HEADQUARTERS OUTPOSTS,
Seabrook's Plantation, S. C., November 7, 1863.

GEORGE O. GORDON,

First Lieutenant Third Rhode Island Art., Post Adjutant:

LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to report that at about 9 o'clock last [night] the rebels landed on and burned the dock on Bull Island. It burned quite briskly until after 12 p. m.

The pickets at Spanish Wells could hear quite distinctly the working of the oars as they came down May River, and saw them anchor their boat at the dock. Captain Findly, hinging they might make an attempt to land at Spanish Wells, threw out additional pickets and kept them out until morning. After the fire went down, nothing more was seen of them.

I sent apathy over to Pinckney Island yesterday. No traces of the enemy could be seen on the island. Two additional picket posts were discovered on the main land, opposite Pinckney. The enemy keep their pickets on Fortpoint, as bold as ever.

I am, most respectfully, your obedient servant,

LUCIUS RICHMOND,

Captain Indpt. Battn. Mass. Cav., Commanding Outposts.

GENERAL ORDERS,
HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, Numbers 82. Morris Island, S. C., November 9, 1863.

I. In pursuance of instructions form department headquarters, the undersigned assumes the command of this post.

II. All official communications for this command will be addressed to Captain Adrian Terry, assistant adjutant-general.

ALFRED H. TERRY,

Brigadier-General, Commanding Division and Post.

HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES,
North End Folly Island, S. C., November 9, 1863.

Colonel FAIRCHILD, Colonel LITTLEFIELD, Colonel E. W. SERRELL,

Colonel MACDONALD, Colonel HAWLEY, Captain HAMILTON,

Lieutenant METCALF,

Commanding Officers, First Brigade:

COLONEL: I am instructed by Brigadier-General Vogdes to inform you that during his temporary absence from this post the command will devolve upon Brigadier General R. S. Foster, commanding First Brigade.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

S. L. McHENRY.

RECONNAISSANCE OF THE APPROACHES TO CAPE FEAR RIVER,

WILMINGTON, N. C., NOVEMBER 13 AND 14, 1863, BY CAPTAIN

FEESE, U. S. ENGINEERS, AND Brigadier General T. SEYMOUR, AND A PROPOSED PLAN FOR CLOSING THOSE APPROACHES.

The southern entrance is defended by Fort Caswell, by a work at A, and a work at Bald Head or Bluff Point.

Fort Caswell has been perfectly protected by a glacis of sand and by merlons apparently constructed some time since.