[
51]
P. S.—Since the forgoing was written
Captain Moreno has been telegraphed to construct the battery at the “Narrows” for three guns instead of two, and to substitute two 32-pounders from
Fort Gaines for the 18-pounder originally designed for the “Narrows” work.
T. J., C. S.
24. On the 12th of December,
General Beauregard informed the War Department, by telegram, that
General Banks's fleet had left, suddenly, two days before, with about ten thousand men, diverging from its southern course and making directly for
Cape Lookout.
The information,
General Beauregard said, could be relied upon.
The enemy had been making preparations for some time past for a descent along the
Southern Atlantic coast, and all
General Beauregard's disposable troops were held in readiness to move at once to any threatened point of his Department.
To hold his own within its limits was all that he could reasonably hope to do. But, whatever may have been his expectations, he certainly had no idea that troops would be taken from him to reinforce neighboring commands.
Such was the case, however, as will appear by the following telegram:
General Lee has just telegraphed to
General Smith1 as follows: “For
Wilmington and the coast of
North Carolina, draw reinforcements from
North Carolina and
General Beauregard.”
Other intelligence induces
General Smith to conjecture the purpose of the enemy to march, in conjunction with the force from the fleet to be landed at
Beaufort (N. C.), on the railroad, and then to assail
Wilmington in reverse.
It is recommended to you, in case of a telegram confirmatory of such movements, to act on the suggestion of
General Lee, and send reinforcements, if, and to the extent you think it can be done, without too greatly risking your command.
Should communication between
Wilmington and this city be broken, you will give to
Wilmington special attention and such aid as you can spare.
Of this order
General Whiting will be notified.
This telegram was far from explicit, and left upon
General Beauregard the responsibility of following or not following its instructions.
He determined, however, to give
Generals Whiting and
Smith all the assistance in his power, even at the risk of the enemy breaking through his coast-line, by a sudden
coup de main 
