| Headquarters Department of North Carolina |
| Rockfish Creek, Duplin County |
| February 25, 1865 |
| |
| Lieut. Col. W. H. Taylor |
| Assistant Adjutant-General |
| Hdqrs. Army of Northern Va. |
| |
| Colonel, |
| On my arrival at Wilmington
on the 21st from Richmond, having delayed a few hours at Raleigh and
Goldsborough on important official business, I found the enemy had
driven our forces from the west bank of the Cape Fear, and were in
full possession opposite the town. |
| The corps under
Major-General Terry, engaged in the capture of Fort
Fisher, had been re-enforced by Major-General Schofield's corps from
Tennessee, making a total of nearly 20,000. Our own force, of all arms, did
not exceed 6,500 effectives, including reserves and cavalry. Holding
his intrenched position in front of Hoke, on the east of the river,
General Schofield moved with a corps to Smithville, and then by a
land march west of Orton Pond, turned our position at Fort Anderson,
compelling Brigadier-General Hagood, with his garrison of 2,000, to
abandon the work or be cut off and forced to surrender. He fought
his way to Wilmington
successfully, losing about 350 of his command. This rendered our
continued occupation of the town very hazardous to the whole
command, at the same time that we were very much embarrassed to save
our stores on account of the large number of the enemy's prisoners
forwarded for delivery, the Federal commander having refused to
receive them. By the active and efficient operation of the Weldon
& Wilmington Railroad, we succeeded in getting off all the
prisoners able to travel and all important stores. Some naval stores
and a small lot of cotton and tobacco were destroyed by fire. These
could have been saved but for the occupation of the trains in
carrying prisoners. No doubt some of the articles mentioned were
secreted in small quantities in private houses, but the amount was
inconsiderable. |
| Before daylight on the 22d I
withdrew the troops successfully to the north side of the Northeast
River. The pursuit of the enemy was feeble, owing, no doubt, to his
occupation at the time, as we since learn, in throwing a corps by
way of Masonborough Sound to gain our rear, and thus cut off our
only route of retreat. |
| Our main force is now
located here, with the cavalry in advance at Northeast
River, where the enemy has finally, under General Grant's orders,
consented to receive the prisoners. Instructions have been given to
bring them forward as rapidly as possible. A detachment has been
sent over to obstruct the navigation of the Cape
Fear
as far as practicable, and if possible prevent troops from ascending
by steamers. The river is in fine navigable order, however, and I
fear we cannot long save the arsenal, the enemy having quite a
number of light-draught boats above the obstructions. |
| I am, sir, very respectfully, your
obedient servant, |
| Braxton Bragg |
| General |
|