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CDR J C Howell, USS Nereus, writes SECNAV from Beaufort, NC "I have the honor to inform the Department that unless I shall receive counter orders in the next half hour I shall sail for Mariguana Passage this day.
    On the 14th of December I received orders from Admiral Paulding, at New York, to convoy the Dictator to Norfolk (Hampton Roads). I fouled a buoy in getting underway, and I did not leave until the 16th of December, 1864.
    On my arrival at Hampton Roads I found telegraphic orders to proceed to Mariguana Passage. As the pilot was coming on board to take me out I received verbal orders to follow Commodore Rodgers to Norfolk. Did so, and while there received orders to tow the Saugus to Wilmington. Arrived at Wilmington on the morning of the 25th December, and participated in the bombardment of Fort Fisher on that day.
    On the 27th December received verbal orders from Admiral Porter to proceed to Beaufort, coal, etc., and go to Mariguana. Was detained off the bar three days by a gale.
    On the 2d of January, 1865, received verbal orders from Admiral Porter to remain and take part in the next engagement. Participated in the glorious actions of the 13th and 15th January, 1865.
    On the 17th of January, 1865, received written orders to proceed to Mariguana, and about one-half hour after, received written orders to tow the Mahopac to Charleston and verbal permission to return to Beaufort for stores and various articles left there; also orders to proceed to Mariguana, which last orders I am on the point of obeying."

James Taylor, NAVSTA St Inigoes, telegrams Master William tell Street, Fuchsia, "By orders of the commander, you will place your vessel near the Roanoke, and remain there until further orders, with just sufficient steam to go ahead at a moments warning. Send Dragon to Rappahannock, to report to Captain Hayden [Hyde?] to give up cruising with the vessels under his command and economize in every way in coal. Those who have coal must share with those who have none. I will send his coal as soon as we can. Be vigilant and be ready to go ahead at a moments warning.
    Send the Dragon here as soon as she returns from the Rappahannock."

CDR D Lynch, Inspector of Ordnance, telegrams CDR W A Parker, 5th Division, North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, "The Bureau of Ordnance can not furnish the torpedoes required, and desires to be informed whether those on board the Stromboli or those captured from the rebels will not answer."

RADM Jonathan Dahlgren, South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, writes SECNAV "I have received the paper enclosed by the Department in relation to the harbor of Georgetown.
    The subject has not escaped my attention. The Department will find in a previous dispatch (23d September, No. 471) an observation to the effect that the detachment of Captain Colvocoresses had interfered with the execution of some plans. This referred more immediately to a raid on Georgetown, designed to capture the battery in that harbor and effectually close it. Captain Colvocoresses had been sent up, and made a full reconnoissance of the ground, and the preparations were going on. It is not every naval officer who has a taste for such matters, and I was entirely at a loss at the time for an officer of sufficient rank and experience to be entrusted with 500 sailors away from the ships, and to ensure a perfect concert with the vessels.
    Soon after (September 29) the Wabash was detached, and that deprived me of at least 300 men that I had counted on, and could not replace. So I had to postpone the design for the time.
    Since that time I have kept as good a vessel off the port as could be spared.
    The Department's communication of the 13th instant has been so far anticipated that on the arrival of fresh vessels from the North Atlantic Squadron I sent there the State of Georgia, and ordered the Tuscarora, also the Mingoe, as soon as she could be spared from action with the division of General Foster on the Tulifinny.
    When the diversions and demonstrations asked for by General Sherman have been concluded by his advance, I may have to give some attention to Georgetown, in order to meet any contingency dependent on his desire to communicate.
    I observe that Admiral Porter, in one of his squadron orders, says that he can land 2,000 men and not feel it.
    If I could do that, many effective enterprises might be conducted on this coast. But the squadron is now 600 men short, and even the detail for the fleet brigade, 500 men, was the cause of continued appeals to me from the vessels.
    I will reorganize the brigade again as soon as it is possible, and hope that it may be convenient to fill the complements of ships at an early date.
    If sailors are organized they will stand fire ashore just as well as soldiers; and no better duty was done by any regiment in the expedition of Broad River than by the sailors and marines of the brigade. They never gave way.
    I gave my personal attention to the organization and drill for three days, and went ashore with them at Boyd's Neck, where they landed and pushed well up ahead before a regiment was ashore; the sailors, marines, and howitzers deployed as skirmishers over an extended front."

LCDR Richard W Meade, Jr. USS Chocura, writes CAPT George F Emmons, 2nd Division, West Gulf Blockading Squadron, "I have the honor to report the following occurrences at this point:
    The escape of the steamer Granite City, on the night of the 20th instant, and a fruitless pursuit of 60 miles on our part; the escape of the Wave on the same night; the cutting out and destruction of the three-masted schooner Delphina, on the night of 22d instant, by a force of 40 men in our launch and first cutter, under my personal command.
    The night of 20th was dark, foggy, and rainy; the ship was anchored in 14 feet water as near the mouth of the Calcasieu as possible (2 miles). Our picket boat saw the Granite City (in fact was nearly run down by her) and burned the prescribed signals; but unfortunately it was so foggy that they were not seen by the ship, and the Granite City went off S. E. We only learned this the next morning early, and I at once gave chase S. E., but our boilers being in a disabled condition, and leaking badly, the speed of the ship was so much reduced that I reluctantly gave up the hope of over taking the Granite City before she could make a port. The prisoners taken in the Delphina report that the Granite City had no cargo, and has gone into Galveston to load; that the Wave had a load of lumber for Rio Grande.
    The disabled condition of this vessel rendered it quite impossible to blockade two steamers, and my dispatch of 16th instant to you, in which I expressed fears that they would give us the slip, notwithstanding our ceaseless vigilance, has been only too well realized. We have steam on only one boiler now, and the other may give out at any moment; the vessel absolutely needs to go into port. The Delphina being destroyed, leaves no vessel in Calcasieu, and the port is a very obscure one and little frequented. I shall proceed to Sabine Pass for coal, and lest we should break down entirely, I urgently request that you will send the vessel into some port at once. If this can not be done, I most respectfully~feel myself constrained to request to be relieved of the command, as efficiency is not possible in the present condition of the Chocura's boilers, and my health is becoming seriously impaired by nine months ceaseless and constant vigilance on this coast without proper diet and no relaxation."

RADM Samuel P Lee, Mississippi Squadron, writes SECNAV "Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Dominy, commanding U. S. S. General Bragg, reports under date of December 31, that he had ascended Old River in the Peri and had captured at different points 120 boxes of tobacco; and hearing that a Confederate colonel named C. P. Jones, inspector-general of the Trans-Mississippi Department, was trying to cross Old River to get to the Mississippi, he sent an officer with two armed boats to McGill's plantation and found there the colonels sword and baggage, which he took possession of, but did not succeed in capturing the officer of whom he was in search.
    I have directed the captured property to be disposed of as directed by my enclosed General Order No. 30."