The enemy has been closely watched though, and prevented from detaching against you.

I think not one man has gone from here, except some twelve or fifteen hundred dismounted cavalry.

Bragg has gone from Wilmington.
I am trying to take advantage of his absence to get possession of that place.

Owing to some preparations Admiral Porter and General Butler are making to blow up Fort Fisher (which, while hoping for the best, I do not believe a particle in), there is a delay in getting this expedition off.

I hope they will be ready to start by the 7th, and that Bragg will not have started back by that time.
In this letter I do not intend to give you anything like directions for future action, but will state a general idea I have, and will get your views after you have established yourself on the sea-coast.