The New York herald., 1863-04-21
IMPORTANT FROM IoRrH CARoLu
Tho Relief Of Major General Foster, who
Reported Bssitged in North Carolina
by an Overwhelming Force.
Brigadier General Hickman Flies to 3
Aid from the Department Of the South.
INTERESTING OFFICIAL ORDER|
&e., &s., 20.
STEAMSHIP UNITED SrArEs,-A SEA,
orr BEAUFORT, N. g., April Is, 1853.

orr BEAUFORT, N. G., April l6, 1853 n
write this at sea, on board the favorite steamsl}
United States while waiting for pilot or the bar OF Bed
fort harbor North Carolina. We have board BrigadI
General A. Hickman and STAFF and the Twenty Third N
sachusetts Volunteers, bound with the utmost despatch
the relief Of Major General Foster and his command
are ofcally reported TO be In very precarous post
In North Carolina. No military order ever obey
with more cheerfuness than that which author1
General Hickman to reembark his brigade ut n
Royal, and proceed to North Carolina without delj
Whatever delay did was occasioned by the muI
plcty Of applications 70 headquarters for leave to go
soon as II was publicly known that General Hecknj
had been ordered TO depart with his brigade The
tachment Of that portion Of the Eighteenth army cor
which has been doing service In the Department OF
South for the last three months toward their comra
in arms in North Carolina is deep, unalterable and 4
versal and II is therefore matter Of surprise Il
they should joyfully obey command that required th
to return again TO the scene Of many Of their forr
heroic exploits and from critical position, II
from the jaws OF destruction their favorite command
Major General Foster, and those companions with VIII
they had bought many dearly earned victory
HOW II OCCURRED.
My last letter from Port Royal left General HeckmarI
command Of the post by order Of Major General HUM
He enjoyed the honor but few hours for within \
time tho operations before Charleston had ceased,
Commanding General Of the department returned,
General Hickman resumed his divisional command
the troops or his division had dsembarked and weo
camped on Hilton Head Island, with the exception
Colonel W. W. H. Davis brigade, which have q
sent TO Beaufort g. @. The danger or an attempt by
rebels to attack Hilton Head and Beaufort serio
apprehended; the destruction Of the steamer Gef
Washington and the threatening aspect OF affairs at
Royal ferry aording reasonable grounds for the apt
hension, General Hunter determined TO foil themI
their calculations Hcckmans troops were distributed
various points for their fighting qualities had been
tested and they awaited the approach Of the enemy
the 1lth inst Gen. Hunter visited BEAUFORT and Port
ferry and personally Inspected the condition Of th
From subsequent Representations made 10 other par
the day. by persons likely 70 be informed Of the
state OF aars attack from the enemy at that poi
Port Royal ferry-was in reality not 20 imminent a.
1t nrst supposed In the mesntime-in fact, the q
day-the AaDusta Dinsmore arrived q Hilton Head q
New York, via Morehead City, NC, having on b
Major Solomon Giles, Third New York artillery, and
william v. Hutchins. Assistant Quartermasier on Gen
Thomas D. stevenson's staf. Just nom North Carol
and familiar with me circumstances q the dangs|
position Of Gen. Foster, these oncsrs deemed II their
20 present statement Of the same 10 Gen. Hunter,
lct the return Of the detachment Of tho Eighteenth
eorps In his department to North Carolina. The Ger
being absent, as stated application under the adv
General 5eckmAn. was Immediately made 10 Gen
Hunters Adjutant General, Lieutenant Colonel Charlie
Halpine, who At once saw tho necessity OF the
recommended MAJOR Giles and Captain Hutchins to |
ceed at once TO Beaufort, 8. G., and ooner with Ger
Hunter on the subject
How Tm RkoUEn WAS RDmvEp.
