I have served with Admiral Porter, and know that you can rely on his judgment and his nerve to undertake what he proposes.

I would, therefore, defer to him as much as is consistent with your own responsibilities.

The first object to be attained is to get a firm position on the spit of land on which Fort Fisher is built, from which you can operate against that fort.

You want to look to the practicability of receiving your supplies, and to defending yourself against superior forces sent against you by any of the avenues left open to the enemy.

If such a position can be obtained, the siege of Fort Fisher will not be abandoned until its reduction is accomplished, or another plan of campaign is ordered from these headquarters.
"My own views are, that if you effect a landing, the navy ought to run a portion of their fleet into Cape Fear River, while the balance of it operates on the outside.