John J. Peck, October 23, 1863

Your orders for the additional force came to hand this morning, and found me with less facilities than ever before. Our steamers were on their routes, or needing repairs, and the quartermaster reported some 12 tons as our whole stock of coal. Commodore Daven. port kindly gave us all he had, and the wheels are still in motion.

The Twelfth Cavalry had to be sent to relieve the Third, causing additional travel and consuming time. At the first, I confess I began to despair, since so much transportation is called for, cavalry and artillery.

The Spanldine arrived, and I shall send nine companies of the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts and two of cavalry upon this vessel. The Vedette arrived this evening. She is being repaired, and will leave early in the morning with aschooner in tow for Elizabeth City, with cavalry. The Patuxent is due in a few hours, I believe. The Pilot Boy will be due to-morrow evening with the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts from Washington. A tug was sent off with orders for all pcre and they will be hurried off as rapidly as our facilities will admit.

Dr. Rice, Twenty-fifth Massachusetts, was captured yesterday, and his orderly also. Some of our pickets at Little Washington have been bagged. I have very little confidence in the Twelfth Cavalry, and hope you will be able to send back the Third Regiment again.

One of the companies of the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts constitutes the garrison of Fort Gaston, and is well instructed in artillery. Having nothing to replace it with, I have retained it.

Our sick-list is very large, indeed, and does not run down, as I anticipated, with the advance of the season.

The small-pox has materially reduced our stock of lumber, by producing a scarcity of hands, but orders have been given to press the mills for your wants at Fort Monroe.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,