New-York daily tribune., 1861-11-12
GEN. INGALLS, Reconnaissance To
DRAINESVILLE.

LETTER OF non. IDWAED MPHiRsON, NJ. C..
FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
10 As Editor Of Tue y. !. Tribune.
SIR: Gen. McCals reconnaissance TO Dfaines-
vile, III miles from this point, on the Georgetown
and Lcesburg turnpike, has boon strangely misun-
deieood ia purposo misiated and its results misap-
pretended. This is due 10 soyere causes, chief OF
which are s supposed connection with the affair at
Bale Bluff, and the reference to It made in tho re-
mort of Brig.- ten Stone. As the facts concerning
(, have no, been fully and correctly stated, and ts
relations TO the dcplorabe affair the Upper Poto-
VAC are not clearly comrrehended, and great in
iustice has thereby been done 20 tho corps which
,pado the Reconnaissance, and 10 It's commanding
General. deem II proper TO call public attention to
he actual stute Of the caseseecting as The ba,s OF
remark NOTIONS Of the criticism of Z" q. W. IN IHE
'rRIBuNE of Nov. >, on Gen. Stones movement.
The movement of Gen. Mccall Oh Saturday, Oct.
10 toward Drainesyie was simply reconnoiS-
sance. was 80 Intended and at no time changed ito
character Ia purpose was To make an accurate ex-
animation of the country between Langley and
II Drainesyle and Of that around Drainesvllle with
In three or fonr miles. The whole force was taken
hacouse the opportunity war good one Tor Il march
inc drill. One brigade only advanced to Draines-
vile and protected that reconnaissance. the others
bvouacng at fIed points ON the road. Your CORES
noudent says that Gen. Mccall instructed TO adj
vance AZ far as Goose Creek II necessary Tor his
Z, observations" This Is n mistake No purpose
was expressed In any official quarter, Of sending the
division, or any part OF it, as TAR as Goose Creek
for " observations or any other object nor WAS
there mention or alluson TO such a contingency in
his instructions The rcconnoissance was expressly
limited 10 Drainesville and its immediate vicinity,
and had no significance toward points beyond.
Another error is the statement that upon reaching
Drainesville Gen. Mccall apprised Gen. Mcclellan
that there were indications Of the enemy being In
considerable numbers in the direction OF Leesburg.
Nothing could be more erroneous. Gen. McCall did
not meet the enemy between Langley and Draines-
Vile, nor at Drilinesvle Q3 miles from Leesburgl
did he discover any indications Of the presence of
the enemy in considerable numbers at Leesburg."
He did not expect to do either. Before leaving
CAMP at Langley he was advised that the enemy
had retired from Leesburg; and ON his arrival at
Drainesville this information WAS eOrroborated by
the residents of the place and vicinity, who stated
that Oh the Tuesday previous five days before Cen
Eyanss brigade had crossed Goose Creek on their
way TO Manassas. Gen. McCalIs dispatches to the
Commanding General Were of "a tenor wholly dlller-
ent from that stated by your correspondent OF No.
yember 5. They were TO the effect that the enemy
were nc. supposed TO be at Leesburg that the Lou
don aud Hampshire Railroad was probably tile line
Of the enemys pckets in south.westerly direction
and that the nearest force oi the enety was al Cen
trevile, 16 miles distant. Whatever attempt may
be made to censure any one upon the assumption
that Gen. Mccall made apy esentetions dii'ereh
from those above stated, will be in defiance oil ths
facts.
A third misapprenension of your correspondent O
November 5 is, that Gen. McCall.s return to Lang
ley on Mondr.S, October 81, was the consequence
supposed "danger of flank attack from Center
ville; eni that this order to return 10 reversal OIL
prsyi.a5ly snisrtained purpose, vas gwen " p''