The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-12-18


He took the night for considering the
matter, and informed me next morn
ing that no would make the attempt
upon Richmond with the additional
10000, but Immediately upon my re-
turn to Washington he telegraphed
that he would require $4,000 force
which it was impossible to send him
without leaving Washington and Bal
timore almost defenceless. The only
alternative now left was to withdraw
the Army of the Potomac to some po-
sition where it could unite with Gen.
Pope, and cover Washington at the
same time that it operated against the
enemy. After full consultation with
my officers, / determined to attempt
this junction on the Rappahannock, by
bringing McCleIlan's forces to Aqua
Greek. Accordingly on the 3Oth July
l telegraphed to him to send away his
sick as quickly as possible, preparatory
to a movement of his troops. This
was preliminary to the withdrawal of
his entire army, which was ordered by
telegraph On the Sd of August. In Or
der that the transfer to Aqua Creek
might be made as rapidly as possible,
authorized Gen. Mcclellan to assume
control of the vessels in the James Riv-
err and Chesapeake Bay, of which there
was then vast fleet. The Quarter
Master General was also requested to
send to that point all the transports
that could be procured. On the 5th /
received protest from Gen. McClel-
Ian, dated the 4th, against the removal
of his army from Harrison's Landing,
a copy of which is annexed, marked
Exhibit No. 1, with my reply on the
9Th, marked Exhibit No. 2.
On the lst of August ordered Gen.
Burnside to Immediately embark his
troops at Newport News, transfer them
to Aqua Creek, and take position op.
posite Fredericksburg. This officer
moved with great promptness, and
reached Aqua Creek on the night of
the Sd. His troops were Immediately
landed, and the transports sent back to
Gen. Mcclellan.
GEN. M'CLELLAN's DELAYS.
| About this time / received informa
ton that the enemy was preparing a
large force TO drive back Gen. Pope,
and attack either Washington or Bal
timore. The information was SO direct
and trustworthy that could not doubt
its correctness. This gave me serious
uneasiness for the safety of the Capital
and Maryland, and repeatedly urged
upon Ger. Mcclellan the necessity of
promptly moving his army SO as to form
a junction with that of Gen. Pope.
The evacuation of Harrison7s Landing,
however, was not commenced till the
l4th, eleven days after it was ordered.
Greatly discouraged at the prospect
of timely aid from that quarter, l au-
thorized Gen. Pope TO order the main
forces of Gen. Cox in Western Virgi-
MIA, with all possible dispatch to join
him via Washington. To facilitate the
withdrawal of the Army of the Poto-
mac from the Peninsula, and to gain
time by demonstration against the
enemy, Gen. Pope pushed his forces
across the Rappahannock, occupied
Culpepper, and threatened GordOns
vile. Jackson and Ewell's forces were
hurried to the RapidalH and on the 9th
of August encountered Banks corps al
Cedar Mountain. A hard fought bat
tie ensued, and on the arrival of rein
forcements from the corps of Generals
Mcdowell and Sigel, the enemy fel
back upon the Rapidan and Gordons
vile.
! On the 10Th our cavalry surprised {
party of the enemy near Louisa Cour
House, and captured important dis
Ipatches, showing that Lee was moving
by forced marches the main body o
the rebel army to attack Pope, befor.
junction could be formed betweei
him and the Army of the Potomac
On the 10th / telegraphed to Genera
Pope not to cross the Rapidan, and ad
vised him to take position in the rea
of the Rappahannoek, where he coul,
he more easily reinforced. He com
menced this movement on the ! 7th, ant
by the morning of the 18th had mos
OF his forces behind that river, prepared
TO hold its passes as long as possible
r He had been reinforced by Kings di
s vision and part of Bnrnside's corp
J. under Gen. Reno, from Fredericksburg
also directed Gen. Burnside to occu
py Richards and Barnett's Fords
which were between him and Genera
Pope's main army. .r, s8 Gsfi8 baa
f POPE's CAMPAIGN. aofoi
S The enemy made several attempts t
D cross at different points on the Kappa
!, hammock, but was always repulsed, AM
y our troops succeeded in holding tn
3 line of this river for eight days. l
q was hoped that during this time suffi
f cient forces from the Army of the Po
y tomac would reach Aqua Creek to en-
i able us to prevent any further advanc
r of Lee, and eventually, with the com
n bined armies, to drive him back upol
!. Richmond. 1f5aa1 te9l2 'i- -
n On the oath be made flank move
i ment, and crossed portion of hi
d forces at Waterloo Bridge, and a
It twelve miles above the Rappahannoc
r railroad station. Pope directed an al
II tack upon the forces which had crosse
g the river, hoping to cut them off, bu
s the enemy escaped with no great los,
e The annexed telegram from Gen. Pope
,e marked Exhibit, No. 8, and dated tn
B. 25th, gives his views Of the conditio
y of affairs at that date. The enem,
" however had not fallen hack as