| Goldsborough, N. C. |
| December 16, 1862 |
| |
| Maj. Gen. S. G. French |
| Moseley Hall, N. C.
|
|
|
| General,
|
| I shall send down five trains to-night,
and I think it would be well to have the men sleep on board in case
the enemy move upon the railroad and county bridges. General
Clingman should be re-enforced at once or we lose all chance of
taking the offensive when our forces arrive. It might be very
important to have a battery promptly brought up. How many pieces
have you? None of the troops from Richmond have arrived yet, and the
batteries are behind the infantry. The two 30-pounders got here
to-day, but without horses. They are almost useless, if not in the
way. Large number of trains have been sent up, and I hope to be able
to bring down some horses and wagons for the command. One regiment
(the Fifty-second North Carolina) has just arrived. I shall send it
over the river. I think if it is practicable that General Pettigrew
had better come up in the first train with Burgwyn's regiment, and
that his troops should follow. Let General Robertson hold position
at Spring Bank Bridge with, say, two regiments and two pieces, and
let General Evans, with his brigade, take position to cover the town
on this side, support Robertson if it should be necessary, and be in
place to support the troops beyond the bridges if required. There
are five field pieces now at and beyond the bridges, with Col. [S.
D.] Pool's battalion of artillery and Clingman's two regiments. The
almost entire absence of information and the conflicting nature of
what is brought in make it very difficult to determine upon anything
understandingly. If General Pettigrew's brigade crosses over I
desire that you should take command of the forces on that side; that
is, of Clingman and Pettigrew. When my six regiments get here, if
the movement is made on the other bank, we will, I hope, be strong
enough to leave a sufficient force to protect this place from any
movement they may make from the other side of the river by their
pontoon bridge, and still be strong enough on that bank to beat
them. Such is an outline of my present intention, as far as the
present information enables me to judge of the probable views and
intentions of the enemy. If you receive no further instructions, let
Pettigrew's brigade come up to this place at daylight and Evans fall
back in this direction, as above, Robertson taking position at
Spring Bank Bridge, leaving outlying guards below upon the river and
roads for the purpose of giving information.
|
| Very respectfully and truly yours,
|
| G. W. Smith
|
| Major-General
|
|