FORT MONROE, December 20, 1862.

Brigadier-General FERRY:

The expedition is one of importance and great delicacy, and if our forces succeed in crossing will need a commanding officer experienced in the management of troops. I will give General Spinola an early opportunity of seeing active service, but think another occasion will be better for him and us.

JOHN A DIX,

Major-General.

Abstract from Tri-monthly Return of the Department of Virginia (Seventh Army Corps), Major General John A. Dix commanding, for December 20, 1862 (headquarters Fort Monroe, Va.)

Present for duty.

Command. Office Men. Aggreg Aggreg Aggrega Pieces

rs. ate ate te last of

presen presen return. field

t. t and artille

absent ry.

.

Headquarter

s Fort

Monroe.-

Major 17 ..... 17 17 17 ....

General

John A.

Dix...

Fort

Monroe.-

Colonel S.

M. Alford:

3rd New 26 633 805 858 831 .....

York

Infantry...

Attached ..... ..... 27 27 27 .....

garrison...

Total.. 26 633 832 885 858 ....

Camp

Hamilton.-

Colonel

Anthony

Conk:

Infantry... 34 723 831 855 856 ....

Cavalry... 3 76 85 86 83 ....

Artillery.. 16 415 497 584 433 12

.

Total... 53 1,214 1,413 1,525 1,372 12

Newport

News.-

Brigadier

General M.

Corcoran:

Infantry... 110 2,542 3,004 3,108 2,702 .....

Norfolk.-

Brigadier

General E.

L. Viele;

Infantry... 132 2,406 3,072 3,584 3,583 .....

Cavalry... 1 36 55 82 82 .....

Artillery.. 4 140 151 195 197 6

.

Total... 137 2,582 3,278 3,861 3,862 6

Suffolk.-

Major

General J.

J. Peck:

Infantry... 554 10,581 12,889 15,790 12,059 ....

Cavalry... 69 1,467 2,099 2,344 2,351 4

Artillery.. 9 393 452 495 497 18

.

Total... 632 12,441 15,440 18,629 14,907 22

Yorktown.-

Major

General E.

D. Keyes:

Infantry... 285 5,504 6,979 8,886 5,897 .....

Cavalry.. 36 947 1,060 1,168 1,174 .....

Artillery.. 17 394 477 678 679 28

.

Total.. 338 6,845 8,516 10,732 7,750 28

Grand 1,313 26,257 32,500 38,757 31,468 68

total..

Present for duty.

Infantry. Cavalry. Artillery.

Command Officer Men. Officer Men. Officer Men.

. s. s. s.

Headqua

rters

Fort

Monroe.

-

Major .... .... .... ..... .... ....

General

John A.

Dix...

Fort

Monroe.

-

Colonel

S. M.

Alford:

3rd New 29 711 .... ... .... .....

York

Infantr

y...

Attache ... ..... .... .... ..... .....

d

garriso

n...

Total.. 29 711 .... .... .... ....

Camp

Hamilto

n.-

Colonel

Anthony

Conk:

Infantr 35 764 .... ..... ..... .....

y...

Cavalry .... .... 3 76 .... .....

...

Artille .... .... .... .... 17 427

ry...

Total.. 35 764 3 76 17 427

.

Newport

News.-

Brigadi

er

General

M.

Corcora

n:

Infantr 112 2,644 .... .... .... ....

y...

Norfolk

.-

Brigadi

er

General

E. L.

Viele;

Infantr 130 2,523 .... .... .... .....

y...

Cavalry .... ..... 1 36 .... .....

...

Artille .... .... ..... ..... 4 140

ry...

Total.. 130 2,523 1 36 4 140

.

Suffolk

.-Major

General

J. J.

Peck:

Infantr 568 11,100 .... .... ..... ....

y...

Cavalry ..... ..... 71 1,745 .... ....

...

Artille ..... .... .... ..... 9 412

ry...

Total.. 568 11,100 71 1,745 9 412

.

Yorktow

n.-

Major

General

E. D.

Keyes:

Infantr 303 6,039 ..... ..... ... ....

y...

Cavalry .... ... 36 858 .... ....

..

Artille .... .... .... ..... 19 417

ry...

Total.. 303 6,039 36 858 19 417

Grand 1,177 23,781 111 2,715 49 1,396

total..