virginia and
was Immediately commissioned Brigadier General
of the State troops of North Carolina it being under
stoed that was to command brigade of the North
Carolina State troops then assembling for the cam
paign in Virginia. IS some time would elapse be-
fore the brigade would be ready for the HELD and as
much dissatisfaction prevailed in regard TO the coast
offences of the progress of which every one was m
ignorance, for at that time although some appoint
ments of heads of departments had been made, there
was no organization in any of the departments. In
this state of things DESTROYS OF making myself use
full and rendering all the service in my power, vol
unteered in the interim, while my brigade was form
,aet hn md
the condition of its defences. An order was accord
ingy issued and in thrty-sx hours after my arrival
in Raleigh from Virginia proceeded to the dis
charge of the duties assigned me. On my return to
Newbern whence / set out in the performance Of
those duties which occupied me but few days,
found an order relieving General Holmes and as
signing me to the command OF the northern depart
ment of the coast defences, commencing at the
mouth of New River and extending to the Virginia
line embracing substance measured on the Atlantic
border of about three hundred and forty miles. AL
thong somewhat disappointed, l confess, IN being
deprived Of participation in the stirring and excl
ting campaign about to commence in Virginia which
resulted so gloriously to arms, yielded with
out murmur a ready obedience to the order and
proceeded without delay to exercise the duties ofmy
command REPAIRED to Raleigh Immediately after
having examined the defences of the northern por-
ton of the coast which consisted of batteries under
construction at 0cracoke and Hatteras Inlets, and
made report to the Military Board. Having thus
promised though not departing from the strict
rative of facts to which in the outset proposed to
conine myself shall now have recourse to the re-
cord.
arrived in Raleigh from Virginia on the oath
day of May, was commissioned Brigadier General
Of the Carolina State troops on the 25th, and
on the 26th went to NewbeIn, mot being then
assigned to the command of the coast defences made
immediate inquiry as to the state of the Ordnance,
Commissary and Quartermaster's departments, and
found neither department represented at Newborn.
l addressed a communication to Governor Ellis, on
the 26th of May, from which the following is an
extract:
II find here some twenty barbette carriages
framed and partly framed, only requiring irons to
make them complete and ready for the guns. l
would very respectfully suggest that the irons be
ordered for them Immediately. would respectfully
advise the organization of Ordnance Board with
out delay and the appointment of Assistant Quar-
termasters and CommisSares at the principal depots
Newbern, Wilmington, and at the different encamp-
ments; that proper authority be given to the Quar-
termasters department to have number Of wagons
and wheelbarrows made Immediately and that or
ders be given to the various cotton factories in the
State to manufacture large amount of tent cloth,
shrting and casinett for soldiers clothes"
The irons for the gun carriages above alluded to,
did not come to hand for ten weeks.
On the 29th Of May wrote to Governor Ellis as
follows: II find Fort Macon much more exposed
than had supposed But one heavy gun has yet
been mounted bearing on the channel There are no
land detences and the guns every face of the Fort
both BY land and sea, exposed to enfilade or
flank fire. No traverses have been erected to pro-
tect them. The guns are all in Barbette withou.
murlons to protect either them or the men. The
work in progress, that of dwelling the sand banks
adjacent to the Fort is judicious but most expen-
svey conducted, the earth being removed by hand
barTows. l have directed number of wEeel-bar-
rows to be made and sent to the Fort as soon as
possible.
:. The complete defence of the Fort will be expen-
sive and work OF time and detailed plan will re-
quire more time than have at my command, as
steamboat is now ready for ME, and ! am in con-
formity with your orders, anxious to get through
with an examination of the coast defences and to
endeavor to procure what may be necessary For
Fort Macon alone, there will be required for one
item thirty-seven heavy guns And if it is designed
completely and eRectualy to protect Beaufort Har.
Dor, not less than two thousand men. will give
orders for the necessary works, hasten my return
to Raleigh, as far may be consistent with nv du
ties and make to your Excellency full report In
the mean time, would advise that ten thousand
sand bags be sent to Fort Macon.
Before leaving Raleigh took upon myself the re-
sponsibility Of authorizing Dr. Allston, of Warren
to hire some hands for the coast defences. Under
proper officer of Engineers four HUNDRED hands
could be well employed in and about Fort Macon"
returned to Raleigh on the 30th of May, and
made the following report to Gov. Ellis I'm obe-
dience to orders on the 25th INST, l Immediately
repaired to Fort Macon, from which place made to
you report on the 18th inst, to which l beg to
refer you: The works required there which were
not mentioned in that report have been fully de-
scrleed by me to the Engineer in charge As the
details are numerous they would occupy too much
space to be given here. The garrison now Mt this
Forts insufficient for the defence of the Fort II
IS necessary that an advanced post should be es
tablished on Bogue Island, and that line of vi.
dettes should be maintained along the sea front of
the Island, and that proper signals should be estab
liShed to communicate with rapdity the landing of
the enemy. There should also be field batteries at
different points the Island, to repel his landinc
and such precautions will be required on many 9TH
or parts of the coast A detachment should also be
stationed on Shackleford Banks, opposite the Fort
With q lima nf rida Az