[
52]
—an eventuality not altogether unlikely, owing to the great resources in men and means of transportation at the disposal of the
Federals.
Immediate orders were issued to the district and subdistrict commanders of the Department, and all possible diligence used to hurry on the transfer of the troops.
1
On the 14th this letter was written to
General Whiting:
General,—I send one of my volunteer aids,
Colonel A. G. Rice, with a telegraphic cipher for use between us in cases of importance.
You will please give him all necessary information relative to your present condition, future intentions, and present available means.
I have ordered 5000 men and three light batteries (all excellent troops) to be held in readiness, under
Brigadier-General Gist, to be sent to your assistance whenever called for by you, if they can then be spared from here.
Should the contingency contemplated by the War Department occur, and my presence be required by you, I will hasten to join you, although I have little doubt that you will be able to take good care of
General Banks and his associates.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
On the next day the following despatch was forwarded to the War Department:
I am sending five thousand infantry and three batteries to
Wilmington, to be returned as soon as practicable.
All quiet here.
The force of the enemy was greatly exaggerated, though it might with truth have been put down at twenty thousand men. His object was never well understood, nor was it at any time very well defined.
He certainly failed to accomplish what his movements seemed to indicate as his purpose.
General Beauregard's direct co-operation was desired by
Generals Whiting and
Smith.
The latter was of opinion that, should
Banks's forces unite with
Foster's, as reported, more troops would be needed from
General Beauregard, and that he could come over with them, as ‘all geographical lines’ should then be considered as no longer existing.
But
General Smith's apprehensions were not realized.
On the 18th, from Goldsboroa, whither he thought the
Carolina and
Georgia troops should be sent, he forwarded this despatch:
The enemy's army have gone to
Newbern, moving in great haste.
