Reverses in North Carolina are bad at this time. The death
of Flusser is most unfortunate. I presume the blame of the disasters will be
attributed to the Navy, which, in fact, is merely auxiliary to the army.
Letter-writers and partisan editors who are courted and petted by the military
find no favor with naval men, and as a consequence the Navy suffers detraction.
Burnside's army corps passed through Washington to-day,
whites, blacks, and Indians numbering about 30,000. All the indications
foreshadow a mighty conflict and battle in Virginia at an early day.
Fox and Edgar have gone to Fortress Monroe. Calls for naval
aid and assistance come up from that quarter.
SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles,
Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 2: April 1, 1864 —
December 31, 1866, p. 17
