copy of Governor Dennison's letter except the following dispatch from the War Department just received in reply to an inquiry from me as to the disposition to be made of them:

WAR DEPARTMENT, August 22, 1861.

Major General JOHN A. DIX:

Major-General, Commanding.

U. S. STEAMER MINNESOTA,

Hampton Roads, August 23, 1861.

Lieutenant Colonel MARTIN BURKE,

Commanding at Fort Hamilton, New York Harbor.

SIR: By dispatch from the Navy Department dated August 21, 1861,

I am informed "the War Department has consented to take charge of prisoners coming into possession of the naval authorities," and I am directed to send any I may have to Lieutenant Colonel Martin Burke, commanding as above. In conformity therewith I send to New York in charge of Acting Master R. O. Patterson, U. S. Navy, nine prisoners, viz, five, George O. Gladden, John H. Marshall, J. P. M. Calvo, Charles Forrester, and John Gonzales, who belonged to the Southern pirate Dixie, and four Patrick McCarty, John Williams, Archibald Wilson and James Riley, who belonged to the Southern pirate York. The last, J. Riley, is a deserter from the U. S. Marine Corps. He was a sergeant and deserted at Norfolk some year or so past.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

S. H. STRINGHAM,

Flag-Officer.

Lieutenant Colonel M. BURKE:

I have received the above-named prisoners.

CHAS. O. WOOD,

Second Lieutenant, Ninth Infantry, Commanding Post.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE FORCES,
Nofolk, August 27, 1861.

Major General B. F. BUTLER, or

OFFICER COMMANDING DEPARTMENT, &C.

SIR: As the steamer by which I forwarded some seamen and others to Hampton Roads last evening has not returned I fear she has broken down on some accident happened to her. I send a boat down to assist under a flag, and remain,

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

BENJAMIN HUGER,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA, &C.,
Fort Monroe, Va., August 27, 1861.

Brigadier-General HUGER, Commanding, Norfolk, Va.

SIR: I send to your care by the vessel that brought from you to Commodore Stringham a flag of truce twenty-three prisoners on parole and