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West Point King Wm. Cy Va
February 14th, 1866.

Captain C.B. Wilder
A.Q.M. & Supt 9th. District Va
Fort Monroe Va.

Captain,

I have inquired in regard to the light ship and Boiler reported as sunk in the Mattapony and Pamunkey rivers. I find that the light ship, formally the York spit light boat, it was taken by the rebels burned and the hull now lies at Gloss island (2 miles from here) in the Mattapony river.  It was burned in 1862.  The bottom of the boat was coppered.

The boiler (which was new) was built for a steamboat (or ram) and was thrown over board by the Federal Forces, in 1863 in the Pamunkey river.  It is a hard matter for me to tell what either the boat or boiler are worth.

The only way that I can see is to have a diver sent here and let him ascertain the particulars (under water) about them,