lt. gen. longstreet took charge of the department of virginia and north carolina on february 25 and initiated his tidewater operations. he directed maj. gen. d.h. hill, commander of the north carolina district, to advance on the union stronghold of new bern with about 12,000 men. maj. gen. william h. c. whiting, who commanded the wilmington garrison, refused to cooperate. after an initial success at deep gully on march 13, hill sent brig. gen. j. johnston pettigrew against the well-entrenched federals at fort anderson on march 14–15, the opposite side of the river from new bern. pettigrew was forced to retire upon the arrival of union gunboats. the city's garrison was heavily reinforced, and hill withdrew to threaten washington, north carolina.