Sender: Robert E. Lee, Note on a Report of the New Bern, North Carolina, Expedition of 1 February 1864
Recipient:

Respy. returned – Commander Wood who had the hardest part to perform did his part well – Hoke seems to have done all he could, & it was not expected that Dearing could do more than to occupy Fort Bannington. But Genl Barton seems to have altogether failed, which I hope can be satisfactorily explained. It was competent for Genl Pickett to have charged the mode of attack if circumstances prompted it.