Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-06-04
To the Editors Of the Richmond Enquirer

IvoR, Va, May 18th, 1868.
Gentlemen employ the first moments of leisure in
camp, to send you responsible statement OF the facts
regarding the capture Of Strblirg's Battery at Hills
Point, on the Nansemond river below Suffolk, the
afternoon of the 10Th of last month.
| The erroneous information you received was made
the basis OF unjust and CDnerited OF Maj Gen.
French and am constrained by sense of duty, to
correct the mieapprehension misstatement OF the
truth in order that an Intelligent public may judge
fairly with fall knowledge of all the acts before them
This statement would have been sent 10 you sooner If
had seen the articles refer ed to earlier.
Before arranging the facts in their order, propose
to correct the plain of your informant, aud as
far as may, arrest the injurious impressions made
by them.
To The first place, Hills Poiot is not peninsula, as
stated but bluy river bank, at point where the riv
to widen, and in front of the works look
ing directly down the river is large marsh At the
mouth of the west branch of the Napsemond river and
at this marsh the bluff turns uorh west, somewhat at
right angles with the river. Some time IN 6l or ~
our forces then occupying Suffolk constructed at this
point very heavy end strong ear'hwork for five heavy
guns.
You we're again led into error to the time the place
surprised and the battery taken 1t was in broad
daylight, aud not at MI ht as stated
It is not true that Captain Strbling any other
officer protested against placing the battery in the pc-
sition Stribings Battery consisted of five guns, the
wks bad places for that number, and was ordered to
place at battery the position after had thorough
Ily exsmined and inspected the place, and bad ex
planned the character and strength of the position to
both Generals Longstreet and French. satisfied
that Captain Strbliug is too coed officer to have
authorized such statement, end the nud cious person
who made it could rot have IN how unenvable
position he placing himself subordinate 10 cred
sng him with ctet against the ord of superior
officer
These facts are Mesers Editors that On Wednes Jay.
the 5th of April went down to the West branch OF
the Nansemond river, with four light batteries, two
yfour FOUNDER howtzrs, being the heaviest
had, with orders to blockade the river, prevent the
enemys gunboats from going up down, and 1t posi-
ble to destroy them Atter examining the river bank
for several miles, became satisfied that my only chance
to carry out my orders lay in getting my batteries on
the bank OF the where it narroweet and where
we could get to the boats.
1t is true that knew that running the risk OF
having Of the batteries knocked to places by the
nine and eleven inch ordnance Of the eDemy-and the
thought may have occurred to that there pos
sbty OF capture but in my simplicity thought these
risks lnseparabe from state OF actual by opposing
enemies, and besides, seeing an infantry force in the
works having learned that guns of Gen. Hoods divs
ion had been in there before my arrival and with
drawn because the platforms had been burned away,
and the parapet, (some four-and a. half feet Highly
too great for the small guns fire over and seeing
that had pickets the bank of the river both bt
low aud above the position, the whole under command
of field sfcar, felt it safe to occupy the place,
and ordered TO do 80.
The tact that the river was blockaded from Friday
until Sunday afternoon is conceded By the enemy he
fact that damaged one boat and completely disabled
another is evidence of the fact that the battery was u
dcousy placed and the additional fact that the place
sustained furious cannonade for four hours from the
heavy guns of the enemys boats and batteries without
single casualty, is the best proof you have of the
great strength of the work.
When I went down to the works On Thursday. the
18th, found our infantry from Gen. Laws brigade
doing picket duty On the river That night the enemy
attempted to land small force and did drive in
pickets This fact | reported to Generals Law and
Hood whose troops Gen. rench had told me would
support the batteries. On Sunday, however, there
pickets the river above, all OF them having been
Withdrawn uo the fort learned afterwards so that
there one to prevent the landing of the enemy,
give notice and the ground immediately 10 of
the work being higher than the work ITSELF and rece-
ding gradually to the mouth of branch where the
my landed the forces in the work could not discover
attacking column funtil it in few rods of them
The cossors limbers and horses were all withdrawn
to camp for the that there not sufficient
shelter for them at the place.
1t is little singular that no mention is made of the
capture of the infantry in the work. Every one who
knows any thing about artillery knows that it s.not
d!nariy selproectiv; aDd It the infantry support is
not proper posted inadequate, certainly it unjust
to General for it who had control over it,
and with his command in front Of Suffolk ten miles
away 10 conclusion, Messrs. Editors two courts of
Inquiry have been asked for, and until the whole truth
can be ELECTED before impartial trbunl it is unjust
to judge and of course uneenerous to censure.
Very respectfully.
l.. III. SHUMAKER,
Major and Chief OF Artillery,
Dept Southern Va.