Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1861-12-27
The Army of the Potomac and the Generals
',. of Division. ss .t. ante, .r,.,n. q,

The ground now held by the Federal army
Of the Potomac in Virginia extends from
Great Falls, ten miles above Washington on
the Potomac, to Accotink Creek, fifteen miles
below the city on the river. The front pre-
sents the arc Of circle, touching Vienna,
Flint Hill, Annondale Burk's Station, &c
A line from Washington to the center of the
extreme front would measure twelve miles,
and from the front to Fairfax Court House is
five and to Centervile ten miles. In rear of
the army in the field is an inner circle pre-
sentlng complete, and perfect line of fortifi-
cations, extending from the Chain Bridge
above Georgetown to Hunting Greek below
Alexandria, a distance of twelve miles, The
army is divided into eight divisions and the
territory occupied before the Notifications is
parceled out so as to give each division a
place in front. ..r1.aas = .." ."." .f"a .'
First, at the extreme right, near Great Falls,
Fis that Of Gen. Mccall, Pennsylvania who
was called from retirement by the present
war. He graduated at West Point in 1922,
and served with great distinction in Mexico.
Second, the division of Gen. VIM. L. Smith,
g Vermonter. He is Captain of Topograph-
cal Engineers in the regular service and
BrigadierGeneral of volunteers, and stood
four in the West Point class of lS45. ....!
Third, the division of Gen. FitzjoEn Porter.
Col. of the Fifteenth Infantry in the regular
service and Brigadier- G General of volunteers.
He is New Hampshire man, stood eight in
the West Point class of 1915, and served with
distinction in the Mexican war.
Fourth, the division of Gen Mcdowell.
Brigadier-Gen. in the regular service, whose
name and record are familiar to every one.
Fifth, the division Of Gen Blenker, Of Eu-
ropean fame. He commanded the first brig
ade of the first Col Miles, division at Bull
Run. .'
Sixth, the division of Gen. .Wm B. Franklin,
Colonel Of the Twelfth Infantry in the regu-
lar army and Brigadier- General of volunteers.
He is Pennsylvania, and stood one in the
West Point class of 1913, and distinguished
himself in the Mexican war. .+ ..' ..
Seventh, the division of Gen Heintzelman,
Colonel of the Seventeenth Infantry in the
regular service and Brigadier- General of vol
untecrs. He is Pennsylvania, graduate
Of West Point in 1926, and man who made
his mark in the Mexican war ."
Eight, the division of Gen. Sumner, on the
extreme left. lie is Massachusetts, man,
Brigadier General in the regular service, not
a graduate of West Point, and has lust re-
turned from California. He entered the ser
vice in 1919. He has a good fighting record.
In addition to these divisions it is said
that an important command is being formed
for General Keys, Colonel of the Eleventh
Regular Infantry and Brigadier General of
volunteers to operate on the left s.
The strength of the above eight divisions
is of course not known, but it is fact that
at the late review they sent 10000 to the
field of inspection, leaving sufficient force
to double guard the camps and fortifcations.
The total force is estimated at 10000 men,
to say nothing of Banks division above and
the forces below Washington on the left bank
of the Potomac.