Maryland free press., 1862-12-12

"Greatly discouraged at the prospects of
timely sid from that quarter, authorized Gen.
4 Pope to order the main forces of Gen. Cox, in
Western Virginia, with all possible dispatch
I by railroad, to join him via Washington. "'21-
I General Hallcck next enters upon review
4 of the operations brfore Washington. Speak
/ ing of Gen. Popes campaign, he sats: ."- a.
4 'Opr losses III these battles were very heavy.
both in life and materials. but as no official fe-
ports have been received, except brief sketch
from General Pope, marked Exhibit No a, 7
1 have no means of asccrtahling their extent
| General Pope was transferred to another de-
partment before the reports of his subordinates
could be received; probably they will soon be
handed in. Most of the troops actually en-
gagged in these battles fought With great brave
~, but some Of them could not be brought
into action at all Many thousands struggled
from their commands, and it is said that not
few voluntarily surrendered to the enemy, SO
as to be Paroled as prisoners of war. ~:
! 'In order to reorganize the different corps
get the stragglers back into their ranks and
to supply deficiencies of ammunition, clothing,
etc., caused by recent losses, Gen. Pope re-
quested and received directions to bring his
army within the defenses of Washington,
which were then under the command of Gen.
Mcclellan. This movement was executed on
the night Of the Sd without loss. Gen. Pope,
being now second in command Of the united
forces, applied to be relieved, and was trans
ferred to another department
although this short and active campaign
was, from causes already, referred to, less sue
cessful than we, had reason to expect, it has
accomplished the great and important object
of covering the capital till troops could be col
lected for its defense. Had the army of the
Potomac arrived few days earlier the rebel
army could have been easily defeated, and
pefhaps destroyed. 4'.. 1'7' % 3.-,' '' 3. .
gs, M'cLELLAN'sl CAMPAIGN IN MARYLAND.
OF Gen. McClellan's campaign In Mary
lands Gen. Halleck says: ,'''
'.As this campaign was to be carried on
Wit within the department. commanded by Maj.
sumo control Of all the troops within his reach
without. regard to department lines. The gar
rispns Of, Winchester and Martinsburg had
been, withdrawn to Harpers Ferry, and the
commanding officer Of. that post had been ad-
vised by my, chief of staff to mainly confnc
his defense in case he was attacked by superior
forces to, the position of Maryland Heights,
which could, have been, held long time
against overwhelming numbers.
"Ouri loss in the several battles on South
Mountain and atAntietam vas 1;742 killed,
s,e66 wounded and Sic missing; making to-
tai of 1921. Gen. Mcclellan estimates the
enemy's loss at nearly 10000; but their own
accounts give their loss at about, IA 900 in
killed and wounded. .........,,...,
"ont the approach of the enemy to Harpcr's
Ferry, the officer in command on Maryland
Heights destroyed his artillery and abandoned
his post, and on the 18th Col. Miles surrender
ed Harpers Ferry with only a slight resistance,
and within hearing of the guns of Gen. Nc
Clellans army. .....
From the 18th of September till the 26th of
October, Gen. McClellan's main army remain
ed en- the north side of the Potomac, in the
vicinity of Sharpsburg and Harper's Ferry.
The long inactivity of so large al army in the
face of defeated foe, and during the most
favorable season for rapid movements and a
vigorous campaign, was matter of great dis
appointment and regret. ... ..... ~. s.,...,.
.'ln reply to the tclegraphic order of the 9th
of October, Gen.. Mcclellan disapproved of the
plan of crossing tho Potomac south of the
Blue Ridge, and said tbat. he would cross at
Harper's Ferry and advance on Winchester.
He, however, did not begin to cross till the
25th of October, and then at Berlin His pas
sage occupied several days, and was compile
ted about the Sd of November. What caused
him to change his views, or what his plan of
campaign was am ignorant, for about this
time he ceased to communicate with me in
regard to his operation, sending his reports
directly to the President.
Con the 5th instant received the written
order Of the President, relieving General Nc
Clellan and placing Gen. Burnside in the COM
mand of the Army of the Potomac. This
order was transmitted by special messenger,
who delivered it to Gen. Mcclellan at Rector
town on the It'll" 49,.
The above concludes that portion of Gen.
Hallecks report which relates to the operations
of the Army Of the Potomac.
.,.. TIE CORRESPONDENCE. .-.,.
The following are the dispatches which
passed between Mcclellan and Halleck on. the
subject of leaving the Peninsula. Mcclellan's
dispatch was by telegraph and in cipher, that
of Halleck, ir reply, was in manuscript:
EExnlBlT No. l. Copy in cipher ],
4ohloG fBERKELEY, Va, Aug. 4, 1862.
60 Major General RalLeck, Commander-ir,-
Chiee--Your telegram of last evening is re-
ceiycd. / must confess that it has caused me
the greatest pain ever experienced, for am
convinced that the order to draw this army to
Aq,tia Greek will prove disastrous in the ex-
treinc to our cause, l fear it will be fatal
III 81. 4.