The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-12-13

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gals each;) molasses 2 kegs 40 gals each;) mo
lasses Dbl; honey 10 lbs; dressed fowls, three;
preserves I jars; preserved fruit s cans; eggs
4 dos; butter SO rolls; . punches sage; ! bunch
red peppers. Also, good supply Of articles for
the Linen department. aa-8 Il 1sbisaoo
For which We return our most sincere thanks,
and promise our endeavors to have the same dis.
tributed in . satisfactory manner. Is ss3
al, ~ . ov ]. II. GufHlE,
~ s.ag -a j. r. BRAD8N,
,,s- PIBRsox CANAAN.
3 Coz. HaIieck,s Report.
Below We give our readers large proportion
Of the Report Of Gen. Hallsck TO the Secretary
Of War, commencing With his remarks upon E
Is7ia. TIE CAMPAIGN IN MARYLAND. 1gt
Seeing that an attack upon Washington would
now be futile, Lee pushed his main army across
the Potomsc for raid into Maryland and Penn
sylvania. Gen. Mcclellan was directed to pur
sue him with all troops which we're not required
for the defense Of Washington. Several corps
we're Immediately thrown out in observation 1t
Darnestown and Leesboros and most Of his army
vas in motion by the 9th Of September. A
a
campaign was to be carried on within the depart.
ment commanded BY Major General Wool, I
directed Gen. Mcclellan to assume control OF all
troops within his reach, without regard to de-
partmental lines The gar risons of Winchester
and Martinsburg had been withdrawn to Ha.per's
Ferry, and the commanding officer Of that post
had been advised BY my chief Of staff to mainly
confine his defense, In case he was attacked by
superior forces, to the position Of Maryland
Nights, which could have been held long time
against overwhelming numbers. To withdraw
him entirely from that position, with the great
body OF Lees army between him and our army,
would not only expose the garrisan to capture,
but all the artillery and stores collected at that
place must either be destroyed or left to the
enemy. The only feasible plan was for him to
bold his position until Gen. Mcclellan could re-
lieve him, or open a communication go that he
could evacuate it in safety. These views were
communicated both to Gen. Mcclellan and to
Col Miles. ~@+A4@S&'L ~. ~ ".'H "'-''+ u
The left OF Gen. McClellan's army pursued
. part of the enemy's forces to the South Noun
tains, where, on the l4tb, he made stand. A
evere battle ensued, the enemy being defeated
and driven from bis position with heavy Loss
Lees army then fell back behind Antietam Creek,
q few miles above it's mouth, and took position
admirably suited for defense. Our army attacked
bin on the 10th, and . hotly contested battle
was fought on that and the ensuing day, which
resulted in the defeat of the rebel forces. On
the night of the 18th our troops slept on the
field which they had so bravely won. On the
! 9Th, neither party renewed the attack, and in
the night of the 18th and 10th, Gen. Lee with
drew bis army to the south eide of the Potomac
Our loss in the several battles on South Noun
tains and at Antietam was l,742 killed, 5000
wounded, and 9l3 missing, making q total of
lO,72l. Gen. Mcclellan estimates the enemy's
loss at nearly 10000; but their own accounts
gives their loss at about $4,000 in killed ard
wounded. ~
3 laf SURRENDER OF HARPER's FERRY. .-
On the approach of the enemy to Harper's Fer.
~, the officer in command on Maryland flights
destroyed his artillery and abandoned his post,
and on the 10Th, Col Miles surrendered Harper's
Ferry, with only slight resistance and within
hearing Of the guns of Gen. McCle!lans army.-
As this whole matter has been investigated and
reported upon by q military commission, it is
unnecessary for me to discuss the disgraceful
surrender OF the post and army under Col Miles
command. Gen. McClellan's preliminary report
OF bis operations in Maryland, including the
battles of South Mountain aud Antietam, is
submitted herewith, marked Exhibit No. T., No
reports of his subordinate officers have been
submitted. -sdssfa, Jf..,s .,.,., a,5r "
GEN. M'CtELLAN's STRANGE DELAY AFTER TIE
BATTLE or ANTIRrAN.
From the 18th of September till the 28th of
October, McClellan's main army remained on
the north bark Of the Potomac, in the vicinity
OF Shsrpsburg and Hsrper's Ferry. The long
inactivity OF 80 large an army in the face of q
defeated foe, and during the most favorable sea
son Tor rapid movements and vigorous cam
palgn, was matter Of great disappointment and
regret Your letter Of the 9th, and my reply
on the 2ssh of October, 10 rega:d to the alleged
causes OF this unfortunate delay, submit here.
With, marked Exhibit No. s, in reply to the tel
egraphic order of the 9th of October, quoted 10
my letter ofrhe 2sth. above referred TO. GEM
Mcclellan disapproved of the plan of crossing
the Potomac south of the Blue Ridge, and said
that be would cross at Hsrpel's Ferry aand ad-
vance upon Winchester He, however, did not
begin tu cross till the 28th OF October, and then
at Berlin s ..,g.sri.f f-z -
This passage occupied several days, and was
completed about the Sd Of November. What
caused him to change his views, or what bis plan
OF campaign was, am ignorant, for about this
time he ceased to communicate with me 10 re-
gard to his operations, sending his reports d.
AeSsAy w tuo 1FeSlOelt. Va the 9th inst. re :.
ceived the written order of the President reliey
ing Gen. Mcclellan, and placing Gen. Burnside
IN command Of the army of the Potomac. This
order was transmitted Dy special messenger,
who delivered it to Gen. Mcclellan at Rector.
town on the 7th. I.
GEN. BULLS OPERATIONS. aH1
When left the Department of the Mississippi
in July last, the main body of the army, under
Maj. Zen Buell., was between Huntsville and
Stevenson, moving toward Chattanooga, for
which place they had left Corinth about the 10th
OF June. Maj Gen. Curtis forces we're at He
lena, Arkansas, and those under Brig Gent
Scho6eld in southwestern Missouri, The central
army, under Maj. Gen. Grant, Occurring the line
of West Tennessee and Northern Mississinn;
extended from Memphis to Iuka, and protected
the railroads from Columbus south, which we're
then our only channels of supply. These seye-
raj armies spread along line Of some 600 miles
from the western borders of Arkansas to Oum-
berand Gap, and occupying strip of country
more than $50 miles in width, from which the
enemy's forces had recently been expelled, we're
rapidly decreasing in strength from the large
numbers of soldiers sent home on account of real
or pretended disability. ,fai i
a II -