there was not the result of accident, but that her design had evidently been to run into Savannah, I immediately went on board steamer Mattano, taking with me Captain Coan, Forty-eighth New York Volunteers, and a small detachment of his company, and directed Captain Blakeman, commanding the Mattano, to proceed at once toward her. Asthe schooner, notwithstanding our approach, showed no colors, I caused a shot from a 6-pounder to be fired across her, immediately upon which she hoisted the English flag. Having hailed her and received no satisfactory reply, I directed Captain Coan to board her and ascertain her name and character. She proved to be the schooner Expeditious, Captain Edgecomb, with a cargo of 310 sacks of salt from Nassau, and ostensibly bound for Beaufort, N. C., for which port she had a sort of clearance. I therefore deemed myself justified in taking posession of the vessel, cargo, and crew, and at once towed her to the fort. The captain and mate on being closely questioned admitted that their destination was Savannah, but that the night being dark they had lost their way. During almost all Saturday they were within a few miles of Port Royal Light Ship, and thus got the compass bearings, &c., of Tybee entrance. There exists not the least doubt as to the Expeditious being a would-be blockade-runner. She will be towed to Hilton Head by the steamer which takes this communication, and her papers will be handed to you. You will perceive that Captain Edgecomb was but recently in the employ of the United States Government as a pilot in the Banks expedition. I desire especially to commend Captain Blakeman, of the Mattano, for the zeal and intelligence with which he carried out my wishes in this matter not only, but which have characterized his entire conduct during his entire connection with the post.

I have the honor to be, colonel, very respectflly, your obedient servant,

W. B. BARTON,

Colonel Forty-eighth New York Volunteers, Commanding Post.

[14.]

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH,
U. S. Transport Cannonicus, Stono Inlet, S. C., Numbers 187.
April 8, 1863.

Brigadier General Israel Vogdes, U. S. Volunteers, is hereby assigned to the command of the brigade of Ferry's division at present commanded by Colonel Howell, Eighty-fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and will report immediately to Brigadier-General Ferry for duty.

By command of Major General D. Hunter:

CHAS. G. HALPINE,
Lieutenant Colonel and Asst. Adjt. General, Tenth Army Corps, Dept. of the South.

[14.]

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, Numbers 188.
Stono Inlet, S. C., April 9, 1863.

Colonel John Hay, of Illinois, private secretary to His Excellency the President, having tendered his services as a volunteer aide-de-camp on the staff of the major-general commanding, is hereby appointed and announced as such, and will be obeyed and respected accordingly.

By command of Major General D. Hunter:

CHAS. G. HALPINE,
Lieutenant Colonel and Asst. Adjt. General, Tenth Army Corps, Dept. of the south.

[14.]