the Blackwater at that point. A large force has been sent down from Petersburg, but we think the bulk of it is at Zuni, the crossing of the Petersburg road. We are quite strong at Suffolk.

Respectfully, yours,

JOHN. A. DIX,

Major-General.

Abstract from Return of the Department of Virginia, Major General John A. Dix commanding for September 30, 1862.

Present for duty.

Command. Officers. Men.

Department staff 16 3

Fort Monroe (Colonel S. 24 586

M. Alford)

Camp Hamilton (Colonel 47 1,090

A. Conk)

Newport News (Major R. 29 419

V. King)

Norfolk (Brigadier 116 2,329

General E. L. Viele)

Suffolk (Major General 380 7,796

J. J. Peck)

Yorktown (Major General 231 4,533

E. D. Keyes)

Total 843 16,756

Continuation:

Command. Aggregate Aggregate Pieces of

present. present field

and absent artillery.

Department staff 21 ... ...

Fort Monroe (Colonel S. 774 859 ...

M. Alford)

Camp Hamilton (Colonel 1,227 1,431 10

A. Conk)

Newport News (Major R. 541 752 ...

V. King)

Norfolk (Brigadier 2,906 3,780 6

General E. L. Viele)

Suffolk (Major General 9,386 11,957 20

J. J. Peck)

Yorktown (Major General 5,918 8,168 28

E. D. Keyes)

Total 20,773 26,947 64

Abstract from Return of the Department of North Carolina, Major General John G. Foster commanding, for September 30, 1862.

Present for duty.

Command. Officers. Men. Aggregate

present.

First Brigade 81 2,591 3,594

(Colonel T. J. C.

Amory)

Second Brigade 81 2,059 2,745

(Colonel T. G.

Stevenson)

Cavalry (Lieutenant 32 666 838

Colonel John Mix)

Artillery (Colonel 40 819 1,122

J. H. Ledlie)

Detachments 5 266 303

Total 239 6,401 8,602

Continuation:

Command. Aggregate Remarks.

present and

absent.

First Brigade 3,929 At New Berne, with

(Colonel T. J. C. detachment at Newport

Amory) Barracks.

Second Brigade 3,263 At New Berne, with

(Colonel T. G. detachment at Beaufort.

Stevenson)

Cavalry (Lieutenant 917 At New Berne.

Colonel John Mix)

Artillery (Colonel 1,700 At New Berne.

J. H. Ledlie)

Detachments 343 At Fort Macon, Morehead

City, Newport Barracks,

and Plymouth.

Total 10,152

UNITED STATES FLAG-SHIP MINNESOTA,

Off Newport News, Va., October 1, 1862.

Major General JOHN. A. DIX, U. S. A.,

Commanding Seventh Army Corps, Fort Monroe, Va.:

GENERAL: Your communication of the 29th was received yesterday. You think the notice proposed by me on the 25th not now necessary, as your outpost at Suffolk has been sufficiently strengthened and as you believe there is not now an armed insurgent, excepting perhaps some lurking companies in the Dismal Swamp, within 40 miles of Norfolk. The situation was different when I communicated with the Department