Wilmington: Perspectives from the Top

As the Civil War raged on, Wilmington, North Carolina became invalubale as a port of entry for the Confederate Staes of America. But what did the Confederate High Command think of Wilmington? Did they recognize its importance and act accordingly? What do thier correspondences say about how they percieved of Wilmington? And what of the Union? Could the Union's perception of Wilmington reflect upon the Confederacy?