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MGEN Benjamin F Butler, USA, Department of Virginia and North Carolina, writes CDR Foxhall A Parker, Potomac Flotilla,"I have the honor to forward you a copy of a dispatch received from the provost-marshal at Eastville, Va.:
    APRIL 18, 1864.
    I am informed by a rebel mail carrier, captured to-day, that guerrillas are preparing for a raid at some spot between the Piankatank and Saluda, Middlesex County. I presume this raid is intended for this shore, if on foot as represented. Further information leads me to believe the information correct.
    FRANK J. WHITE,
    Major and Provost-Marshal.
    This dispatch is sent for your information and such action as you may think proper."

LT Charles A French, USS Miami, writes RADM Samuel P Lee, North Atlantic Blockading Squadron "The ironclad ram on the Roanoke River made its appearance this morning at 3:30 o'clock. The Miami and Southfield, which had been separated to shell the enemy from different positions, had just been refastened, and they were driven by Captain Flusser straight on to the ram. She struck the Southfield slantwise and sunk her immediately. A few of my officers and men and myself had time to reach the Miami's decks. Captain Flusser was killed in the early part of the engagement. We fired solid shot from both vessels, which glanced upward from her slanting sides. The Miami steamed down the river, finding that an attack by us would result in nothing else than the loss of another vessel.
    Mr. Hackett, the paymaster of the vessel, will give you further particulars on his arrival at Hampton Roads."

Frank W Hackett, Assistant Paymaster, USS Miami writes RADM Samuel P Lee, North Atlantic Blockading Squadron "Last night from about 6:30 to 8 the Miami and Southfield were engaged in shelling the enemy. On the news that the ram was below the blockade at Hyman's Ferry, the Southfield was brought alongside the Miami, and the two vessels were fastened together. At 3:30 a. m. the Ceres came down from picket duty at the town (the Miami and Southfield being at the lower picket station) and reported the ram coming down, firing. The batteries on shore did not fire.
    By Captain Flusser's command the two boats were driven ahead direct upon the ram. She struck the Southfield slantwise and tore a hole clear through to the boiler. Both vessels fired solid shot at her, but it had no effect on her slanting sides. The Southfield sank almost immediately. Nothing of her stores was saved. The Miami continued firing, but it was evident that the shot had no effect.
    Captain Flusser was killed in the early part of the action, while pulling the lockstring of one of the guns forward. His body is being got ready now to be sent away on the Ceres. Captain French and some of his officers reached the Miami. Others were taken prisoners. After the ram had sank the Southfield she followed the Miami, which steamed slowly down the river. The ram fired two shells at the Miami while going down the river, but they did us no damage.
    Captain French has held a consultation of officers as to what had best be done under the circumstances. The garrison at Plymouth must be captured, as things now are. The opinion of all the officers who saw the ram and the effect of solid shot upon her agree that another attack would result only in the sinking of the Miami.
    I have written the above in haste by Captain French's orders, as he has not time to write himself at present."

LCDR Edward E Stone, USS Chippewa, writes CDR William Reynolds, NAVSTA Port Royal, SC "On the morning of the 7th instant I proceeded on a reconnoissance up May River, accompanied by Colonel Howell, who had with him a detachment of 75 men of the Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania Regiment on board of the picket boats Thomas Foulkes and Croton. On arriving at the deserted plantation of James Kirk, and within a mile of the town of Bluffton, a landing was effected and the pickets driven in, after an exchange of a few musket shots and two or three from the 30-pounder Dahlgren rifle of this ship. Having found that there were no obstructions in the river, and that the enemy were not in force at or near Bluffton, we returned to our night station."

Master E C Healy, USS Beauregard, writes SECNAV "I have the honor to make the following report: At 11 p. m. on the 118th instant I received information from some fishermen that there was a schooner inside the bar at Matanzas Inlet, some 20 miles to the southward of this place. I immediately dispatched the gig and cutter, in charge of Acting Ensign H. B. Colby and E. M. Clark, taking one of the fishermen as pilot. They proceeded to the inlet through the night and arrived there at daylight. Found the schooner attempting to get out over the bar, but a few musket shots from the boats brought her to. They boarded and captured her and brought her to St. Augustine for adjudication. She proved to be the English schooner Oramoneta, of Nassau, New Providence, from Green Turtle Cay, Bahamas, bound to [New] Smyrna, Fla. She had no cargo of any amount, only 50,000 percussion caps, a few sacks of salt, and one roll of bagging. There were no vessels or boats in sight at the time of the capture."

LCDR E W Henry, USS Owasco, writes RADM David Glasgow Farragut, West Gulf Blockading Squadron, "I have the honor to inform you that I seized as a prize this morning the English schooner Fanny, from Havana, bound to Brazos River. The captain says he does not know what her cargo consists of, but in the manifest there are 8 packages for General Magruder, of the Confederate service. This, I think, is one of the seven which started for the coast of Texas from Havana. The captain, when asked where he was bound, said "Nowhere in particular". I will send her to New Orleans under charge of Acting Ensign A. P. Gibbs."

LT George W Brown, USS Ozark, writes RADM David D Porter, Mississippi Squadron, from near Alexandria, LA "I have the honor to report the safe arrival of the U. S. S. Ozark at the falls. There is not water to go through at present. We have had some trouble getting down, as we can not back to stop the vessels in the river.
    The Ivy broke her propeller on the way from the Eastport to this vessel.
    I picked up on my way down 23 bales cotton."