Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-12-05

R:-ln JuSuncatfon OF mySei1, desire 10 give
publicity, through your columns, Of the enclosed
sketch of operations during the period commanded
~ - R. G. GATLIN.
A sketch of operations in tho Department of Noxth
Carolina, from the goth Of august, 1861, to tho
18th Of March, 1862, Brigddier General K Q.
GATLIN p A. O. s. CoAmdnding.
On the 10th of August 1861, being on duty at
Wilmington, N. O., l received telegram from the
Adjutant General of the Confederate Army, notify
ing me that had been appointed Brigadier Gen.
eral in the Provisional Army, and assigned to the
command Of the Department OF North Carolina, and
the coast defences of that State. Accordingly, on
the Goth of August issued the necessary orders
assuming the command.
On the 26th of August received telegram from
General Huger stating that feet had just sailed
from Hampton Roads, supposed to be for the coast
of North Carolina. Immediately teegrapbed the
information to Gov. Clark and requested that all
the available troops, then within reach, be sent to
Goldsboro' On the 28th, steamer arrived at Will
mngton and reported that a large feet of the enemy
were assembling at Hatteras Inlet on the day pre-
vious Orders were at once sent to the troops at
Goldsboro' to proceed, with despatch, to Newbern,
and on the morning Of the Goth, set out for that
town, where arrived that afternoon. About II
o'clock, p. NJ, steamer arrived 9th the intelli
gence that Fort Hatteras, after bombardment of
near two days, by large feet Of the enemy, had
surrendered about 10 o'clock, A. NJ. on that day,
and the garrison numbering five hundred and eighty
including Commodore Samuel Barron and Col. j. A.
j. Bradford, were made prisoners of war. These
facts were made known to the Confederate and State
governments, and more troops asked for.
On the 90th Of August steps were taken to COM
plete Fort Lane the site of another battery for the
defence of the Neuse River selected and the point
for blocking that RVS fixed upon. The forces then
at Newbern were Campbell's regiment and Single
tary's battalion. few days after, Vance's regi-
ment and Brem's battery arrived. The former was
forwarded to Bogue banks, and was followed by
Campbelrs regiment upon report Of an intended
attack upon Fort Macon by the enemy's feet
With Hatteras in the possession Of the enemy, it
readily perceived that our only hope of protec
ton to the Eastern Counties, would be to maintain
the ascendancy upon the Sounds and Rivers. Hence
l drew the attention of the War Department to the
subject in letter dated the 4th September, recon-
mending the construction of number of gun-boats
to be placed on Pamlico Sound, and requested that
the subject should be brought to the notice Of the
President himself About this time, l received in
formation from Gen. Huger, of his having sent the
Bird Georgia regiment Col. Wright commanding, to
the assistance Of Fort Ha.tcras, but upon their ar
rival at Roanoke Island, learning that the Fort had
fallen, they landed and were engaged in putting the
Island in a state of defence. requested that he
would continue to occupy the Island until | could
send force to relieve Col Wrights command
About the 7th of September Brig. Gepr. }. R.
Anderson arrived at Newbern with instruction from
the War Department. to report to me to take charge
of the coast defences of North Carolina He was
cordingly placed on that duty.
After satisfying myself. that the enemy contem-
plated no immediate move from Fort Hatteras, and
that the reports Of intended attack Fort Macon
by the enemys fleet were without foundation,
proceeded to and established my headquarters at
Goldsboro', on the 18th September. Ny first OBJ
ject 10 organize the staff corps Of the depart
md cnlln fha ENrcac 1act
had to be done by application to the Confederate
and State governments / had no authority to
raise troops 1t was my design to send to the ex-
posed points a sufficient force to hold the enemy in
check, should he attempt to land on the coast and
to establish reserve of four or six regiments at
Goldsboro, TO be sent to the coast only upon the
landing Of the enemy. 1t will be seen in the
sequel, that at time was the force placed at my
disposal sufficient to warrant the establishment of
the desired reserve.
At this.time the forces under my command were
as follows, viz: The 18th and Goth regiments of in
fantry and Edmondston's company of cavalry at
Wilmington; Singeltarys battalion, Brems battery,
and WhitforG's company Of artillery at Newbern
the It'll and 26th regiments on Bogue banks 3
companies Of infantry and of artillery at Fort Ma
con; 2 companies Of the 18th regiment at Washing
ton; the Sd Georgia regiment and detachment of
the l7tE regiment at Roanoke Island; Moore's bat
terry was at Raleigh, Lanes and Parker's regiments
encamped above that city, and Clingman's regiment
at Asbeville. These three regiments and the bat
terry sent by the Governor TO Wilmington,
where they arrived early in October. He also sent
the Sth regiment to Roanoke Island where il
rived the latter part of September. Col McMllan's
regiment Of Georgia volunteers ordered to report to
me- arrived at GOldsboro 2lst of September, was
sent to Washington. On the 18th September, Maj.
Hail. 7th regiment was directed to proceed to Hyde
county with two companies of his regiment His
force was afterwards increased by the addition Of
u al i. n
companies of the SD regiment and Q companies Of
the I'd regiment not complete when the regiment
left for Virginia. They ultimately joined their reg
iment Early in September the blocking of tine
Pamlico river eight miles below Washington
commenced, and batteries erected on each side of
the river for its protection.
1t was soon perceived that il would be impossi-
Bile for Gen. Anderson to give proper attention to
the entire coast. The plan of dividing the coast in
to three districts then suggested ITSELF With this
in view wrote to the War Department on the 18th
September. requesting that two additional Brig.
Generals be sent to report to me. Only one, how
ever was ordered viz: Brig Gen. d. Ii. Hili who
was assigned by the War Department to the COM
mand of all that part of the coast lying north of
| White Oak river Before allowing him to assume
command of Roanoke Island urged upon the War
Department IN letters dated the lst and 7th Of Oc
tober the proprety of establishing the District of
the Albemarle, and placing it under experienced
| officer. Had this recommendation been attended
to at that time is fair to conclude that the Island
would have been put in such state of defence, as
| with reasonable force, it would have been sue
cessfully defended against Gen: Burnside's attack
| in February. l may dispose Of this subject by
stating that the district finally established on
the 21st of December, Brig Gen. Wise placed in
command, and the district transferred to Gen. Hu-
gers department Gen. Hills was called the Dis
! trict Of the Pamlico," Gen. Anderson's the "Dis-
trict of the Cape Fear" -... g.
Gen. Hill entered upon his duties the LIST of Octo-
Der, and acted vigorously in placing his district in
a state Of defence. On the Goth Of October, re-
ceived notice from Gen. Huger, that fleet pre-
pairing to sail from New York for the South, and
rendering assistance should landing lie effected on
! our coast and on the 18th Of October telegram
from the Secretary of War announced its having sailed