Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-09-25
The STANDARD.
~ Fsr. the Standard.
COAST OFFENCES.
RALEIGH, N, G., September 18th, 1851.

defences Of the State of North Carolina, which did
not belong to this Office, deem 1t due to myseil
and even to the cause of truth, to make pam
of facts, and no more 1t is not my Pu,,
pose to cast censure or blame on ary one, ana VIII
endeayor to make no disclosures which mignt 10
availed of by our common enemy, whose nag no"
waves over our shores -. -
To the State of North. Carolina owe a deGt ol
gratitude which have endeavored to repay, Dy
faithful discharge of the duties Of the high omces
which it has been her pleasure to bestow upon me
from time to time during the last twenty-five years
After the reduction Of Fort Sumter, in which
was engaged as Chief Engineer in the construction
of tn. 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-Caroll-
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. While in the exercise OF
that command, overtures were made to me by the
late lamented Governor of North-Carolina, to take
the position of the chief military officer of the State,
which would have accepted, if could with proPrl.
ETY. at that time have left my post at Norfolk ou'
as soon as was relieved from the command at Nor-
folk, and assigned to other duty, l resigned ny
commission of Brigadier General IN virginia, anI
was Immediately commissioned nr'gau.er uen soa
stood that was to command brigade Of the North
Carolina State troops then assembling for the cam
n.icn in Virginia As some time would elapse be-
fore the brigade would he ready for the field, and as
much dissatisfaction prevailed in regard to the coast
deences, 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
ing. to make examination of the coast and report
tho condition of its offences An order was accord
ingly issued and in thirysix hours after my arrival
in Raleigh from Virginia, proceeded to the dis
charge Of the duties assigned me. On my return to
Newborn whence i 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 distance measured on the Atlantic
border Of about three hundred and forty miles Al
though somewhat disappointed, confess, in being
deprived Of participation in the stirring and excl
ting campaign about to commence in Virginia which
resulted so gloriously to arms, l yielded with
out murmur a ready obedience to the order and
proceeded without delay to exercise the duties OF my
command. repaired to Raleigh Immediately alter
having examined the defences Of the northern por-
ton Of the coast which consisted of batteries under
construction at Ocracoke and Hatteras Inets, and
made report to the Military Board. Having thus
promised though not departing from the strict nsr-
rative of facts to which in the outset proposed to
eonfne myself shall now have recourse to the re-
cord.
Iarrived in Raleigh from Virginia on the oath
day of May, was commissioned Brigader General
Of the North Carolina State troops on the 25th and
on the 26th went to NewbcIn, 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 Newbern.
addressed communication to Governor Ellis on
the 26th of May, from which the following is an
extract:
~ find here scme 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. Iwould respectfully
advise the organization Of an Ordnance Board with
out delay, and the appointment of Assistant Quar-
termasters and Commissaries 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 wheel-barrows made Immediately, and that Or
ders be given to the various cotton factories in the
State to manufacture large amount of tent CLOTH
shifting and casinett for soldiers clothes"
The irons for the gun carriages above alluded to,
did not come TO hand for ten weeks
On the 2gth of May / wrote to Governor Ellis as
follows: ~ find Fort Macon much more exposed
than had supposed. But one heavy gun has yet
been mounted hearing on the channel. There are no
land detences and the guns every face Of the Fort
both by land and sea- are exposed TO an enfilade
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 levelling the sand banks
adjacent to the Fort is judicous, but most expen
sively conducted, the earth being removed by hand
barrows. have directed number of wEeel-bar
rows to be made and sent to the Fort as soon as
possible.
1.-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 t,
endeavor to procure what may he necessary Fo
Fort Macon alone, there will be required for on
Item thrty-seven heavy guns. And if it is designe
completely and effecually to protect Beaufort Har
Dor, not less than two thousand men. | will Civ
orders for the necessary works, hasten my retur
10 Raleigh, as far as may be consistent with my du
ties and make to your Excelency full report Ii
the mean time, would advise that ten thousan
sand bags be sent to Fort Macon.
Before leaving Raleigh took upon myself the re
sponsibility Of authorizing Dr. Alston Of Warner
to hire some hands for the coast offences. IJnde
proper officer Of Engineers, four hunderd hand
could be we'll employed in and about Fort Macon
returned to Raleigh on the 3Oth Of Nav. an
made the following report to Gov. Ellis: "In Oh
d'ence to orders on the 25th inst, l immediatel
repaired to Fort Macon, from which place made
you report on the 26th inst, to which beg
refer you: The works required there which we,
not mentioned in that report have been fully d
scrloeo oy me to the Engineer in charge. As Il
details are numerous, they would occupy too mne
space to be given here. The garrison now At III
Fort is insufficient for the defence Of the Fort
;snecessary that an advanced post should S be-
tablshed on Bogue Island and that line ~ ,
detses should be maintained along the se ear front
the Island and that proper signals should h.
lished to communicate with rapidty the ,.rd $50
the enemy There should also be field ha, ,us
different points on the Island, to repel h;s ,snJ
and such precautions will he required on NANNY -,
er parts Of the coast detachment should sy. "
stationed on Shackleford Banks opposite the Eo
with line of videttes. field artillery r.