New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-11-14
GEN NCALLS MOVEMENT TOWARD
LEESBTRG.
REPLY TO THE HON. Z. MCPHERSON, VOL
UNTEER AID.

Sir: letter from the Hon. Edward Mcpherson,
volunteer aid to Gen. Mccall, appears in Tuesday
TRIBUNE purpcrIing to correct some alleged errone-
ous statements and conclusions which appear in my
letter Of the 9Th inst and hich are said also 10 sl
pear in the report of Gen. Stone on the subject Of
tie Reconnaissance to Drainsville.
/ The impression under which Mr.. Mcpherson seems
TO write il hat an eudeavor has been made either
by Gen. Some, or by myself or by us jointly, to re-
feet in some way, upon tbe conduct Of Gen. Mccall
and bis division, while they were conducting thar
reconnaissance. Now, al that have to ray Il re-
gard TO such insng.iion H. thsi nothing was further
either from NY intention Or my language while, 50
far as Gen. Stone Is concerned though he will, per-
haps. not thank me for defending him. be has abso-
lutey said nothing whatever in his report which re-
laies 10 Gen. Mccall at all, beyond the mere State
ment that, having been apprisedby Gen. Mcclellan
of McCalls movements upon DraiDsyille, he Stone
had proceeded with his troops TO Edwards Ferry.
in order to keep Leesburg under watch, and that
while thus acting in accordance with bis orders, he
had perceived that McCalis movements in that drec
ton had attracted the attention OF the enemy
Finding nothing in these expressions Of Gen.
Stone which inhicts great injustice upon Gen.
Mccall or his division, let me ask the privilege Of
repeating what was said by on the subject Of the
Evansville movement. Ny fret allusiou to it comes
in reference to the desire of Gen. Mcclellan to advance
his right wing, by enyelopug Leesburg, in unison
with the forward progress Of his center and it reads
az follows:
Accordingly and proper preliminary to such demon
st-son Gen. Nee en ordered Gen Mccall whose Division
established at Langey's IN Virgins, some distance 70
the south of Leesbqrs to make reconnaissance N iIce ~
I oh
that Goose Creek II necessary TO pertec his ooserVa0n'
The second paragraph of my report which touches
/ the reconnaissance reads:
MeGnw lille Gen Mcclellan having been apprsed 6y Cen
Mccall who had succe,suly arrived A. Drainsve that
there indications Of the euey being IN consideIsoe
force "a the direction Of Leesbug sid there being therefore
some larger Of flank attack from Cenreve dispatched or
eers TO that Officer a. AeT hour on tHe ttrfnooG Oh te
2h TO return with his division from Dausye back % Ms
% a. he .,e dine rd word 70 that effect to Cen Stone
evidently upposug that Stone would ccnhue himself to the
scope instructions Forwarded through Col C2barn and
thus exceed observatory and auxiliary attitude While
therefore Stone grouping hs force. a. Coonad'
soi.ss6ce q Phbriek division Of Mccall m0v.as
nom the scene"
| This being all that was ssd in my letter on the
subject Of Gen. Mccall or his reconnaissance, let us
See what il is, of which the honorable gentleman
from Pennsylvania complains. The repetition of a
portion OF his language WILL in the first place, show
US to what extent the movements Of his General
/ have been mis-stated.
He opens his letter ty saying, Gen. McCalls re-
connossance TO Drainsyille has been strangely mis-
understood, its purpose msstated, and its results
nisapprehended. This is due" continues he, "to
,eyeral causes chief Of which its supposed con-
nection with the affair at Balls Bluff and the refer
enee to it, made in the report of Brig Stone"
. "The movement of Gen. Mccall on Satur-
/ ~. Ia aiy,ylty a
connoissarce, was 30 intended, and at no time
changed its character lis object was to make an
accurate examination of the country between Lang
lev and Drainsville, and Of that around Evansville
roiihin three or four miles" No purpose
was expressed in any official quarter, Of sending the
division, or any part of it, far as Goose Creek,
for observations, or any other object"
These representations of the philosophy Of the re-
connossance turn out after ALL therefore, to be iden-
teal with mne except in the matter Of Goose Creek
Unfortunately for my accuracy, that classic stream
lies somewhat more than midway between Drains
vile and Leesburg % miles, my geographical il
ustraton of the intended scope Of the reconnaissance
makes an ncongruity between the official orders, and
nv measurement, of some two or three miles. The
difference between the honorable gentleman version
of McCalls report and the brief one which gave in
passing to my climax, is scarcely more important.
II was matter Of no consequence to the main action
of the drama which described, whether Mccall re-
ported no enemy in front, otherwise, 80 that
he was ordered back at given point Of time, and
that Stone was not informed of it. The statement
which adopted from fair information, upon this incl
dental point, was equally creditabe to Gen. Mccall
with the one which is now given by bis
add for he is not charged by anybody with
being responsible for the inception with
drswal Of the Drainsville expedition. He was
in that connection mere automaton, moved hither
and thither by superior direction, and not being
within sound Of the battle near Coonrads Ferry and
moreover, having no volition in the matter, be and
bis troops did themselves as much credit in moving
one way as another. 1t appears to me to be simply
puerile to assume that my expression, that "while
Stone was grouping his forces at COonrads and Ed
wardss Ferries, the division Of Mccall uOring
from The scene" could possibly reflect dscredit upon
the Pennsylvania General or his division. II ap-
pears rather that the capdousness Of such translation
springs from desire to appear in print, than from
any stod misconceptions but if my language has act
ually been swallowed so obliquely, am glad to have
this opportunity TO state, that no reproaeh could posi-
bly, attach to Gen. Mccall or his soldiers for their
firing march.
hh probably in view Of this idea, that Mr.. ne
Pherson finds it necessary to insist that the move
meuts Of Mccall and Stone had not the slightest re-
laton to each other and that am in error when |
thus connect them. The difference between the
gentleman and myself in this matter is that while
the scope Of his vision has been confined to his own
brigade bad chosen q standpoint from which l
could obserye the entire field. broader hand than
that Of Gen. Mccall was combining the two opera.