the signs on the ground made by the recoil of pieces, &c., they fired but little. They did not approach the Red House nor move on the Red House road.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. RICHTER JONES,

Colonel Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers.

HDQRS. FIFTY-FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT,
Beaufort, N. C., March 15, 1863.

Lieutenant Colonel SOUTHARD HOFFMAN,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

COLONEL: No train arriving yesterday, and receiving intelligence last night at 10 o'clock from Lieutenant-Colonel Studley that New Berne was attacked, I went up on hand-car after midnight to Newport Barracks, thinking there might be trouble there. Found everything all right. No signs of the enemy in that vicinity. About 5 miles above, at the signal station, a single rail was removed from the track by a small party of rebel cavalry, 12 or 15 in number. The number is verified by different persons. I traced them several miles from the railroad. They passed down last night within 2 miles of the track about 5 p. m. and returned at 8 p. m. Our cavalry companies have been scouting, and no enemy is in that vicinity. Are on the alert all along the line.

Yours, truly,

[A. B. R.] SPRAGUE,

Colonel Fifty-first Massachusetts.

SUFFOLK, March 16, 1863.

Major-General DIX:

What will be done with General Dodge? I wish to make Spear chief of cavalry. He will attempt the capture of the guard at Washington, with cavalry and infantry, about dawn, although roads are horrible.

JOHN J. PECK.

UNITED STATES FLAG-SHIP MINNESOTA,

Off Newport News, March 16, 1863.

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

Commanding Seventh Army Corps, Fortress Monroe, Va.:

GENERAL: Commander Creighton has been informed that there are a number of wagons at Gloucester Court-House and the vicinity obtaining forage and provisions for the rebel forces; that there are 500 rebel cavalry at Gloucester Court-House and 1,000 rebel cavalry at Saluda Court-House, and that their horses are in a very bad condition.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, yours,

S. P. LEE,

Actg. Rear-Admiral, Commanding N. Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

WASHINGTON, N. C., March 16, 1863.

Lieutenant Colonel SOUTHARD HOFFMAN:

COLONEL: I send with this a note from Lieutenant-Colonel Lyman, giving you all the information he has been able to obtain. He seems to