MARCH 13TH, 1865: Commander Rhind, Senior Naval Officer at New Bern, North Carolina, reported to Commander Macomb, commanding in the North Carolina Sounds, that the expedition up the Neuse River had returned the previous evening. "A deserter from a North Carolina regiment came on board the [Army steamer] Ella May yesterday morning. He states that the whole rebel force under Bragg (estimated by him at 40,000) have evacuated Kinston, moving toward Goldsboro, but Hoke's division returned when he left.
"The ironclad [Neuse] is afloat and ready for service; has two guns, draws nine feet. No pontoon was found in the Neuse.
"If you can loan me a torpedo launch at once he may have an opportunity of destroying the ironclad (ala CSS Albemarle). The bridge (railroad) at Kinston has been destroyed by the enemy."
Hey, That's Cushing's Job. --Old B-Runner
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