Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-12-08


of military operations since the 22d of July
last, when, in compliance with the presidents
order, l assumed the command of the army
as general-in-chief The first thing to which
my attention was called on my arrival here
was the condition of the army at Harrison's
Landing, on the James River. / immediate
ly visited Gen. McClellans headquarters for
consultation. left Washington on the oath
and returned on the 27th The main object
OF this consultation was to ascertain if there
was possibility Of an advance upon Rich
mond from Harrison's Landing, and if not, tC
favor 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 reinforcements that could
be sent to the army of the Potomac. On the
day of my arrival at Harrisons Landing, Gen.
Mcclellan was of the opinion that he would
require at least $4,000 additional troops. in
formed him that this number could not possi-
bly, be sent, that l was not authorized to prom
Use him over 10000, and that l could not well
see how even that number could be safely
withdrawn from other places He took the
night for considering the matter, and inform
ed me the next morning that he would make
the attempt upon Richmond with the addition
al 10000, but Immediately on my return to
Washington he telegraphed that he would re-
quire $4,000, force which it was impossible
to send him without leaving Washington and
Baltimore almost defenceless. The only al
Tentative left now 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, determined to attempt this
junction on the Rappahannock, by bringing
McClellan's forces to Aqua Creek. Accord
ingly, on the Both 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 third of August. In order that the
transfer to Aqua Creek might be made as rap
idly as possible, | authorized Gen. Mcclellan
to assume control of all the vessels in the
James River and Chesapeake Bay, of which
there was then vast fleet. The quartermas-
ter general was also requested to send to that
point all the transports that could be procured.
). On the 9th received protest from Gen. Nc
Clellan, dated the 4th, against the removal of
the army from Harrson's Landing, copy of
whicllis annexed, marked Exhibit No. l, with
my reply on the 9th, marked Exhibit No. 2.
On the LIST of August l ordered Gen. Burnside
to Immediately embark his troops at Newport
News, transfer them to Aqua Creek, and take
position opposite Fredericksburgh. This Off
Ger moved with great promptness, and reach
ed Aqua Creek on the night of the 3d. His
troops were Immediately landed, and the
transports sent back to Gen Mcclellan.
About this time l received information that
the enemy was preparing large force to drive
back Gen. Pope, and attack either Washing
ton or Baltimore. The information was so
direct and trustworthy that could not doubt
its correctness. This gave me serious uneasi-
ness for the safety of the capital and Mary
land, and l repeatedly urged upon Gen. Nc
Clellan the necessity of promptly moving his
army so as to form junction with that of
Gen. Pope. The evacuation of HarrisOn's
Landing, however, was not commenced until
the l4th, eleven days after it was ordered.
Greatly discouraged at the prospectof time
ly aid from that quarter, authorized General
Pope to order the main forces of General Cox
in Western Virginia, with all possible dis
patch 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
eral Pope pushed his forces across the Rap
pahannock, occupied Culpepper and threat
ened GOrdonsville. Jackson's and EwelPs
forces were hurried to the Rapidan, and on
the 9Th of August encountered Banks corps
at Cedar Mountain. hard fought battle
ensued, and on the arrival of reinforcements
from the corps of Generals Mcdowell and
Sigel, the enemy fell back upon the Rapidan
and Gordonsyille.
On the 10th, our cavalry surprised par
ty of the enemy near Louisa Courthouse,
and captured important dispatches, showing
that Lee was moving by forced marches, the
main body of the rebel army to attack Pope,
before a junction could be formed between
him and the army of the Potomac On the
10Th | telegraphed to General Pope not to
cross the Rapidan, and advised him to take
position IN rear of the Rappahannock, where
he could more easily be reinforced. He
commenced the movement on the 18th, and
by the morning of the 18th had most of his
forces behind that river, prepared to hold its
masses as long as possible He had been re-
inforced by Kings division and part of
Burnside's corps, under General Reno, from
fredericksburg l also directed Gen. Burn
side to occupy Richards and Barnetts fords,
which were between him and General Pope'S
main army.
The enemy made several attempts to cross
at different points on the Rappahannock, but
was always repulsed, and our troops succeed
ed in holding the line of this river for eight
hours. 1t was hoped that during this time
sufficient forces from the army of the Poto-
mac would reach Aqua Creek to enable us
to prevent any further advance of Lee, and
eventually, with the combined armies, to drive
him back upon Richmond. On the path he
made a flank movement, and crossed por-
ton of his forces at Waterloo Bridge, about
twelve miles above the Rappahannock rail-
road station. Pope directed an attack upon
the forces which had crossed the river, hoping
to cut them of, but the enemy escaped with
no great loss. The annexed telegram from
Gen. Pope, marked Exhibit No. 8, and dated
the 25th, gives his views of the condition OF
affairs at that date. The enemy, however,
had not fallen back, as he had supposed, but on
being repulsed at Waterloo Bridge, had
moved further up the river and entered the
valley which lies between the Blue Ridge and
Bull Run Mountains. The object of this move
ment was evidently to get in Popes rear and
cut off his supplies from Washington.
Anticipating this danger, had telegraphed
to Gen. Pope Oh the 23d: "By no means ex-
pose your railroad communication with Alex.
andria. 1t is of the utmost importance in
sending your supplies and reinforcements.
On the 26th l telegraphed "lf possible tc
attack the enemy in flank, do so; but the mair
object now is to ascertain his position" From
this time till the Both had no communication
with Gen. Pope, the telegraph lines being GU
at Kettle Run by part Of Jackson's corps
under Ewell, which had marched arounC
Pope's right and attacked his rear.
Finding it doubtful whether we could holC
RnpDahnnnOpk lonU enough IN ofippt thij