The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-11-19
Letter PROM 0ESERAl
HALLECR-
aeClsliss's D,sob<dleaes - Orders.
HIAparARrxRs Of the Army

oBApQCAkrkkS O NC Arms
Washington, Oct. 2Sth, 1853.
Ion. Z " Stanton, Secretary cf War
SIR: In reply to the general iaserroga''ons
Contained in y. ur letter OF yesterday, have the |
,ouor to report: .t.
First. acquisitions for supplies TO the army
lnder General Mcclellan ere made By his SIAN
,fscers on the Chiefs Of Bureaus, that is, the
lu.rtermaster applies by his Chief Quartermss-
er on the Qasrsermssser General, for commits
,ary supplies b, his Chief CommissAry on the
General. &c. No such acquisitions
have u nv know ledge been made upon the Sec
rotary of War, and none upon the Generalin
Chief
Second On several occasions Gen. Mcclellan
has tel-graphed to me that his army VAS de6c.
lent in certain supplies. All these kilograms
we're Immediately referred TO heads Of Bureaus.
y i,h orders to report There has been, 40 far
as l could ascertain. no delay or neglect in
any Department or Bureau, in issuing all the
supplies asked for 10y General Mcclellan, or BY
the officers OF his staff. Delays have occasion
ally occurred in forwarding supplies by railroad
on account Of the crowded condition OF she rail
road depots, or the wait of . sufficient number
OF cars.
Third. Soon after the battle Of Antietam Gen.
Mcclellan Was urged to give me information OF
his intended mOvements, in order that il he
moved between the enemy and Washington, the
reinforcements could be sent from this place
On the LIST OF October, finding that he proposed
to operate from Harpers Ferry, l urged him TO
cross the'river at once and give battle 10 the
envy. pointing out to him the disadvantages OF
DELAYING until the autumnal rains had swollen
the Potomac and impaired the roads. On the
9th Of October be was psremptorily ordered To
cross the Potomac aud give battle to the enc
nv, or drive him South. said to him, your
army must move nov, while the roads are in
good condition" II will be observed that three
weeks has elapsed since that order Vas given.
Fourth In my opinion there has been no
such want Of supplies ia the army under General
Mcclellan ~ to prevent his compliance with nv
orders to advance upon the enemy. Had be
moved his Amy to the south side Of the Poto-
mac be could have received his supplies almost
AS readily a. by remaining Inactive on the north
side.
Fifth. On the 7th OF October, in . telegram in
regard 10 his intended movements, Gen. AcClel.
Ian stated that it would require at least three
days to supply the Fret Filth and Sixth Corps.
that they needed shoes and Other indispensable
article. of -,,,hinp. as veil ~ shelter tents No
complaint made that any acquisitions had
not been filed, and il Was inferred from his Ian
guage that he was only waiting for the Distrbu-
ton of bis supplies On the 18th he telegraph.
ed that portion Of his supplies cent BY rail had
been delayed.
As already stated, agents were Immediately
sent from here to investigate this complaint, and
they reported that everything had gone for~ ard.
Of his horses being broken down by fatigue. On
the 18th he complained that the rate OF supply
was only $50 horses per week for the entire
army there and in front of Washington" i'm
mediately directed the Quartermaster General to
inquire into this matter. and report Why larger
supply was not furnished. Gen. Miegs reported
on the l4,h. that the average Issue OF hor ses to
Gen. McCleilan's army in the field and in front
Of W sshington for the previous six weeks had
been ,459 per week, or s,754 in all. In add
.;.,.- .i.-. a. VI mules had Iccu rup-
piled, and that the number of animals with Gen.
NcClellan's army on the upper Potomac, vas
over thirty one thousand. He also reported that
he VAS then sending to that army all the horee.
he could procure.
On the 18th Gen. Mcclellan stated in regard
to Gen. Mieg's report, that he had filled every
requsiton for shoes aud clothing, "Gen Aiegs
but they have not reached our depots; and IN
less greater effort to insure prompt transporta
ZION is made by the department Of which Gen.
Miegs is the head. they might as we'll remain In
New York or Philadelphia, so far a. this army IL
concerned. Immediately called Gen. Miegs'
attention to thi. apparent neglect Of his depart
ment. On the 25th be reported a. the result Of
his investigation, that 4s, 600 pairs Of boots and
shoes had been received by the Qaartermast.rs
Of Gen. McClellan's army at Hsrper's Ferry, Fred
erick and Hsgersto~n; that 10000 pairs were
At Harper's Ferry depot on the 2lst; that 10000
more we're on their way, and Is 900 more ord
cred. Col. ingalls,, Abide Camp and Chief Quar-
termaster to Gen. Mcclellan, telegraphed on the
oath "The suffering for want Of clothing 10 ex-
aggerated I think, and certainly might have
been avoided by timely acquisitions Of regiment
al and brigade commanders" On the cath he
telegraphed to the Quartermas,er General that
the clothing was not detained in cars at the de-
pots "Such complaints are groundless. The
TACT is the clothing arrives and 10 issued, but
more is sill wanted have ordered more than
would seem necessary from any data furnished
me, and I beg to remind you that you have slssys
very promptly met my acquisitions 40 far ~ cls-
thing is concerned. Our depot is not at fsult.
Il provides a. soon a. due notice 10 given.
foresee 10 time when an army Of loo, 200 men
will no, call for clothing and other articles"
In regard 70 Gen. McCellsn's means OF prompt.
" communicating the wants of his army 70 me
or to the proper Bureaus Of the War Depart.
ment I report that, in addition to the ordinary
mails, he has been in constant Communication
With Washington by telegraph.
II is due 70 Gen. Miegs that should submit
here~ith a copy OF q telegram received by bin
from Gen. Mcclellan.
Very resp'y your OBJ, serv.t,
H. W. HALLKoK, Gen. 10 Chief.
U.s MILITARY TELEGRAPH.