The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-14

Maj. Gen. w. H. c. Whiting.
fence on the land side at Fort Fisher,
while he gave his own attention to the
entire system of offences; as a whole
Forts CaSWell, Holmes, Campbell, An
derson and others were greatly stength-
ened, enlarged, furnished with better
artillery where practicable, military
roads and bridges made extending up +,
the sounds, complete topography Eal/
maps prepared, torpedoes made Id
filed, the channel obStructed except at
points commanded by a chain of batter
les on the river, a pontoon bridge dpn--
structed, batteries thrown up commathd-
ing the approach at Northeast RIVER
from Goldsboro or New Bern, redo;ubts
built near the city. mines dug, and tele-~
graphs placed in position
But there were two vital needs he
! could not control-the number Of troops
to support the works.. and the mount
OF ammunition to carry on the contest
His letter books show not oIte appeal,
but dozens of earnest. impioring re-
quests of the Secretary of War, of Cen
eral Smith, of General Lee, of General
Bragg when stationed at Richmond in
general charge, and of the President
! himself, showing with the provision Of
IN 3 lllllAldIS SSAAb'S, ITO AiNS 40
eVitably ensue. II is most pathetic to.
read page after page, a 1 ID think how lit.
! te-ally it WAS fulfilled
General Whiting aye his heart. to the:
work of the defenceh IF North Carolina
He had been. long and successfully en-
. gagged, before the war, IN the improve
ment of the navigation of the Cape Fear
anG learned to know and esteem her
people. He had won, as his bride,
! ore of the noble women of the APE
Fear, Miss Kate. D. Walker, daughter
of Major John Walker, of SmithVille
and Wilmington.
His estimate of the heightened REQ
pie among whom he lived is seen in. the
military order published in the winter
of 1862, by him, in a period of great
anxiety:
Il request all those citizens of Will
mington, who are willing TO take arms
in defence of their homes, and I we'll
know there are many such, TO organize
themselves into a body, with such. seap-
ons as they may have, n with those
that 1 can supply, and / suggest that
they select a leader and such other Off
GERS as their number require.
Il address this equest to many gall
Ert gentlemen, who from 6 and ac-
cording to law, in the exercise. of many
duties, are not otherwise. called On to
bear arms in this war. 1 and my staff
Will be glad to afford them Instruction.
at such times and places as may be
most convenient. They will be called
on when the enemy is at CIR doors. J.
am confident from my. long and init
mate association with the Elen of VIII.
nington, and vicinity, that. they are not
only willing, but eager to, fight the in
vaGer, and am sure they will do theI.
almost to the last.
%(Signed.) =
CIV. H. C. WHITING L
Brig. Gen. Gommanding.""5
JAS. H. HILL.
Chief of Staff"
The following extract is taken; from
. the report of Major General w. II. G..
Whiting, to Lieutenant Colonel A. an
derson, A. A. General Military District
OF y. c., in regard TO the first bonn
bardment of Fort Fisher. Decemher "a
and %. 1864:
This gallant and successful resis-
lance is entirely due to the u1tiring
energy, the da4ntless resaluttaa and
brilliant courage of Colonel William
Lamb Of the 18th, devoteily supported
by men that know him and Kill fight
for him anywhere. His thorough knowl-,
edge Of the post, it's approaches, the
skill displayed in his constructions and
his remarkable practical resources have.
brought their best frat in the cent?
dence of the men and his commander,
! and in the result as shown, and there
only remains that his services saould
be suitably acknowledged"
1.-THE above is but a feeble expression
Of my sense of whaG Colonel Lamb has
DONE not on this occasion alone. but
! during the three years he has so faith
fully labored at his post. To him is due
a large amount Of property saved by
great courage and exertion, many sue
~cessful repulses Of the energy at heavy
odds, and much Of the confidence with
which foreign boats run so bodily for
his guns.
Il beg the president to confer upon
him rank of Brigadier General of Artil-
lery In which department. he has few
equals I hope if this Is granted. he
Will be retained here. He cannot be
srared from the important command
he has graced."