men; one North Carolina company of about 20 men; two armed schooners, with 26 men each, and about 100 negroes as laborers.

March 12 I sent a party of soldiers from the North Carolina company into the woods for wood with 12 negroes. After being there a short time they were attacked by about 40 guerrillas and 1 negro killed and 2 wounded and 3 of the soldiers taken and carried away prisoners. Soon as the alarm was given I sent a company in pursuit, but they having taken up the bridge were not overtaken by our forces.

I have kept the negroes employed lately in throwing up an intrenchment and have it nearly finished. I shall then send those that are not needed here to New Berne.

Nothing more occurred until the 6th of April. Captain Sanders, of the North Carolina company, with a detail of 7 soldiers and 10 negroes, was sent down the river in a schooner after wood; the wind blowing, they were not able to land that day; he returned home and left the men on board; in the evening they went on shore to see their families, and were all taken and carried away to Richmond prisoners, leaving that company now with only 14 men for duty. Had we a company of cavalry here I think we might rid this section of the country from the guerrillas. As it is now, unless we go out in a large force, we are liable to be picked off. We have now six horses and one yoke of oxen, enough to do our teaming. Previous to your last instructions, under General Palmer's order I had returned to the persons taken from 10 horses and 13 mules, and have given receipts for the rest.

We have received no rations since I arrived here, although I have sent two requisitions, and I have been obliged to forage upon the citizens, and if the Government is to pay for them it will be much more expensive than if sent from New Berne, as provisions are scarce and high.

The negroes are very much in need of clothing, not having received any pay or clothing from the Government and have been employed seven months.

Yours, respectfully,

J. W. WALLIS,

Major, Commanding Post, Elizabeth City, N. C.

Abstract from Tri-monthly Return of the Department of Virginia (Seventh Army Corps), Major General John A. Dix commanding, for April 30, 1863 (headquarters Fort Monroe, Va.).

Present for duty

Command. Officers Men Aggregate Aggregate Aggregate

present present last

and return

absent

Headquarter 17 ...... 17 18 18

s of

Department,

Major

General

John A.

Dix.

Fort 15 416 593 852 857

Monroe,

Colonel S.

M. Alford.

Camp 19 574 680 702 501

Hamilton,

Major J.

A. Darling.

Norfolk, 120 2,228 2,556 2,698 2,728

Brigadier

General E.

L. Viele.

Suffolk, 1,153 22,822 26,731 32,038 20,879

Major

General J.

J. Peck.

Yorktown, Ma 287 5,054 6,012 6,717 6,739

jor

General E.

D. Keyes.

Grand 1,611 31,094 36,589 43,025 31,722

total.

Present for duty equipped.

Infantry. Cavalry.

Command. Pieces of Officers Men Offic Men

field ers

artillery

Headquarters of ......... ........ ...... ..... ....

Department, ...

Major General

John A. Dix.

Fort Monroe, ......... 15 416 ..... .....

Colonel S. M.

Alford.

Camp Hamilton, ......... ........ ........ 3 77

Major J. A.

Darling.

Norfolk, 6 99 2,092 2 54

Brigadier

General E. L.

Viele.

Suffolk, Major 252 1,038 19,980 63 1,453

General J. J.

Peck.

Yorktown, Major 30 230 3,706 42 1,032

General E. D.

Keyes.

Grand total. 288 1,382 26,194 110 2,616

Command. Officers Men

Headquarters of Department, Major .......... ..........

General John A. Dix.

Fort Monroe, Colonel S. M. Alford. .......... ..........

Camp Hamilton, Major J. A. Darling. 19 542

Norfolk, Brigadier General E. L. 3 136

Viele.

Suffolk, Major General J. J. Peck. 43 1,422

Yorktown, Major General E. D. Keyes. 13 386

Grand total. 78 2,486

NOTE.-The Monthly Return for April gives the "Aggregate present" as 39,095.