Seth Williams to Joseph Hooker, April 18, 1863

Major-General HOOKER, Falmouth, Va.:

The appointment of Colonel Paul as brigadier has been o: dered, and will be sent to your headquarters to-morrow. The two gunboats were ordered away by the Navy Department in ignorance of your design. The order has been countermanded, and, if you need them, they will be sent back immediately. The fleet under Commander McCrea is at your disposal. Admiral Harwood, at the navy-yard, has also been ordered to co-operate with you, and send you everything of the Potomae fleet that is available.

EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.

APRIL 18, 1863—3.05 p. m. Hon. E. M. Sranton, Secretary of War:

I do not require the two gunboats just now, and will give you timely notice when I need them. JOSEPH HOOKER, Major-General, Commanding.

Washington, D. C., April 18, 1863—9.30 p. m. Major-General HOOKER:

The President will leave here for Aquia to see you to-morrow (Sunday) morning at 7 o’clock, expecting to reach there about 10 a. m. Oan you meet him there?

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE Potomac, April 18, 1863. SECRETARY OF WAR:

We have the Richmond Whig of Friday, the 17th. It contains the following article:

The Petersburg Express of yesterday has a report, said to have been obtained through a courier from General Longstreet’s headquarters, that Suffolk was completely invested by our forces on Tuesday evening ; that the tracks of the Seaboard and Norfolk Railroad, in rear of Suffolk, had been torn up, pontoons had been thrown across the Nansemond River, and eligible positions occupied for our heavy guns in _ the event of any attack by the enemy’s gunboats.

The Express further states that the heavy firing heard Tuesday was occasioned by the opposition the enemy offered to our marching upon his rear. Our casualties are reported at 34 wounded. It is said that we lost several killed, but no definite number has been mentioned. Another report is that we have encountered two of the enemy’s gunboats on the Nansemond River; that one of them was destroyed and the other retreated in a crippled condition.

Passengers, not always reliable, mention a rumor that the Irish Yankee General Corcoran was killed on Tuesday last in an engagement near Suffolk. We have no official confirmation of any of these reports, though there is reason to believe that the investment of Suffolk is a fact accomplished.

This is all the paper contains in reference to Suffolk ; but the following is written in lead pencil on the margin, and was probably written by one Confederate for the information of another:

An extra of the Richmond Dispatch, received last night, confirms the report of the

capture and occupation of Suffolk by General Longstreet, and the death of the Yankee General Corcoran.

I will send the paper up in the morning. JOSEPH HOOKER, Major-General, Commanding.

CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, V. A., April 18, 1863.

Commanding Officer, Eleventh Corps :

The major-general commanding is unofficially informed that the brigade of your command at Kelly’s Ford has drawn supplies from General Stoneman. If true, this would interfere very seriously with the operations pending. You were advised on the — instant to keep your command supplied there. The major-general commanding directs that you send out immediately supplies to replace those drawn from the cavalry, both of forage and subsistence.

General Stoneman has been furnished with a copy of this dispatch, and will expect these supplies to be furnished without delay. The major-general commanding desires to be informed whether his order has been complied with, and whether any necessity existed for your brigade to draw supplies from General Stoneman’s command.

Very respectfully, &c.,