Ordnance Office, Washington, June 3, 1861. Hon. Simon Cameron, Secretary of War: Sir: This office not having received any official information as to the entire military force which will be in service, and such information being essential for making its preparations to supply the stores which it is its province to furnish, proposes to assume [...]

Abstract of log of U. S. brig Perry, Lieutenant E.G. Parrott, U. S. Navy, commanding. June 3, 1861.—(Latitude, 32°47′; longitude, 78°52′.) Boarded Bremen bark Copernicus, bound for Baltimore. She certified that she had been boarded by the Minnesota and warned not to enter any port south of the Chesapeake. At 2 saw light-house bearing N.W.by [...]

Monday, June 3.—Filled the tanks and received the crew on board. The 32-pounder carriages not yet ready, but promised us for to -morrow.

Headquarters Department of Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg, Va., June 1, 1861. Sir: The enemy attacked the naval battery at Aquia Creek yesterday about 10 a.m. The enemy had three war steamers and some small transports, not containing, however, many troops. They had some long boats or launches; but, so far as observed, made no preparation for landing. [...]

Fredericksburg, Va., June 1, 1861. Sir: The report has arrived this moment that five of the enemy’s steamers, with two transport ships, one of which is of considerable size, had appeared off Aquia Creek battery, with the evident intention of attacking it. When the train left (11 a.m.), soon after, heavy firing was heard from [...]

Extract from New York Courier and Enquirer, May 29, 1861. The remnant of the U. S. troops which the traitor Twiggs abandoned to the tender mercies of the Southern chivalry ”in Texas will arrive here to-day from Havana, and we indulge the hope that somebody will feel it their duty to receive them in a [...]

Saturday, June 1, finds us not yet ready for sea. The tanks have all been taken on board and stowed; the gun carriages for the 32’s will be finished on Monday. The circles for the 8 -inch have been laid down and the fighting bolts are ready for placing. On Monday I shall throw the [...]

Haytian Bureau of Emigration, No. 8 Washington Building, 221 Washington Street, Boston, June 1, 1861. Hon. Simon Cameron, Secretary of War of the United States: Sir: I notice that since the decision of your Department that “the slaves held by rebels who may seek protection in our camps are to be reported as contraband articles [...]

Memorandum for General Lee. Headquarters, Harper’s Ferry, Va ., May 31, 1861. Intelligence was brought me this morning, from a gentleman residing near Hagerstown, that 1,600 troops arrived in Chambersburg on Tuesday and 5,000 yesterday, making, with the 3,500 there before, 10,100, with plenty of artillery (quantity unknown), many wagons and horses. A note was [...]

Report of Flag Officer Sands, U. S. Navy, commanding U. S. Brazil Squadron, of departure of U. S. S. Seminole for Philadelphia, in obedience to orders. U.S. Flag Steamer Pulaski, Montevideo , May 31, 1861. Sir: Since my last, No. 18, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your order of April 8, [...]

Friday, May 31. — The tanks are at last finished and they have all been delivered to-day. We shall now get on rapidly with our preparations.

Norfolk, Va., May 30, 1861 General R. E. Lee: We have the Merrimac up, and just pulling her in the dry-dock, F. FORREST, Flag Officer

Hdqrs. Department Northeastern Virginia, Arlington, May 30, 1861. Mrs. R. E. Lee: Madam: Having been ordered by the Government to relieve Major General Sandford in command of this department, I had the honor to receive this morning your letter of to-day, addressed to him at this place. With respect to the occupation of Arlington by [...]

Washington, May 30, 1861. Major-General Butler. Sir: Your action in respect to the negroes who came in your lines from the service of the rebels is approved. The Department is sensible of the embarrassment which must surround officers conducting military operations in a State by the laws in which slavery is sanctioned. The Government cannot [...]

Thursday, May 30.—My patience is sorely tried by the New Orleans mechanics. The water tanks for the Sumter are not yet completed. The carriage for the 8-inch gun was finished to-day, and we are laying down the circles and cutting the holes for the fighting bolts. The carriages for the 32-pounders are promised by Saturday [...]

Headquarters Department of Virginia, May 29, 1861. Sir: The expedition to Newport News, of which I spoke in my last, eight miles from this place, landed without opposition. I have caused an intrenched camp to be made there, which, when completed, will be able to hold itself against any force that may be brought against [...]

Report of Flag-Officer Bell, U. S. Navy, commanding U. S. naval forces, Mediterranean Sea, of his arrival at Gibraltar in the flagship Richmond.1 U. S. Flagship Richmond, Gibraltar, May 29, 1861. Sir: I have the honor to inform you that we arrived here yesterday in six and a half days from Genoa. In consequence of [...]

Saturday, June 29.—The pilot having reported from aloft that the Brooklyn was no where to be seen, got up steam immediately and ran down Pass à l’Outre with the intention of running the blockade, but after running down the pass 3 or 4 miles we were disappointed to learn that the ship was still at [...]

Friday, June 28.—Clear and sultry, with little or no wind. The blockaders sticking close to their anchors as usual. Sent a guard boat down the Southwest Pass again yesterday evening.

Headquarters of the Army, Washington, May 28, 1861. Bvt. Maj. Gen. G. Cadwalader, U. S. Army, Comdg. Department of Annapolis, Baltimore, Md. General: Your letter of the 27th instant with inclosures reporting the arrest of John Merryman and the issue by Chief Justice Taney of a writ of habeas corpus in his case has been [...]

Headquarters, Yorktown, Va ., May 27, 1861. Colonel Garnett, Adjutant-General: Sir: I have just received, by a special messenger from Major Cary the following dispatch: “The enemy are landing at Newport News. Five steamers are up James River. Destination unknown. Please send down cavalry immediately .” I have not a single horseman, and cannot get [...]

Headquarters Virginia Forces, Richmond, Va., May 27, 1861. Col. J. B. Magruder, Commanding, &c. , Yorktown, Va.: Sir: I have received information, by telegraph, to-day from Norfolk that the Federal troops are landing at Newport News. I deem it proper to inform you of this, as it may be their intention to move on to [...]

Headquarters Virginia Forces, Richmond, Va., May 27, 1861. Brigadier-General Huger, Commanding, & c., Norfolk, Va .: Sir: From the facts stated in your telegram received to-day I think it not improbable that the object of the troops which are landing at Newport News may be either to ascend Nansemond River to the town of Suffolk, [...]

Headquarters Department Of Virginia, May 27, 1861. Sir: The expedition (of which I gave you information in my former dispatch) to Newport News got off in fine style this morning about 7 o’clock. I have added to the expedition the Eighth New York Regiment, 780 strong, which came here on board the Empire City on [...]