Egbert L. Viele to Henry W. Benham, April 3, 1802

General H. W. BENHAM, Commanding First Division Department of the South:

DEAR GENERAL: Your dispatch is just received, and as I have also just received the reports of the two ofticers whom I requested to make reconnaissances, I hasten to forward them, merely adding my own rapid conclusions that two flat-boats, properly arranged, one with two mortars and another with two rifled guns and one 8-inch howitzer, can be made very effective at the lower end of Long Island. I agree with Lieutenant Wilson in regard to Turtle Beach, more especially as the time that it would require to place columbiads in position (a week or ten days at least) would render our efforts at that point inoperative under the circumstances.

If you will let me know your views by the courier in the morning I will at once arrange to put them into immediate execution.

Very respe etfully,

your obedient servant,