Lieutenant-Commanding Webb specially notices the coolness displayed by Acting Master Face and Third Assistant Engineer Quinn when facing the heavy fire of artillery and musketry from the shorewhile the Teazer was standing in to cover the boat in which, as previously stated, Lieutenant Minor had gone to burn the Congress. Sev eral of his men were badly wounded.

The Raleigh, early in the action, had her gun-carriage disabled, which compelled her to withdraw. As soon as he had repaired damages as well as he could Lieutenant-Commanding Alexander resumed his position in the line. He sustained himself gallantly during the remainderof the day and speaks highly of all under his command. That evening he was ordered to Norfolk for repairs.

The Beaufort, Lieutenant-Commanding Parker, was in close contact with the enemy frequently during the day, and all on board behaved. gallantly. Lieutenant-Commanding Parker expresses his warmest thanks to his officers and men for their coolness. Acting Midshipman Foreman, who accompanied him as volunteer aide; Midshipman Mallory and Newton; captain's clerk Bain, and Mr. Gray, pilot, are all specially mentioned by him.

On the 21st instant I forwarded to the Department correct lists of the casualties on board all the vessels of the squadron on the 8th; none, it appears, occurred on the 9th.

While in the act of closing this report I received the communication of the Department, dated 22d instant, relieving me temporarily of the command of the squadron for the naval defense of James River. I feel honored in being relieved by the gallant Flag-Officer Tatnall.

I much regret that I am not now in a condition to resume my command, but trust that I shall soon be restored to health, when I shall be ready for any duty that may be assigned me.

Report of Maj. Gen. John B. Magruder, C. S. Army, commanding Department of the Peninsula, of his co-operation with naval attack.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PENINSULA,
Young's Farm, Va., March 10, 1862.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, at 9 p. m. on the 8th instant, of your telegram announcing the glorious achievement of the Confederate States war-steamer Virginia, and to report that before daylight I had troops on the way to the immediate vicinity of Newport News, and proceeded in person to join them.

On my arrival I found my advance guard, of one regiment of infantry, Colonel Cumming, Tenth Georgia, and some 300 cavalry (of ours) drawn up in line of battle within 1 mile of Newport News and 600 yards of the enemy's pickets of infantry and cavalry.

As I obtained from all quarters reliable information of the enemy's great strength, which was verified by our observation of the fort and

vicinity, amounting to at least 12,000 infantry at Newport News alone, which at any moment could be increased to 18,000 from Fort Monroe, I saw that it was utterly impossible to do anything toward attacking the fort. My own troops, which are obliged to be divided to defend the two roads, Yorktown and Warwick, being when united only about 4,000 infantry, 450 cavalry, and a few pieces of light artillery, the larger number being too heavy to bring over the roads, which are recently worse than ever.

Finding, as I anticipated, that the naval attack produced no effect upon the fort except to increase its garrison, I contented myself with occupying the most advanced posts, Bethel and Young's Mill, where the troops are now.

I believe the enemy's plan was to ascend James River by land and water, to attack and capture, if possible, Jamestown Island, which would cause the fall of Yorktown, and then to occupy Suffolk, Jamestown, and West Point, and leaving Norfolk to fall with the fall of Richmond, if that could be accomplished, and to direct all his energies against the latter place. For the present his plans must be somewhat frustrated; but I consider that the Patrick Henry, Jamestown, and Teazer having gone to Norfolk, and the Virginia into the dock for repairs, affords the enemy an admirable opportunity of fully retrieving his losses by placing the Ericsson battery at the mouth of James River and ascending at once the left bank of that river, attacking, supported by the Ericsson battery, the works of Harden's Bluff and Mulberry Island Point, which are weak, and thus forcing my troops to fall back to protect Jamestown and Williamsburg and isolating and reducing Yorktown. I therefore hope that the steamers Patrick Henry, Jamestown, and Teazer may without delay ascend the James River, and should they require repairs, have them done at Richmond. When the Virginia is repaired they could join her at any moment, as she would be the mistress of the Roads.

I have not had time to report that the troops ordered to Suffolk were embarked from King's Mill wharf immediately after the reception of the orders, as I am informed. A considerable number of the regiments sent were on furlough, and I therefore sent a somewhat larger number than that called for, estimating the number by the aggregate present and absent. I presume those absent will join at once. I sent also two batteries, that of Cobb's Legion and the First Company of Howitzers, the latter being asked for by General Randolph. I have sent 350 cav. alry, that number being embraced in Cobb's Legion.

I beg leave respectfully to invite the attention of the Secretary of War to my remarks in relation to the location of the three steamers. I have at length assembled many negroes, and the defensive works begin again to progress satisfactorily.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. BANKHEAD MAGRUDER,

General COOPER,

Major-General, Commanding.

Adjutant and Inspector General.

CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING SPECIALLY TO ÓPERATIONS IN SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA FROM JANUARY 11 TO MARCH 17, 1862.

UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.

Abstract from return of the Department of Virginia, Maj. Gen. John E. Wool, U. S. Army, commanding, for January, 1862.

Organizations in the Department of Virginia, January 31, 1862.

WASHINGTON, D. C., February 21, 1862-4 p. m.

Maj. Gen. JOHN E. WOOL, Fort Monroe:

The iron-clad steam Monitor and a large frigate will be at Hampton Roads within the time you specify. Do you need troops to replace those intended for General Butler; if so, how many? With the cooperation of the Navy, how many additional troops do you need to take Yorktown, and how many by a subsequent operation to take Norfolk? Send me your best map of Norfolk and vicinity. Please communicate Newport News.

Across Mill Creek, near Fort Monroe.
Rip Raps; name changed to Fort Wool.

fully. Let me hear from you every day. Can you take the Sewell's Point Battery? If so, do it and spike the guns.

GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Major-General, Commanding U. S. A.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington City, D. C., February 22, 1862.

Maj. Gen. JOHN E. WOOL,

Commanding at Fortress Monroe:

GENERAL: Your dispatch of the 20th,* in relation to the expected attack on Newport News, has been received and communicated to the Secretary of the Navy and the General Commanding.

Accept my thanks for your prompt and vigilant attention. It will be the aim of this Department to support you in every particular you may deem essential to the good of the service. You have its perfect confidence and respect.

Yours, truly,

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA,

Fort Monroe, Va., February 23, 1862.

Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War:
SIR: *

*

* Yesterday I had the honor to receive your telegram, by which I am informed that an iron-clad steamer and a large frigate would be in Hampton Roads within five days, the time stated when the Merrimac, Yorktown, and Jamestown would attack Newport News.

On land I will be prepared for them, and if the steamer and frigate arrive we will be well prepared for them on the water.

I have not time before the mail leaves to give you all the information you desire. I have only time to say, give me 20,000 men, including one regiment of regulars, in addition to those I now have, with two companies of artillery, and four field batteries in addition to the two I now have, which are nearly complete, wanting only a few horses and harness, with boats sufficient to transport several thousand men, and I will, with Burnside's co-operation, take Norfolk, provided I can. have aid from the Navy and can be furnished with land transportation. All the boats we had at the post were given to the Hatteras expedition; consequently I have none that will answer for landing of troops.

I have a plan which will be presented to you by Colonel Cram, with a map, who will also be able to explain it to you in detail, and if I can be furnished with the means necessary and the co-operation of General Burnside I have no doubt of success against Norfolk, and, with aid from the Navy, against Yorktown. If we were prepared now it would be more readily accomplished than at a future day. I prefer to have my plan explained by the colonel, because it is less likely to become public.

*Not found.

Colonel Cram has a similar dispatch for Major-General McClellan, which is in accordance with his telegram.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN E. WOOL,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA,
Fort Monroe, Va., February 23, 1862.

Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War:

DEAR SIR: Colonel Cram, my senior aide-de-camp, will present you with a dispatch and a most excellent map, by which he will explain in detail my plans for taking Norfolk, Yorktown, and Richmond.

There has been no time in the last three months until recently that Richmond could not have been taken with 50,000 men, and even with a less force. At all events 50,000 men menacing Richmond would not have failed to have relieved Washington. Fifty thousand men menacing the enemy in the rear and 150,000 advancing in front, the rebel army would have been destroyed.

In conclusion, I would commend to your special attention Col. T. J. Cram. I am in want of another brigadier-general, having but one, who is at Newport News. Colonel Cram would make as efficient a brigadier-general as any other in service.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN E. WOOL, Major-General.

P. S.-A steamer has this moment arrived, bringing 372 returned prisoners from the South, of whom 345 are non-commissioned officers, privates, sailors, and citizens; also 10 negroes and 17 commissioned officers, 7 of whom were held as hostages, ranking as follows, viz: Colonels Lee, Cogswell, and Wood; Major Revere; Captains Bowman, Rockwood, and Keffer, all of whom go forward this evening by boat to Baltimore.

NAVY DEPARTMENT, March 6, 1862-4.10 p. m. Commodore PAULDING, Comdg. Navy-Yard, New York: Let the Monitor come direct to Washington, anchoring below Alexandria.

GIDEON WELLES,

Secretary Navy.

[Indorsement.]

I never received the above telegram.

JOHN L. WORDEN,

Rear Admiral, U. S. N.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington City, D. C., March 7, 1862.

Maj. Gen. JOHN E. WOOL, Comdg. Fortress Monroe:

SIR: Your request to be furnished with two gunboats has been referred to the Secretary of the Navy, who informs me that—

Flag-Officer Goldsborough has withdrawn the class of vessels desired by Major2 R R-VOL IX