...lack River, bearing date 3 P. M. that day, informing me that two Federal gunboats were near that place, proceeding up the river. At 10 o'clock P. M., the same day, I received a communication from Lieutenant Stone , of Captain Purvis's company, to the effect that our scouts opposite Alexandria had obtained information that four gunboats had left that place for the avowed purpose of capturing Fort Beauregard. ...