Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1862-12-08
THE EVACUATION OF THE PENrNsU.
LATHE DELAY IN THE JUNCTION
OF THE FORCES OF GENERALS Me-
CLELLAy AND POPE.


McClellan's own estimate of the reinforce
offensive operations from that point. When
Gen. Halleck visited him, about the 25th of
July, he stated that he would require at least
fifty thousand additional troops to enable him
10 move upon Richmond; but when told that
twenty thousand was the utmost that could be
safely withdrawn from other places, he agreed
to make the attempt with that number. lmme-
distely on Gen. Halleck's return TO Washing
ton, however, Gen. Mcclellan telegraphed that
he would require thirty-ive thousand; force
which he had been advised 1t would be impos-
sible to send him without leaving Washington
and Baltimore in imminent peril. Subsequent
events have demonstrated how completely the
of the enemy, II half that number of troops had
been withdrawn from its front. In view of
these facts, it is passing strange, that Oh the
4th of August, the next day after receiving the
order TO withdraw his army, Gen. Mcclellan
should have solemnly protested against it
against leaving place from which he insisted
he could do nothing without renforcements,
which 1t was impossible to furnish.
The report shows, what was generally under
TODD before, that the object Of General Pope's
expedition across the Rappahannock, threaten
ing Gordonsville, was ito facilitate the with
drawal of the army of the Potomac from the
Peninsula, and to gain time by demonstration
against the enemy" In this, 1t was completely
successful. Its disastrous termination is shown
H., 1. .l,.Il. H.
unaccountsble delay of Gen. McClellan's army
in forming the junction with Gen. Pope's army
which had been ordered a delay which il lie
manifest the general-in-chief had not the slight
est reason to spprehend. On the Both of July
Gen. Mcclellan was ordered TO send away his
sick, preparatory to the removal Of his entire
army. On the Sd of August he was ordered to
transfer his army TO Aqua Creek as rapidly as
possible, and to enable him TO do SO. the vast
feet of vessels then lying in the James river
and Chesapeake Bay, was placed under his con-
troll, and the quartermaster general was ordered
to send him all the additional transports that
could be procured. About this time General
Hslleck received such information of the prepa-
tions OF the enemy for sending large force TO
uiiN' hd'h 'Nhcldl ppt' anu W alNd'h 'llHNT
Washington or Baltimore, as induced him TO
repeatedly urge upon Gen. Mcclellan the ne
essity Of promptly moving his army to form a
motion with that of Gen. Pope.
And vet, the evacuation of Harrison's Land
ing was not commenced until the 14th, Glspti
days after il had been ordered;' and .6dSel
days after Mdf, a junction with Gen. Pope's
laa In, Al
to have averted the disaster which befel 1t, and
to have turned the tide of battle against the
enemy. Even if every corps of the Army OF
the Potomac which did reach Gen. Pope in
time TO have participated in the final struggle,
had been brought into action pursuant 10 the
orders OF that general, there is reason to be.
lieve that his army might have maintained Its
ground and repulsed the enemy.
II is known that the main body OF troops
from the Peninsula, instead of being landed al
Aqua Creek, as was at first intended, were
brought up TO Alexandria, point much nearel
the position which the contending armies had
assumed. Gen. Halleck states, in his report
that these troops I" were ordered not 10 wait fol
transportation, but TO march Immediately Il
the field of battle;' and that "some of the corpi
moved with becoming activity, hu. the delay
of others were neither creditable nor excusable.'
The country knows how assiduously newspa
per correspondents and partizan military Off
GERS have labored 10 produce the impression
that Gen. Pope's movements, after falling bacl
from the Rappahannock, were without plan
and governed by no intelligent appreciation o
the emergencies with which he was surrounded
Gen. Haleck bears testimony TO the contrary
however, in the following language
Gen. Pope's dispositions at this juncturt
were well planned. The corps of Mcdowell
and Sgel, and the Pennsylvania reserves unde
ReynoldB, were pushed forward TO Gainesville
Reno and Kearney were directed upon Green
wich; while Hooker's division was sent agains
Ewell along the railroad. Unfortunately, how
evor, the movement was too late, as a large de
tachment of Lees army was already east o
Thoroughfare Gap.
Hooker encountered the enemy near Kettl,
Run, and a sharp engagement ensued. Thi
gallant division drove Ewell distance of ilv,
miles, the enemy leaving their dead and many
Of their wounded on the field. A Mcdowell
eigel, and Reynolds had reached their positions
there was now every prospect that jackson
would be destroyed before reinforcements coult
come TO his relief. On the evening Of the eth
General rope Ofthfed General forter 10 be a
bristow's station by daylight on the morning
OF the 2sth, with Morrell, and also directed hin
to communicate to Banks the order 10 NOV
forward TO Wsrrenton Junction. All train
were ordered this side of Cedar Run, and to b
protected by regiment of infantry and a sec
ton Of artillery. For some unexplained res
sons, Porter did not comply with this order, an
his corps was not In the battle Of the 2sth an
29th.
HeinrZleman's corps pressed forward l.
Manassas ON the morning Of the 2Sth, an
forced jackson TO retreat across Bull Run, b,
the CentreyilIe turnpike. Mcdowell had sue
ccrded in checking Lee at Thoroughfare GaT
nut the latter took the road from Hopeville I
New Market, and hastened 10 the relief {
Jackson, who was already in rapid retreat.
portion Of McDowell's corps encountered II
retreating column, on the afternoon Of III
2eth, near the Warrenton turnpike, and sever
but successful engagement ensued. Jackso
was again attacked on the goth, near the ol
battle-ground Of July, 1851. Knowing tbs
Longstreet was not distant, he made mos
desperate stand. The fight continued nearl
al day, and was terminated only by darkness
We had gained considerable ground, but nothin
was decided when the battle was closed.
was renewed the next morning, and, after aI
other days hard fighting, our forces fell bac
behind Bull Run, the enemy not attempting an
pursuit"