Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-12-10

Poi. ~ EVERETTSvILLE, Lee. 1, leol.
Editor of Raleigh Standard:
publicity through your columns, of the enclosed
sketch Of operations during the period commanded
'Ds o'p" ~ 'i'''' y - 1' - R. G. GATLIN.
4 sketch of operations in the Department of North
18TH Of March, 1862, Brigadier General Il. U.
-: GATL1N, r. A. @. s. Commanding. u
On the 10Th of August, 1861, beiug on duty ct
Wilmington, N. c., received telegram from the
Adjutant General of the Confederate Army, notify
ing me that had been appointed Brigadler 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 Goth Of August, received telegram from
General Huger, stating that fleet had just sailed
from Hampton Roads, supposed to be for the coast
of-North Carolina. | Immediately telegraphed the
information to Gov Clark, and requested that all
the available troops then within reach, be sent to
Goldsooro'. On the 2sth, steamer arrived at Will
mngton and reported that large fleet Of the enemy
were assembling at Hatteras Inlet on the day pre-
yious. Orders were at once sent to the troops at
Goldsboro' to proceed, with despatch, to Ncwbern,
and on the morning of the 29th, set out for that
town, where arrived that afternoon About II
o r.
gence that Fort Hatteras, after bombardment of
near two days, by large fleet 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 3Oth 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 river fixed upon The forces then
at Newbern were Campbells regiment and Single
tary's battalion A few days after, Vance's regi-
ment and Brem's battery arrived. The former was
forwarded to Bogue banks, and was followed by
Campbel's regiment upon report of an intended
attack upon Fort Macon by the enemys fleet.
With IIattcras in the possession of the enemy, it
was readily perceived that our only hope of protec-
ton to the Eastern Counties, would be to maintain
| the aSccndancy upon the Sounds and Rivers. Hence
drew the attention of the War Department 10 the
subject, in letter dated the 4th September, recon-
mending the construction of a number of gun-boats
to be placed on Pamco Sound and requested that
the subject should be brought to the notice Of the
President himself About this tilnc received in
formation from Gen. lluger, of his having sent the
3rd Georgi ia regiment, Col. Wright commanding, to
the assistance Of Fort Ha!teras, but upon their
rival at Roanoke Island, learning that the Fort had
fallen, they landed and were engaged in putting the
Island in state of defence. l requested that he
would continue to occupy the Island until could
send force to relieve Col. Wright's command.
About the 7th of September, Brig. Genl. J. R.
Anderson arrived at Newbern with instruction from
the War Department, to report to to take charge
of the coast defenccs of North Carolina He was &C.
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. My first OBJ
ject was TO organize the staff corps of the depart
ment, and collect the necessary forces. This last
had to be done by application to the Confederate
and State governments, as l had no authority to
raise troops. 1t was my design to send to the ex-
posed points 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 he seen in the
sequel, that at no time 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; Singeltary's battalion, Brems battery,
and WhitforG's company of artillery at Newbern
the 7tA and 26th regiments on B0gue 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 18th regiment at Roanoke Island Moore's bat
terry at Raleigh, Lanes and Parker's regiments
encamped above that city, and Clingman's regiment
f at Asheve. These three regiments and the bat.
| terry were sent by the Governor to Wilmington,
where they arrived early in October. He also sent
n the Sth regiment to Roanoke Island, where it ar
rived the latter part of September. Col McMillans
regiment of Georgia volunteers ordered to report to
me, arrived at GoIdsboro' 2st of September, was
n sent to Washington. On the 18th September, Maj
Hall, 7th regiment was directed to proceed to Hyde
county with two companies Of his regiment His
force was afterwards increased by the addition Of
the two companies Of the 18th from Washington, {
{ companies of the SD regiment and companies O
a the I'd regiment, not complete when the regiment
left for Virginia. They ultimately joined their reg
n iment Early in September the blocking of the
Pamlico river eight miles below Washington was
a commenced, and batteries erected on each side o.
" the river for its protection
1t was soon perceived that it would be impossi
s Die for Gen. Anderson to give proper attention t
IS the entire coast The plan Of dividing the coast in
4 to three districts then suggested itself With this
c in view wrote to The War Department on the 1Stt
4 September, requesting that two additional Brig
IS Generals be sent to report to me. Only one, how
# ever was ordered, viz: Brig. Gen. D. II. Ill., wht
was assigned by the War Department to the com
mand of all that part of the coast lying north o
y White Oak river Before allowing him to ASSUME
q. command of Roanoke Island, urged upon the Wa
Department IN letters dated the 1st and 7th of DC
% tober the proprety of establishing the District
of the Abemarle, and placing under experienced
Q officer Had this recommendation been ATTENDED
to at that time itis fair to conclude that the ISLAM
would have been put in such state of defence, a
IN with reasonable force, it would have been sue
m cessfuy defended against Gen. Burnsidc's attac
If in February. | may dispose Of this subject b
s. stating that the district was finally established o.
re the Dist Of December, Brig. Gen. Wise placed il
,e command, and the district transferred to Gen. II,
i, gers department. Gen. Ellis called thee Dis
& trict of the Panlico," Gen Anlerson's the "Dis
e. trict of the Cape Fear"
re- Gen Hill entered upon his duties the LIST Of Octc
anu aCteu vigorously IN placing his district 1