NAVY DEPARTMENT,

August 29, 1862.

Honorable E. M. STANTON,

Secretary of War:

SIR: The large naval force in the James River being no longer required there, directions are about being given to send the vessels to other points, where their presence is most essential.

If Newport News is to be held by the Army I respectfully suggest that half a dozen 200-pounder rifled Parrott guns be mounted there as a means to assist in keeping blockaded the iron-clad vessels now building at Richmond.

Very respectfully,

GIDEON WELLES.

Abstract from Monthly Return of the Department of Virginia (Seventh Army Corps), Major General John A. Dix commanding, for the month of August, 1862 (headquarters Fort Monroe, Va.).

Present for duty.

Command. Officers. Men. Aggregate

present.

Department 17 2 19

Headquarters,

Major General

John A. Dix..

Fort Monroe, 14 300 455

Major Joseph

Roberts..

Camp Hamilton, 109 1,895 2,227

Brigadier

General Henry

W. Wessells..

Newport News, 31 529 598

Major Reuben

V, King..

Norfolk, 86 1,639 2,061

Brigadier

General

Egbert L.

Viele..

Suffolk, 228 4,861 5,792

Brigadier

General J. K.

F. Mansfield..

Total.. 468 9,224 11,133

Fourth Army 7 .............. 7

Corps, Major

General

Erasmus D.

Keyes..

Williamsburg, 56 1,041 1,256

Va..

Williamsburg, .............. .............. ..............

Va..

Yorktown, Va.. 147 2,624 3,222

Yorktown, Va.. 23 630 751

Gloucester 4 104 110

Point, Va..

Total.. 237 4,399 5,346

Fort Wool, 3 65 70

Captain Ira

Winans,

detachment

Ninety-ninth

New York

Volunteers.

Sewell's 1 70 80

Point, Captain

John C. Lee,

detachment

Ninety-ninth

New York

Volunteers.

Grand total.. 726 13,760 16,648

Command. Aggregate Aggregate Pieces of

present and present and field

absent. absent last artillery.

monthly

return.

Department 19 19 ..............

Headquarters,

Major General

John A. Dix..

Fort Monroe, 493 506 10

Major Joseph

Roberts..

Camp Hamilton, 3,916 964 6

Brigadier

General Henry

W. Wessells..

Newport News, 782 81 ..............

Major Reuben

V, King..

Norfolk, 2,261 2,308 6

Brigadier

General

Egbert L.

Viele..

Suffolk, 7,178 4,597 6

Brigadier

General J. K.

F. Mansfield..

Total.. 14,630 8,456 28

Fourth Army 10 .............. ..............

Corps, Major

General

Erasmus D.

Keyes..

Williamsburg, 1,527 .............. 20

Va..

Williamsburg, .............. 1,237 ..............

Va..

Yorktown, Va.. 5,499 .............. ..............

Yorktown, Va.. 806 1,795 ..............

Gloucester 152 .............. 4

Point, Va..

Total.. 7,994 3,032 24

Fort Wool, 86 166 ..............

Captain Ira

Winans,

detachment

Ninety-ninth

New York

Volunteers.

Sewell's 92 95 ..............

Point, Captain

John C. Lee,

detachment

Ninety-ninth

New York

Volunteers.

Grand total.. 23,821 11,768 52