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LCDR Edward Hooker, 1st Division, Potomac Flotilla, writes CDR Foxhall A Parker, Potomac Flotilla, "I have the honor to report that after having parted company with you off Jones Point, Rappahannock River, in obedience to your orders, I pushed on up the river. At first my progress was considerably delayed by the movements of the army boats having charge of coal and supplies.
    On my arrival at Tappahannock, however, I found some of the transports aground and the Yankee, Acting Master Cook, commanding, and army boat Chamberlain stopping to render them assistance. I also here found Brigadier-General [S. H.] Roberts, commanding the troops of the expedition, and deeming it proper that the commanding officers of both arms of the service should be together, I extended to him an invitation to make my ship his headquarters, an invitation which was promptly accepted by the general.
    The transports were soon got afloat, and in consideration of the weakness of the Yankees boiler, I deemed it proper to order her to bring up the extreme rear, in doing which she would be necessitated to carry but a light pressure of steam.
    The general also ordered the army gunboat Chamberlain to remain with and assist the Yankee in her duty.
    With the Read I then pushed forward up the river at full speed, shelling such places as I had suspicions of on my way.
    It was my original intention to have changed at Port Royal from the Commodore Read to some vessel of lighter draft, but on my arrival at that place I found that a freshet had raised the river some two or more feet and that the army boats were still in the advance and that time Yankee was yet some distance in the rear. I therefore decided to push on with the Read as rapidly as possible and to as high a point as I could with safety carry her.
    On my way up several boats were captured, but being of no value were destroyed. In this manner I reached the obstructions 6 miles below Fredericksburg at about 7 o'clock p. m. and anchored the ship. The Yankee arrived soon after. The latter part of the way I found some of the transports anchored or aground.
    After anchoring I dispatched Mr. Shurtleff and my pilot with a number of men to render such assistance as they might be able to do to the transports in moving up nearer or landing their troops where they then were. At the same time the general and myself started in my own gig for the city and landed at the wharf at about 9 o'clock p. m. We here found some detachments of the troops, while others were soon coming in. A picket of 50 men were crossed in my boat to the north bank of the river. The other troops were soon started to accomplish the object of the expedition. In this they were eminently successful, burning and destroying the railroad bridge, the depot, and a portion of the track at and near Hamilton's Crossing, some 6 miles from Fredericksburg; also the telegraph line was cut and the telegraphic apparatus brought away. A train of twenty-eight cars, eighteen of them being loaded principally with tobacco, and an army wagon train were also captured and burned.
    A considerable number of mules were captured, some thirty or forty prisoners taken. A mail containing a quantity of valuable information was secured. Within the city several hundred boxes of tobacco and some bales of cotton cloth were seized and loaded on one of the army boats.
    At 3 o'clock on Tuesday the troops were reembarked and we commenced the descent of the river. During the night several of the boats grounded, and some collisions occurred, but no very serious damage. I, however, found it necessary to relieve one of the transports and did so by putting 200 men on board the Yankee. During the descent the enemy made their appearance at various points, and in two or three instances their sharpshooters fired on the boats, but I am happy to report that we have no casualties. Their fire was promptly replied to by the Yankee, and at one or two points by the Read, the army boats also joining in shelling.
    At about 3 o'clock this p. m. (March 8) the expedition arrived in safety at the mouth of the river, the army portion of it proceeding direct to Fortress Monroe (the troops from the Yankee having been put on board one of the army boats) and the naval portion of it remaining here.
    In closing it is proper that I should express the pleasure which I have experienced in my late association with General Roberts and the confidence which he seemed to repose (expressed more in action than in words) in my ability to manage the floating part of the expedition."