| Norfolk,
Va., May 3, 1862 |
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| Maj. Gen. B. Huger |
| Commanding Department of Norfolk, Va.
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| General,
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| The determination of General Johnston to
fall back on the Peninsula renders it necessary that you should
prepare for a speedy evacuation of Norfolk. You will accordingly
send to Raleigh all the ammunition not necessary for your field
batteries and for such heavy guns as you may use to cover the
evacuation. You will next send to the same point all your provisions
not required for the use of the troops during the evacuation and
their march to Petersburg, and such clothing as you may have on
hand; and you will then send to Richmond or Raleigh, according to
your means of transportation, as many of the heavy guns as you have
time to move, preferring those of the heaviest caliber, and
especially the rifled guns of the navy pattern. The carriages should
be sent with the guns if possible, and such shot and shell,
especially for the rifled guns, as can be carried. Whatever public
property will be of use to the enemy and cannot be carried off must
be destroyed. You will take the control of the railroads leading out
of Norfolk and Portsmouth {the Norfolk &
Petersburg RR and the Seaboard & Roanoke RR} and allow
nothing to impede the transportation of the Government. I wish you
to act in concert with the commandant of the navy-yard, and to
facilitate the removal of such public property from the navy-yard as
may be selected for removal. You will bear in mind, however, that
the preservation of your army is of the first importance, and that
its safety must not be too much hazarded by your efforts to save the
public property. I would suggest, therefore, that it will be well to
concentrate it as speedily as possible near Suffolk, leaving in
position only such portion as may be necessary to cover the
evacuation. To do this effectually it will be well to observe the
shores of James River and the approaches to Norfolk on the North
Carolina side, and to hold the enemy in check, if he advances, until
your entire army is withdrawn from Norfolk and Portsmouth and placed
beyond the possibility of capture by a superior force. A brigade of
not less than three regiments will be required at once for service
north of Richmond, and should be marched forthwith to Suffolk, to be
sent thence by railroad or by the country roads, as may be hereafter
directed. If transportation in addition to that already on the
railroads can be used to advantage call upon the Department, and
such rolling stock will be furnished as can be procured from other
roads. I would further suggest, as additional means of protection on
the North Carolina side, that you destroy the locks of the Dismal
Swamp Canal forthwith.
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| Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
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| G. W. Randolph
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| Secretary of War
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