CHAP.XIII.] CAPTURE OF BATTERIES AT HATTERAS INLET, N. C.

to our interior coast; and we failed to furnish General Branch with a reasonable force, and thus lost the important town of New Berne. What I claim is that these failure do not by right rest with me.

As to the habit of intemperance, so recklessly attributed to me by certain newspapers in this State soon after the fall of New Berne, I have to say that the charge is without foundation, as can be established by the certificate of the medical director of the department, with whom I was in daily official intercourse, and who was my medical adviser for four of five months preceding that event, and the statement of Surgeon Wyatt M. Brown, C. S. Army, who was my attending physician on the 14th of March, 1862.

R. C. GATLIN, Brigadier-General, Provisional Army, C. S.

AUGUST 28-29, 1861.-Capture of the Confederate Batteries at Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina.

REPORTS, ETC.

Numbers 1.-Orders for the expedition from Fort Monroe, Va.

Numbers 2.-Major General John E. Wool, U. S. Army.

Numbers 3.-Major General Benjamin F. Butler, U. S. Army.

Numbers 4.-Colonel Max Weber, Twentieth New York Infantry.

Numbers 5.-Commander John P. Gillis, U. S. Navy.

Numbers 6.-Lieutenant Francis U. Farquhar, U. S. Corps of Engineers.

Numbers 7.-Flag Officer Samuel Barron, C. S. Navy.

Numbers 8.-Congratulatory orders from General Wood.

Numbers 1. Orders for the expedition from Fort Monroe, Va.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, August 13, 1861.

SIR: The General-in-Chief directs that after consultation with Commodore Stringham, U. S. Navy, you prepare a sufficient detachment to accompany an expedition, under Commander Stellwagen, against some batteries on Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina. It is desirable that a portion of the detachment fixed by your judgment should be regulars, and the remainder as far as possible selected volunteers. The detachment will return to Fort Monroe after the expedition.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General.

Major General JOHN E. WOOL, U. S. A., Commanding, &c., Fort Monroe, Va.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Washington, August 21, 1861.

SIR: In reply to your letter of the 20th instant, the General-in-Chief directs me to say that this and the previous letter from you on the subject have been referred to the Navy Department; also, that it was not intended you should take any further action in relation to the expe-