The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-04-30

the enemy, and 70 forward al the means ~ L
my reach as speedily as possible, to make
the KEY of all the rear of Norfolk, with Its
canals and railroads, safe. Inside of Halter
as inlet found "a vessels Of light draft. |
eight Of which at least are steamers, said 10
carry four guns each. They are. at farthest,
but SO miles from Roanoke Island, aud can
reach there any four hours or less, to attack
five small gunboats under Capt. Lynch and
four small land batteries, wholly inefficient.
ANY boat drawing seven feet of water. or
less, can pass the Groatan Sound as far of as
II miles from any battery, and the enemy's
guns can silence our batteries there in We
nv short time. Neither battery is casemated.
and our men now there are unframed to heay
Wy pieces mounted on navy carriages. The
moment the enemy passes Croatan Channel,
the North landing river. North river. Pas
quotank, Chowan, Roanoke. Alligator, and
Scuppernong rivers, and the Dismal Swamp
and Albemare and Chesapeake canals will
be blockaded ehectually, and Norfolk and
Portsmouth will be cut of from supplies Of
corn, pork and forage. The force at Hatte-
ras is independent of the Burnside expedi-
ton. No matter where the latter is, the
former is amply sufficient to capture or pass
Roanoke Island in any IL hours. Let me
say, then. sir, that if we are 10 wait for pow
der from Richmond, until We are attacked
at that Island, that attack will be capture.
and our defeat will precede our supply OF
ammunition. The case is 100 urgent for me
! TO delay speaking this nut plainly at once;"
and in another part Of the same letter, he
SAYS: z We want ammunition aud men. In
word, almost every preparation has 10 be
made. Delay is defeat now at Roanoke Isl
and and with present means, Capt. Lynch
and combined cannot guarantee successful
defence for day. beg. sir. that you will
urge this upon the Navy Department, and
believe that | am rot supcrsersiceable IN
this urgency"
Gen. Wise, finding that his written APP
peals for aid in the defences OF tire Island 10
| Headquarters at Norfolk and to the Depart
ment at Richmond were neglected. and
treated with Indifference. repaired in person
to Richmond, and called upon the Secretary
Of War, aud urged in the most lnportunate
manner, the absolute necessity Of strengthen
ing the defences upon that Island, with ad-
ditIonal men, armament and ammunition.
4 The Secretary Of War replied verbally TO
his appeals for reinforcements. that he had
not the men 70 spare for his command. Gen.
Wise urged upon the Secretary that General
Huger had abou, Is, 900 in front Of Norfolk
lying idle in camp for eight months, and
that considerable portion Of them could be
spared for the defence Of the rear Of Norfolk
and especially as his General Wise's) dis
trict Supplied Norfolk and bis army with
army with nearly or quite all Of his corn,
pork and forage, that reinforcements at ROa-
noke Island were as absolutely necessary Ia
the defence at Norfolk as forces in its front,
and that particular Or special posts should
not be allowed TO monopoIize nearly all ihe
men, powder aud supplies" In reply to all
his urgent appeals for the means Of defence,
General Wise on the 22d January. received
the following military order No. IL;
Brigadicr General Henry A. Wise. Pro
yisional Army, will immediately proeerd q
Roanoke Island, North Carolina. aud assum,
command Of the Confederate States troop
at that place.
By command Of the Sec'y sf War,
i (signed) JOHN WRITER'S,
Asst. Adjt. General
Il II "a annarent IN tho con,n,ffIaa froa, ,h,