General Hickman Maor, Giles and Captain Hutc
waited upon Major General Hunter at General saxt
the statement, read n, winksd three times, and I
quietly folded the document and put IN his pocket.
answer was, OF course, expected, or that further ID
nation would DO asked for Whether General HUI
wished to be waggish or not doss not appear; bu
certainly exhibited . quaint way Of disposing Of
ter Of 80 much Importance a. that which had just
laid before him. "Ahi General Hickman" said |
"you are from New Jersey, believer' I" No. Gener
answered Hickman, T" was born In Pennsylvania, IN
town Of Easton: but have lived In New Jersey for
last thirteen years." " In what part, prayf' In
town Of Phllipsburg." "what town did
sayF' Phinipsburs." q Phinipsburgs-w
that town, prayf" About forty miles n
Trenton, on the Central Railroad, opposite Eastc
"Ah, indeed" "a solemn pause OF three minutes du
which no word was uttered by either side General
ter however. seemed 10 be keeping up continual tn
ng.) General saxton broke the painful silence. 81
tlemen," he remarked, pleasantly, "won't you take
Tie whiskeyi'' 'Thank you," said General Hickman,
have just taken little sherry wine" Another omir
pause which was broken by the fortunate interventi
the dinner beIl) Declining invitation 10 dine Gen
Hickman and his party left, TO await the decision Of
Commanding General upon their important rcpresc
tOns.
Hx DECIDES.
The following day General Hunter, having In the me
time carefully weighed oil the circumstances OF the
sent the following order 10 General Heckman:--
GENERAL nscKmaS ORDERED TO RELIEVE GENERAL YosrE
Special Ordvs--No. 100.
HKADQuAarrRs, DEPARTMENT OF ruH Souri,
TITox HEAD :. G., April IL. 1868.
having been officially represented 10 the Major ca
raj commanding By Brigsdier General Hickman, NJ
" utchins, OF the stall OF Brigadier General Stevens
that MAJOR General Foster, commanding Dcparfme en-
North Carolina Is bcsieged aud In danger Of being
tured by the enemy, at Washington, N. c., BrigatJ
General Hickman, United States Volunteers, |
hereby ordered 20 proceed with his brigade, consist
of the following regiments:-Nnth New Jersey, TwenI
third Massachusetts, Eighty first New York, and Nine
eighth New York TO Newbern, ~ c. where be will rep
TO Brgader General Palmer, or whoever may be
generei IN command Tor service IN the relieving o MAI
General Foster. This duty executed, II being fct
That Major General Foster has been already reliey,
Brgadier General Hickman win forthwith return with
command 10 ths department.
BY command Of Major General HUNTER
Ed. W. Sxrrn, Assistant Adutant General.
Brigadier General HERMAN
AZ uSAvorpAms psrAy--rRosprc1 on NM opp,p a, No,
''',--,. srSe cogsrnsAsprD.
From causes unavoidable there Va: I delay Of an he
" two in getting the brigade embarked and on ils va
The wharf was crowded with ofncers and mon Of b
eighteenth army corps, praying TO be sent back 10 tn
Id stamping ground. Department headquarters were
legged with applicants craving similar favor. some
he vessels had yet To be coaed and wasere and sno,s
the Cahawbs) had not come down from Besufcrt, g. d
'hen the following note was received by Gen Hsckm,
rom Gen. Huntsr:-
SENSATION Sorr PROM MAJOR GENERAL HUNTER 10 snSI
DrER GKSERAL HICKMAN.
HEADQUARTERS. DEPARTMENT oy THE SorTH, /
HiIros HAN, g. c., April 10, 1883. I
rigadier General HscKnAs, United states Volunteer
commanding brigade:--.
GxSsRAL-I am instructed by the Major General con
andng 10 call your attention 10 the delays In gctti
your command-deays the less excusable In view
70 representations OF urgent haste made yestsrdS
ternoon, on which II decided 20 send your brigad
General Fosters relief. should these delays bs COZ
,ued and IN view OF the imminent probability of actx
erations In another quarter, 10 will be necessary