Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-12-20
Report of the General-in-Ch
The Summer Campaigns in the States
of Virginia and Maryland.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25, 1862.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25, 1852.
Hon. E.. II. Stanton, Secretary Of Var:
SIR: In compliance with your orders, l
have the honor to submit the following
report of military operations since the
23d of July last, when, in compliance
with the Presidents order of July II, l
assumed command of the army as Gen.
eral-in- Chief.
The first thing to which my attention
was called on my arrival here was the
condition Of the army at Harrlson's Land
ing On the James river. l Immediately
visited Gen. McClellan's headquarters for
consultation. I left Washington on the
Oath and returned on the 9th. The
main object of this consultation was to
ascertain if there was a possibility of an
advance upon Richmond from Harrison's
Landing, and, if not, to form some plan
of uniting the armies of Gen. Mcclellan
and Gen. Pope on some other line. Not
being familiar with the position and num-
bers of the troops in Virginia and on the
coast, took the Presidents estimate OF
the largest number of achievements that
could then be sent to the Army of the
Potomac.
On the day of my arrival at Harrison's
Landing, Gen. Mcclellan was of opinion
that he would require at least fifty thou
send additional troops, informed him
that this number could not possibly be
sent, that l was not authorized to promise
him over twenty thousand, and that l
| could not we'll see how even that number
| no fol u Il
places. he took the night for considering
the matter, and informed me the next
morning that he would make the attempt
upon Richmond with the additional twen-
ty thousand. But Immediately on my
return to Washington he telegraphed that
he would require thirty-fve thousand, a
force which it was impossible to send
without leaving Washington and Balti-
more almost detenceless. The only alter
native now left was to withdraw the army
of the Potomac to some position where it
could unite with that of Gen. Pope, and
cover Washington at the same time that
it operated against the enemy.
After full consultation with my officers,
l determined to attempt this junction On
the Rappahannock, by bringing McClel
lan's forces to Aqua Greek. Accordingly,
on the S0th July, 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 order
that the transfer to Aqua Greek might be
made as rapidly as possible, l authorized
Gen. Mcclellan to assume control of all
the vessels on the James river and Chesa-
peake Bay, of which there was then q
vast fleet. The Quartermaster General
was also requested to send to that point
all the transports that could be procured.
On the. 5th | received a protest from
Gen. Mcclellan, dated the 4th, against the
removal of the army from Harrisons's
Landing, a copy of which is annexed
marked Exhibit No. l, with my reply on
the 9Th, marked Exhibit No. Q.
On the LIST of August | ordered General
Burnside to Immediately embark his
troops at Newport News, transfer them
to Aqua Greek, and take position opposite
Fredericksburg. This officer moved with
great promptness, and reached Aqua
Greek on the night of the Sd. His troops
were Immediately landed and the trans
ports sent back to Gen. Mcclellan.
About this time [ received information
that the enemy was preparing large
force to drive back Gen. Pope and attack
either Washington or Baltimore. The in
formation was so direct and reliable that
| could not doubt its correctness. This
gave me serious uneasiness for the safety
of the capital and Maryland, and repeat
eddy urged upon Gen. Mcclellan the ne
cessity of promptly moving his army so as
to form a junction with that of Gen. Pope.
The evacuation of Harrison's Landing,
showeVer, was not commenced till the 14th
eleven days after it was ordered.
| Greatly discouraged at the prospect of
timely aid from that quarter, authorized
General Pope to order tie main forces of
Gen. Cox in Western Virginia, with all
possible dispatch by railroad, to Join him
via Washington.
To facilitate the withdrawal of the army
OF the Potomac from the peninsula, and to
gain time by demonstration against the
enemy, Gen. Pope pushed his forces across
the Rappahannock, occupied Culpepper
and threatened Gordonsvile. Jackson's
and EwelPs forces were hurried to the
Rapidan, and on the 9th of August en-
countered Banks corps at Cedar Noun
tain. A hard fought battle ensued, and
on the arrival of reintorcements from the
corps of Mcdowell and SigeI, the enemy
fell back upon the Rapidan and Gordons-
vile.
On the 18th our cavalry surprised a
party OF the enemy near Louisa Court
House, and captured important dispatches,
showing that Lee was moving, BY forced
marches, the main body of the rebel army
to attack Pope before junction could be
formed between him and the army of the
Potomac. On the 10th l telegraphed
Gen. Pope not TO cross the Rapidan, and
advised him to take position in the rear Of
the Rapahannock, where he could be more
easily reinforced. He commenced this
movement on the 18th, and by the morn
ing of the 18th had most of bis forces be.
hind that river, prepared to hold its passes
as long as possible. He had been rein
forced by Kings division, and part of
Burnside's corps, under General Reno,
from Fredericksburg. l also directed
Gen. Burnside to occupy Richards and
barnett's fords, which were between him
and Gen. Pope's main army. The enemy
made several attempts to cross at different
points on the Rappahannock, but was al.
ways repulsed, and our troops succeeded
in holding the line of the river for eight
days.
1t was hoped that during this time suf-
hclent forces from the Army of the Poto-
mac would reach Aqua Greek to enable
US to prevent any further advance of Lee,
and eventually with the combined armies
to drive him back upon Richmond. On