The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-12-20
Tlwell, eight miles from Harper's Ferry
Na "ABRAHAM LINCOLN
GENERAL AfDowELL TO GEN. MCCLELLAN.
"ITrApcuaHrrns nFp ,RrMEsr or RAprAnAsSccK,
OPPOSITE FEDERICKsBuRG, May 20. !

"IIrApcusrrrns nFp ,prMEsr or RAPPAHANNccK, |
"orposirE FEprnIcKsuvRa, Mayo ! |
aMqjor- General Geo. B. 1bCgelzan Cam
matidSnq Aymy Of he Potomac Willie
House, Va;
81 have received the orders Of the Sec
rotary Of War 10 move with the army
under my command and cooperate with |
yours in The reduction Of Richmond, and
also copy Of his instructions to YOU in
relation 10 that cooperation. Major
General Shields will join me TO- day
AS soon as The necessary preparations for
the march can be completed, which
think will be.by the Gath FAST, we shall
set forward in tho general direction or
derOd.
"There is in front, TO impede our adj
vance, the Secession Army of The Kappa
hammock, 50 called, under the command
of j. r. Anderson of She Tredegar Iron
Works. His force is from twelve to iif-
teen thousand men, mostly South Caro-
lima and Georgia troops. We should en-
gage this force on our first days march,
as they are within six TO eight miles of
us, posted on and 70 the right and left
of the Fredericksburg and Richmond
Railroad, in a position of considerable
strength. Ii is my purpose to turn their
position by throwing large force on
their left flank, and cut off their oppor-
tunity of receiving any reinforcements
from the direction of Gordonsville, and
at the same time endeavor to save the
railroad bridges. If this can be done,
another channel of supplies can be had
for the force going against Richmond,
that cannot fail giving great relief to
the Commissary and Quartermasters De-
partments of your army, and facilitate
your operations. We cannot rely on this
at present, because they now occupy the
line, and ap told are preparing to de-
stroy the bridges if they are forced to
fall back.
81 beg to ask to what extent can / rely
on corporation from you in my present
off the retreat of the enemy upon Rich
mond, where they would add twelve
thousand to the forces against you, aud
in saving the bridges across the Pamunky;
ana TO what point on the Pamunky can
you extend your right to join me, and to
what point can you cause supplies to be
date placed for my command, and by what
can | count on finding then sthem ready
for me? shall require subsistence for
thirty EIGHT thousand men, and forage
for eleven thousand animals,
IRvIN MoDowELL.
Major General Commanding Depart
ment."
COPY OF INSTRUCTIONS TO GEN. MCCLELLAN.
"WAR DEPARTMENT. WASHINGTON CIrYl
d. @, May u.
"Mqjor General George b. Mcclellan, Cam =
manding Army Of he Potomac, Before
Richmond.
Your dispatch 10 the President, asking
for reinforcements, has been received and
carefully considered. The President il
not willing 10 uncover The Capital entire
ly; and il is believed that even If this
were prudent, it would require more time
! TO effect junction between your army
and that of the Rappahannock, by the
way Of the Potomac and York rivers, thar
by land march.
In order, therefore, to increase the
strength of the attack upon Richmond a
the earliest possible moment Genera
Mcdowell has been ordered TO marcel
upon that city by the shortest route III,
: il ordered-keeping himself always il
I position TO cover the Capital from al
, possible attack-~so TO operate as 10 pu
his left wing in communication with you
- right, and yOn are instructed to CO. oper
ate, so as to establish This communication
as soon as possible. BY extending you
+. right wing TO the north of Richmond,
- is believed this communication can b
( safely established, either north or sout
of the PamuRky river. In any even
g you will be able to prevent the main bod
n. Of the enemy's forces from leaving Rich
mond aud falling in overwhelming fore
upon General Mcdowell. He will NOV
with between thirty-fye and forty thou
sand men.
Il. ga copy Of the instructions to Major
General Mcdowell are with this. IN
specific task assigned to his comman
has been TO provide against any dang(
,y TO the Capitol of the nation. AT yOt
r earnest call for re-entorcements he
I'd sent forward TO Operate in the reduC
ps ton Of Richmond, but charged, in al
dc tempting this, not to uncover the city
h Washington, and you will give no order
in either before or after your junction whic
h, can keep him outOf position TO cover thi
he city. You and he will communicate viii
d. each other by telegraph or otherwise I
ee frequently as may be necessary for eaic
u ent cooperation.
sc "When Gen. Mcdowell is in positio
n on your right, his supplies must
ed drawn from West Point, and you will il
be struci your staff officers TO be prepared
&c. supply him by that ronie.
re The President directs that Gen. No
ny Dowell retain the command OF the ID
Ks, parlment Of tho Rappahannock, aud
ch the forces with which he moves forwar
en- "By order OF the President
Iis EDWIN NJ. STANTON,
Ith Secretary Of War.