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CDR Parker writes SECNAV "In reply to your telegram of this date, I would respectfully state that on the 17th instant, when I was told by the honorable Secretary of War that Booth had been traced to Upper Marlborough, on the Patuxent River, and that he would like that river and the coast of Maryland from Point Lookout to Baltimore very carefully guarded, I said to you that I would assign Lieutenant-Commander Eastman to that duty with the Don and such other boats as I could spare from the Potomac, while I remained behind where I could be in communication with the Department and the whole flotilla. At the same time I suggested that boats should be ordered from Norfolk to cruise in the bay, and you directed me to tell Commander Wyman to issue orders to that effect.
    I then made the following disposition of the vessels of my command: Ten gunboats and an armed sloop to patrol the Potomac from Mattawoman to its mouth, with orders to seize all boats; the monitor Chimo to remain at anchor at Point Lookout, while two gunboats cruised from the point due east to the eastern shore of Maryland, a distance of but 6 miles, intercepting all vessels bound down the bay, and sending them to General Barnes to be overhauled and detained; four fast boats to cruise along the coast of Maryland from Point Lookout to Annapolis; seven boats to guard the coast of Virginia from Point Lookout to York River; two boats in the York River; three on the eastern shore of Virginia, from Cherrystone to Smith's Island; one at Gunpowder [River]; one at Bush River; one at Havre de Grace. I gave orders to the commanders of all these vessels to act in concert and cooperate fully with the military authorities. I directed that the Stepping Stones should carry ammunition and provisions to the Ceur de Lion at Gunpowder, and that she should stop for me at Baltimore on her way thither, as I was anxious to see the disposition of the gunboats in that vicinity.
    On Monday evening, after giving Commander Wyman my address, I went to my home, about ten or fifteen minutes walk from the Relay, where I was in direct telegraphic communication with my command. I would here observe that I sent to the Relay regularly four times a day, and that General Tyler, in command at that post, had courteously promised to send all important dispatches to me by an orderly. On Tuesday morning I received a telegram from St. Inigoes, informing me that the picket guard established by my order, about a quarter of a mile inshore of the depot, had been twice fired at during the previous night. I immediately ordered the guard doubled and all boats on the St. Mary's River seized, and thinking it best not to go in the Steppinq Stones, went to Baltimore and directed the commander of that vessel to proceed to Gunpowder without me.
    On Wednesday I again communicated with St. Inigoes, and found everything going on satisfactorily. On Thursday I visited the Navy Department, and on my return to the Relay in the evening telegraphed to Lieutenant-Commander Eastman to report in Baltimore on Saturday morning, as I wished to run along the entire line of gunboats in the Chesapeake and Potomac. This telegram had not been received yesterday morning, which shows conclusively, I think, how impossible it would have been for me to direct operations on the Potomac while cruising in the bay.
    Oh Friday and Saturday I was in communication with St. Inigoes, Point Lookout, Yorktown, and Annapolis, and drew up and forwarded to the senior officer at Yorktown instructions in relation to trade at that point.
    I feel well assured that the Potomac and Chesapeake have been vigilantly guarded, but twice the number of boats constituting this flotilla could not prevent a canoe from crossing at night from Maryland to Virginia.
    It was this consideration which induced my suggestion to the honorable Secretary of War, in your presence, that a large cavalry force be sent to scour the northern neck, a suggestion which has but just been partially carried out by the sending of 200 horsemen to Coan River.
    I have made the above plain statement of facts in order that the Department may see that, while at my home, I was not unmindful or neglectful of my duty. In Washington I could have done no more; on board the Don not so much.
    During the whole of this accursed rebellion I have endeavored to do my duty faithfully and honestly to my Government and country, and feeling that I could perform no better service to either than by aiding in the apprehension of the vile assassin of our late lamented President, I am mortified and pained at the censure expressed in the Department's telegram. I earnestly trust, however, that upon a review of all the circumstances of the case the Department will be enabled to alter its opinion."

SECNAV telegrams RADM David D Porter, North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, "Continue to exercise the utmost vigilance over all vessels departing from the limits of your command. Booth is endeavoring to escape by water. Send a gunboat or some tugs to examine the shores and islands of the eastern shore of Virginia and all vessels in that direction, and arrest and seize all suspicious parties. If you have any tugs to spare, send them into the Potomac."

SECNAV telegrams RADM Samuel P Lee, Mississippi Squadron, "The utmost vigilance should be exercised on the Mississippi, especially the lower portion, to prevent the carrying across of plunder and property in the hands of Jeff Davis and his Cabinet and also to seize those persons. Allowance to persons for clothing when vessel is lost fixed by law. Investigate thoroughly relative to the oil."