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COL F D Sewall, USA, Annapolis, telegrams LCOL J H Taylor, USA, Chief of Staff,"Steamer Harriet De Ford was captured at Fair Haven, in Chesapeake Bay, 30 miles below here, at 2 o'clock this morning, by a rebel party of 27, headed by Captain Fitzhugh. She is a one masted propeller, upper works painted drab. The captain, mate, and white passengers were released; the crew taken. She immediately sailed after a propeller towing two Government barges down the bay. Have nothing here to send in pursuit. Have telegraphed to commanding officer at Fortress Monroe, Point Lookout, and Baltimore."

CMDR T A Dornin, telegrams SECNAV "I am just informed that two vessels have been captured by the rebels, the Harriet De Ford last night in Herring Bay, and the St. Mary's on the 1st of April, at the mouth of the Patuxent River. I have no small steamer to dispatch to look after them. Could you not dispatch two light draft steamers, either from Potomac Flotilla or Hampton Roads, to put a stop to this business ?"

SECNAV telegrams CDR Foxhall A Parker, Potomac Flotilla, "The steamer Harriet De Ford was captured at Fair Haven, in Chesapeake Bay, 30 miles below Annapolis, at 2 o'clock this morning, by a rebel party. She is a one-masted propeller, upper works drab. She immediately went in pursuit of another steamer in sight. Use your best exertions to recapture the steamer or overtake the rebel party." Parker replies "Dispatch received. I am off and have sent ten more vessels in pursuit of the Harriet De Ford."

RADM David D Porter, North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, writes SECNAV "As the movements here have been of a military character, and have been regularly reported to the War Department, I have not deemed it necersary to report anything to the Department.
    After I was satisfied that the rebels were about to evacuate Richmond, I commenced removing the obstructions below Howlett's battery,
    and in the course of the night after succeeded in getting a channel through and removed the torpedoes.
    The gunboats moved up to Drewry's, where the obstructions again presented a bar to further progress.
    On the 4th of April I accompanied the President up to Richmond, where he was received with the strongest demonstrations of joy. We found that the rebel rams and gunboats had all been blown up, with the exception of an unfinished ram, the Texas, and a small tug gunboat, the Beaufort, mounting one gun.
    The following is a list of the vessels destroyed: Virginia, flagship, 4 guns, ironclad; Richmond, 4 guns, ironclad; Fredericksburg, 4 guns, ironclad; Nansemond, 2 guns, wooden; Hampton, 2 guns, wooden; Roanoake, 1 gun, wooden; Torpedo, tender; Shrapnel; Patrick Henry, school ship.
    Some of them are in sight above water, and may be raised. They partly obstruct the channel where they are now, and will either have to be raised or blown up.
    The Beaufort and Texas I have taken for the use of the Navy. Tredegar Works and the naval ordnance depot remain untouched."

RADM Jonathan Dahlgren, South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, writers a general order "By order of his Excellency President Lincoln, the flag of the Union that was hauled down at Fort Sumter on the 14th of April, 1861, is to be restored to its place by Major-General Anderson on the next anniversary of that event.
    The naval forces at Charleston, and myself, are invited to participate.
    Conformably to the above, the United States vessels Pawnee, Tuscarora, Sonoma, Passaic, Catskill, Adams and as can be such others spared, will take position as hereafter directed, near Fort Sumter, by 6 o'clock the morning of the 14th.
    As soon as the ceremony begins in the fort, each vessel will dress full, in colors.
    When the flag is hoisted on Sumter, each vessel will man yards or rigging, if without yards - and then give three cheers; then lay in and down, which having been done, each vessel will fire a salute of 100 guns, beginning with the senior ships first gun, and not continuing after her last gun.
    A body of seamen and marines will be landed under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Williams, who is the only officer present of those who led the assault on Sumter, which I ordered, September 9, 1863, and will, therefore, represent the officers and men of that column.
    The various details will be regulated by Fleet Captain Bradford.
    All the officers of the squadron who can be spared from duty are invited to be present and to accompany me to the Fort on that occasion."

MGEN E R S Canby, USA, Army of West Mississippi writes RADM J K Thatcher, West Gulf Blockading Squadron, "I propose, as soon as our occupation of the north end of Minette Bay is secured, to organize a force for the purpose of capturing Battery Tracy or Huger, or both of them. In this we shall need the assistance of the navy, if it can be spared, in boats and in sailors to man them. I wish to send about 200 volunteers from the army, and we shall need eight or ten boats in addition to those we have, and fifty or sixty sailors to row them. Will you please advise me at your earliest convenience whether you can give us this assistance ?"

SECNAV writes CMDR J B Hull, Philadelphia Navy Yard, "Your letter of the 4th instant has been received.
    The Bureau of Provisions and Clothing will give instructions as to the loading of the Bermuda. As the Florida sails from New York to-morrow with supplies for the West Gulf Squadron, it is not advisable that the Bermuda should sail before the 15th instant, and that date is fixed for her departure."