OPERATIONS IN N. C. AND S. E. VA. [CHAP.XIII.

Island should be embraced in General Hill's district. I have instructed that officer accordingly. He is now in Hyde County, and will probably visit the island in a few days, with the view of assuming control in that quarter. I have instructed him that , in case deems it necessary to detain Colonel Wright's regiment for the present, he will correspond with you on the subject, and also request you to allow your engineers to continue to completion any works in that vicinity now in course of construction.

I an now much pressed for troops, and have none at my disposal to relieve Colonel Wright, and hope that you will not object to his regiment remaining. I presume it would not be prudent to decrease the force on the island.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. C. GATLIN, Brigadier-General, Commanding.,

HEADQUARTERS PENINSULA ARMY, Yorktown, Va., October 12, 1861.

General COOPER, Adjutant-General C. S. Army, Richmond, Va.:

SIR: I have the honor to report that Captain Phillips' Old Dominion Dragoons captured 12 of the enemy to-day near Newport News. Some 40 or 50 were pulling down a house about 4 miles on this side of it, when Captain Phillips, with his cavalry, charged upon them. The rest made their escape through a swamp. I send them up in charge of an officer. They represent that there are about 8,000 troops at Newport News and about 18,0900 at both forts. They corroborate, in other particulars, the reports of the deserters. Colonel Howell Cobb's regiment has not yet arrived.

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

J. BANKEAD MAGRUDER, Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS PENINSULA ARMY, Yorktown, Va., October 12, 1861.

Brigadier-General McLAWS, Commanding Young's Mill, Va.:

GENERAL: The enemy will probably be up as far as Lee's Store to-morrow morning in force. I wish you to move early to-morrow morning (say at early dawn) with the Second Louisiana, Tenth Georgia, and the Fifteenth Virginia Regiments, with Stanard's rifle section, Sands' battery, and two companies of cavalry which will be sent you by Colonel Cobb, and two from Johnston. You will order the guns of Stanard's section to be replaced by two guns (12-pounders preferable) from the remaining batteries. I request that you place below Smith's, or opposite to his farm, the Second Louisiana Regiment, one or two pieces of artillery (one a rifled piece), and one company of cavalry, the rest of your force to be kept just in rear of the pickets and out of sight of the enemy, who will probably come by the main road with cannon, and will have flankers for about 200 yards. Your men ought, therefore, to be at least 400 yards from the road, concealed, with the pieces also concealed. When they are in the open field you can open fire upon them with artillery and infantry. Keep them engaged until they are attacked in rear, then charge with all your forces; but you must judge of the