HDQRS. DEFENSES OF NORFOLK AND PORTSMOUTH,
Portsmouth, Va., July 9, 1864-1.45 p.m.

Major J. S. GATES, Bowers' Hill:

MAJOR: You will suspend the movement ordered for to-morrow and concentrate the force ordered for your expedition on the defensive line in front of Suffolk, reporting to Colonel Lord, Twentieth New York Cavalry.

By order of Brigadier-General Vodges:

S. L. McHENRY,

Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General.

POINT LOOKOUT, MD., July 9, 1864-7 p.m.

(Received 3.15 a.m. 10th)

Honorable E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War:

All quiet here. Five hundred and two prisoners of war were sent to New York this p.m.

JAMES BARNES,

Brigadier-General, Commanding District.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA,
New Berne, N. C., July 9, 1864.

Commander W. H. MACOMB, U. S. Navy,

Senior Naval Officer, Sounds of North Carolina:

SIR: I have the honor to inform you that I have this moment received a communication from Colonel D. W. Wardrop, commanding at Roanoke Island, inclosing a communication from you relative to an improper traffic going on in the region of Columbia, in Hyde County. I am obliged to you for the information and shall take immediate measures to stop the trade. To accomplish [this] I have ordered the quartermaster's steamer Ella May, with two smooth brass 6-pounders aboard, to proceed to Roanoke Island and report to Colonel Wardrop, who I have directed to place on board a suitable number of gunners and sharpshooters, in command of a competent officer. He will then send them to the referred to with such orders as he may deem best to accomplish the purpose. Upon the return of the expedition Colonel Wardrop has been authorized to detain the Ella May at Roanoke Island for temporary service. He may with her be able to render you much assistance in communicating with the fleet in various parts of the Sounds. Colonel Wardrop also incloses a letter from you relative to the man R. Oberman. His case will be attended to, for I mean, with your kind co-operation, to put a stop to all this illegal traffic.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

I. N. PALMER,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA,
New Berne, N. C., July 9, 1864.

Colonel D. W. WARDROP,

Ninety-ninth New York Volunteers,

Commanding Sub-District of the Albemarle, Roanoke Island:

COLONEL: The commanding general directs me to acknowledge the receipt this day of your communication and enclosures relative to the