brigade to General Whiting and the two siege guns (30-pounder Parrotts) to General French for the Blackwater. All is reported quiet in the direction of New Berne. Your letter of the 23rd is just received.

G. W. SMITH,

Major-General.

BURWELL'S BAY, December 29, 1862.

Brigadier General HENRY A. WISE:

GENERAL: Yesterday was the first time I could get a view of Newport News since my note of the 20th instant; it has been hazy all the time. Found only two vessels in sight to-day. A small sloop passed down from Mulberry Island; she had the United States flag flying.

On the night of Christmas eve a party of negroes came over from the other side and robbed a gentleman by the name of Branch of meat and other things to the value of over a thousand dollars. Branch lives 6 miles above my station. This is the second time they have come over since I came here. These negroes are said to be camped in nearly every vacant farm house from Jamestown Island to Newport News. If I had 30 men and a sufficient number of boats I believe I could capture a number of these negroes.

WILLIAM HARMAN.

CLAREMONT, December 30, [1862].

GENERAL: I received two dispatches to-day, one indirect; the other has been delayed several days.

Yours, respectfully,

WM. DICKINSON.

Abstract from Field Report* of the troops of the District of the Cape Fear, commanded by Brigadier General W. H. C. Whiting, for December, 1862.

Present for duty.

Troops. Office Men Effectiv Aggrega

rs e total te

present

Brigadier-General 111 1,858 2,031 2,409

Clingman's brigade.

Colonel Harrison's 70 1,071 1,144 1,415

brigade

24th Regiment South 35 587 614 688

Carolina Volunteers

Field artillery (four 18 357 361 395

companies)

10th Battalion North 13 175 203 213

Carolina Artillery

City guard (two 7 117 119 156

companies)

Bridge guard 1 31 31 32

Light-House Battery (one 4 71 71 85

company)

Fort Caswell (six 19 258 353 483

companies)

Fort Fisher (nine 28 540 673 794

companies)

Fort French (one company) 4 47 47 61

Fort Johnson (two 9 105 109 132

companies)

Fort Saint Philip (four 11 162 204 268

companies)

Grand total. 339 5,379 5,960 7,131

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*This report does not include seven companies of cavalry. It is forwarded without this to prevent further delay.

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