the execution of the order. He will, however, be directed to have this work done at once to the extent of his means. I have stated both sides of the question as presented to me. You will know what importance to attach to the several complaints. I think the wooden buildings in the fort, if that cause of complaint be real, should be removed as soon as practicable. If they are used as quarters, cannot tents be substituted for them? If for store-houses, some portions of the bomb proofs might be arranged to supply their places, which latter I am told is being done. The clearing of the woods near the battery is of course necessary, and I am surprised that the commanding officer of the fort has not had this done by the troops. If the engineer force has more important work to do, axes sufficient could probably be procured from the neighbors, if they cannot be supplied in any other way. The drill has probably been interrupted by the change in the guns, but should be resumed. The last item of complaint, "Want of harmony among the officers," is the most important. The senior officer present should command all, but the immediate command of the guns and the men serving them should be with Captain de Lagnel, as he was assigned to his present position because of his supposed capabilities as an artillery officer. This is not a time to squabble about rank; every one must work, and do what he can to promote the cause. To save time I have assumed the statements made to me to be true, which is most likely not the case; and my suggestions on this supposition are intended mainly as explanatory. You can best determine whether the faults referred to are so and provide the remedy, and you are desired to give the subject your earliest attention. I am, &c., General J. B. MAGRUDER, R. E. LEE, General, Commanding. RICHMOND, VA., March 18, 1862. Commanding Army of Peninsula, Yorktown, Va.: GENERAL: Notwithstanding the demonstrations of the enemy in your front, I see nothing to prove that he intends immediately to attempt your line. He is feeling your strength and desires to prevent your occupying other points. If strong enough, his feint may be converted into a real attack. I hope you will so maneuver as to deceive and thwart him. The roads are hardly firm enough yet to invite his advance by land, and I discover nothing at present indicating co-operation with his column from Newport News. You can therefore only prevent his accumu lating information and reserve your men. Should the Monitor appear before your batteries, it has occurred to me that by reserving your fire until she arrives near and discharging by word of command or simultaneously your heavy guns at her turret at the time when her gun was protruded for delivering fire, if the gun was struck it would be disabled, or if the turret was hit by a number of shot it would be deranged or capsized from its center. Wrought-iron shot are being forged with a view to penetrate her 25 R R-VOI XI. PT III armor. Some will be sent you. I do not think she will enter York River and leave the Virginia in her rear. Directions have been given in reference to the completion of the battery at Harden's Bluff, and General Huger's attention called to all the points referred to in Colonel Cabell's letter. It would be better in some respects if the battery formed part of your command, but its supporting force, &c., must be drawn from the command of General Huger. I can learn nothing of "the two Mississippi companies promised," men tioned in your postscript to telegram of 17th. Very respectfully, &c., GENERAL ORDERS, No. 163. R. E. LEE, General, Commanding. HDQRS. ARMY OF THE PENINSULA, The following proclamation is published for the information of this army, and of all others concerned: PROCLAMATION. The President of the Confederate States having declared martial law in and over the counties of Elizabeth City, James City, York, Warwick, Gloucester, and Matthews, and the suspension of all civil jurisdiction therein, with certain enumerated exceptions, and Major-General Magruder, commanding the Army of the Peninsula, being charged with the due execution of said proclamation of martial law: Now, therefore, all residents and sojourners within the counties aforesaid are hereby warned and notified of the said declaration of martial law, and will govern themselves accordingly. The following regulations of military discipline and police are established: The distillation and sale, or either, of spirituous liquors of any kind is positively prohibited and will be promptly punished, and all estab lishments for the making or sale of the same are hereby suppressed. All persons infringing or violating this prohibition will suffer such punishment as may be ordered by the sentence of court-martial or otherwise ordained by the military code. Provost-marshals will be appointed at every post and camp in this department, who will be charged with the rigid enforcement of this order, and will institute strict search in order to the prompt detection, arrest, and punishment of all offenders. J. BANKHEAD MAGRUDER, HEADQUARTERS NEAR BETHEL, General LEE, C. S. A., Commanding Army, &c.: GENERAL: I am low down on the Warwick road (Langhorne's Mill, and at Bethel, with the greater portion of my command. The weather, which was fine when the troops marched, is now bad, and the roads, which were almost impracticable in my rear and were getting good, are now becoming again very bad since the rain of last night. I came down in the conviction that the right flank of my operating forces on James River was secured by the success of the Virginia and would not care for the roads so much, but from all I learn and see here I am the more convinced than ever that the enemy will persevere in his designs up James River, and for the following reasons: It will be greatly to their interest to keep such a ship as the Virginia confined to the Hampton Roads. This can be done if the Monitor, which, as I have learned since moving the troops, draws but 5 feet water, can be sent up James River, supported by an irresistible column, marching up the Peninsula, say 20,000 men, whilst 20,000 would remain to occupy the vicinity of Fort Monroe and Newport News. Should the Virginia go outside of Fort Monroe and Newport News, the enemy would steam across the lower James River with his 20,000 and cut Norfolk off, whilst the other 20,000, supported by the Monitor, would eventually succeed in pushing their way up to Jamestown. Should the Virginia remain in the Roads, no troops could be thrown across as far up as she could go, which is but a few miles, but the column below would support the land operations of the column above, and the whole would cross above, say at Jamestown Island or at Mulberry Point. The enemy is re-enforcing by every means in his power therefor his forces at Newport News and Fort Monroe. Two regiments are reported to have arrived yesterday, and the vedettes on the advanced water points report that some thirteen sailing transports were towed up the bay by steamers (tugs probably) yesterday, whilst I saw myself several sailing vessels in tow of steamers going up the day