POINT LOOKOUT, February 26, 1865-9.30 p.m.

(Received 9.40 p.m.)

Honorable EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War:

Your dispatch is received. I received early in the evening from Commander Parker a similar dispatch, and have given all the necessary instruction to the gun-boats and to our steam-boats, and shall take all precautions practicable here.

J. BARNES,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

U. S. STEAMER MERCURY,

Point Lookout, Md., February 26, 1865.

Commander FOXHALL A PARKER, or

Captain TAYLOR,

Naval Station, Saint Inigoes, Md.:

SIR: One hundred and fifty-four guerrillas, on Wednesday, the 22nd instant, near midnight, started from Little River near Smith's Point, Va., in several boats and crossed the bay, their destination Smith's Island, Eastern Shore, Md. Their object is to rob stores, capture and bring over the refugees and deserters who have gone there from Virginia, to capture a steamer and some pungies, and with these attack and destroy the light-vessels. They are led by Rice Airs, the murderer of Captain Duncan. I have notified Captain Hooker, and will keep a vigilant watch on the light-vessel until I receive further orders.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

THOS. NELSON,

Acting Ensign, Commanding Mercury.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington City, February 26, 1865-10 p.m.

Governor FENTON,

Albany:

The following telegram from General Grant, to whom your dispatch was referred, has been received by this Department, and his view compels a negative answer to your inquiry in respect to the National Guard.*

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

ANNAPOLIS, MD., February 26, 1865-5.40 p.m.

Lieutenant Colonel S. B. LAWRENCE,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Middle Department, Baltimore:

The troops have arrived to relieve the companies of the Ninety-first New York Volunteers. Shall I send the companies of the Ninety-first New York Veteran Volunteers to City Point, Va.? Please answer by telegraph.

F. D. SEWALL,

Colonel, Commanding Post.

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* See Grant to Stanton, 8 p.m., p.705.

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