Scope and Contents note
                    
To Mother. The 
                        Achilles will be at Fort Monroe by tomorrow. Sturgis attempted to find a new cook in Washington, but had no success. The ship was ordered to tow several vessels bound for Hatteras: 
                        Condor, 
                        Susan Duncan, four schooners 
                        G.C. Morris, 
                        Dean G. Higgins, 
                        Maryland, and 
                        John Farrow. The vessels held troops for part of Van Allen’s, 3rd New York Cavalry, and the 
                        Achilles is scheduled to stop at Fort Monroe to pick up soldiers from General Wools to reinforce General Burnside. The 
                        Achilles is currently under the order of Lieutenant Colonel Mix and staff, who are aboard the 
                        John Farrow. Sturgis describes the men of the 3rd N.Y. Cavalry, and how they drill and spar on the decks of the ships. While the ship and crew were anchored at Piney Point, they took leisure time and ate oysters.