before. I think, therefore, that he is straining every nerve to put a large force on the Peninsula before the Virginia comes out, either to operate on James River, York River, or both, whilst his troops march up. It seems to me, therefore, that the Virginia, if she cannot get at the Monitor-a conflict which it will be the interest of the country to prevent-ought so to station herself outside Fort Monroe as to intercept all re-enforcements of troops and to cut off further supplies. This course, if it can be pursued at once, might prevent the advance up by land, and would also prevent the crossing of troops in large numbers on the lower James River, as far up at least as the Virginia could go, since, if she could pass Fort Monroe once, she could return again to the Roads, if an attempt were made to cross troops in large numbers. By taking such a position the Virginia would also prevent an expedition of magnitude either up York or Rappahannock Rivers. I think no time should be lost in sinking insurmountable obstacles in James River to prevent the Monitor from ascending. Nothing but positive physical obstructions will do against such ships. But the river would be worse than useless to this army if the obstructions were made high up, since there could be no means of transportation below such obstructions, the Monitor destroying such means. It is necessary therefore to block up the river at some strategic point, affording to this army the means of safely ascending James River from that point. Jamestown Island alone fulfills these conditions, as far as I know. Would it not be well, therefore, to sink vessels of all kinds, loaded with stone, at once, for this purpose, across the channel there, and fortify the island and the commanding main-land strongly without delay? The last I am doing with all the means in my power; but for the former the means must come from Richmond. I presume that all the sail vessels, some of the older steamers, and all the canal-boats above Rich mond would do it effectually. If done at all it should be done without the least delay, and by an engineer, civil or military, of great energy and understanding. I could hold Williamsburg then and Jamestown Island at least as long as Yorktown could hold out, which I hope would be a long time. I think McClellan has shown his plan is to turn flanks by great detours by land and water. The falling back of our army from the Potomac gives him the power to detach largely, and I think he will never risk a defeat himself when he can devolve the risk of it upou some one of his subordinates. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, P. S. Since writing the above I have received the following report from Colonel Crump, the correctness of which I have no reason to doubt: HEADQUARTERS, GLOUCESTER POINT, March 20, 1862. Maj. Gen. J. B. MAGRUDER: GENERAL: The lieutenant commanding the picket in Matthews makes the following report: "That a fleet passed in the direction of Fort Monroe yesterday, composed as follows: Twenty-eight steamers, four floating batteries, twenty-six sails of different kinds, loaded with hay and a large number of horses." I should be glad to hear the result of the firing heard in the Peninsula yesterday Very respectfully, your obedient servant, CHAS. A. CRUMP, Colonel, Commanding Post. I have also the honor to report that my lowest pickets say that the enemy were re-enforced at both Newport News and Old Point last night and the night before (during the night). They judge from the whistling of steamers and the sound of drums. I am, sir, &c., J. BANKHEAD MAGRUDER, Major-General, Commanding. NORFOLK, March 20, 1862. Major-General MAGRUDER : Nineteen steamers loaded with troops and nine schooners came down the bay at 8 o'clock yesterday evening to Old Point. Two gunboats went to sea. I have had no report from the post this morning, the weather being too misty to see the shipping at Old Point. Lieut. HENRY T. DOUGLAS, P. A. C. S., JAS. F. MILLIGAN, Signal Officer. ENGINEER BUREAU, Richmond, March 20, 1862. In Charge of Defenses, Yorktown: SIR: The almost impossibility of procuring axes has prevented me so far from honoring your requisition for 200.* I still think the water battery should be abandoned at Yorktown, *Some matters of detail omitted. for the reasons specified in a former letter, and because of the invul. nerability of iron-clad vessels of proper build. When you expressed your confidence in the ability of a 64-pounder to contend with an iron-clad vessel you were not aware that 180-pounder solid shot had been used at 20 yards' range for four hours without appreciable effect; at least such is the information I received here. I would take occasion here to condemn, as a general system, small detached redoubts, although you might infer from what you see near Williamsburg that I am in favor of them. I was, when they were_commenced, completely inexperienced, and acted under instructions. I now know and have known for some months past that the system is most defective, making a line equally strong it is true, but equally weak at the same time. When one small redoubt is carried, which can easily be done, the troops cease to have confidence in the whole line, and the defense, in consequence, is most defective. My views I believe you know with regard to mobilizing the army, and having but few works, and those of a strong character and thoroughly flanked. There are certain inferior works of great utility, however, but they should generally be masked in the edge of woods and open in the rear; rifle pits, for instance, or positions for light artillery with a simple embankment in front. As you are doubtless excessively busy at present, and I know do not exactly agree with me on the subject of the intrenched camp, I propose to place that work under Captain Clarke, as well as the defenses of the Warwick River below Lee's Mill. From Mulberry Island, his present location, he can easily direct these works. I shall write at once to General Magruder on the subject, but before doing so thought it would be agreeable to you to learn of the proposed arrangement through the bureau. Very respectfully and truly, yours, ALFRED L. RIVES, Acting Chief, Engineer Bureau. NORFOLK, VA., March 21, 1862. Major-General MAGRUDER: The nineteen steamers and six schooners which arrived at Hampton Roads day before yesterday with troops went to sea this morning from Old Point about 11 o'clock a. m. JAS. F. MILLIGAN, Signal Officer. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PENINSULA, General R. E. LEE, Commanding C. S. Army, Richmond: GENERAL: In consequence of the equinoctial storm, the exposure of the men in an advanced position without tents, the increasing impracticability of the roads between the line of Young's Mill and Harwood's Mill and that of Warwick River, and the very large re-enforcements of the enemy, as indicated by my previous reports, I ordered all the troops on the line of Langhorne's Mill and Bethel to resume their position on the line of Warwick River, except the Tenth Georgia Regiment and 300 cavalry left at Young's Mill, and Goggin's battalion and 200 cavalry |