"U.S. Gunboat 'Penobscot,'
"Off Cape Fear, N.C.,
"September 23, 1862.
"Sir: I have to inform you that seven contrabands came to this vessel this morning who gave their own and their masters' names as follows:
"William, owned by S.G. Northrop, of Wilmington.
"Lewis, owned by Dr. McCrea, of Wilmington.
"Ben Greer, owned by P.K. Dickinson, of Wilmington.
"George, owned by T.D. Walker, of Wilmington.
"Virgil Richardson, owned by James Bradley.
"Abraham Richardson, owned by D.A.F. Flemming.
"No information of importance was elicited, except that the steamer Mariner, loaded with cotton, tobacco, and turpentine, was ready for sea and would make an early attempt to run the blockade of this port.