Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-12-11
Gen. Halleok's Report.

the Commander in Chief, IN his report Ia
the Secretary Of War, states that he started
on the oath Of July to visit the Army oi
the Potomac, to ascertain il there was q
possibility uf an advance upon Richmond
from Harrison Landing, and it not to form
some plan of uniting the srniies OF General
Pope aud Gen. Mct1ellan, who was OF opin.
ion that it would require 30 0O0 additional
men to 40 OF. Halleck replied that there
could not possibly be sent more than 20, 600
Mcclellan asked TO consider the matter
till Torning, when he agreed to go on with
that number.
On Gen. Halleck s arrival home, he re.
eeived dispatch that at least 80, 900 would
be required.
: SphsDport states that, such reinforce
ments could not be sent without leaving
Washington aud Baltimore almost defense
less; and an order for the withdrawal OF
the army of the Potomac was issued Aug.
Sd, previous order having been given for
vast numbers were supplied, but a protest
was received from Gen. Mcclellan on the
5th, and the order was not put in force ior
eleven days-on the 14th. On the lst,
orders were issued to Gen. Burnside to EN-.
bark at Newport News for Acquia Creek,
who arrived there promptly on the night OF
the I'd. A review of the movements be-
fore Washington is made. He says that q
part of the Army Of the Potomac was or
dered forward from Alexandria, and that
Cen. Cox was ordered to come, by rail, via
Washington, from Western Virginia with
the main portion of his force.
n Of Gen. Pope's order on the 9th to Gen.
prter to be at Bristow Station next morn
4Ug, he says for some unexplained reason
Porter did not comply with the order, and
was not in the battles Of the 2Sth and 10Th,
in which Gen. Pope gained some ground
although the battles were not decisive. Of
the re-inforcements from Alexandra, EN-
bracing at length the whole PeninsulaxSar-
my, it is said some of the corps movedSith
becoming activity, but the delays of othsgs
were neither creditable nor excusable. u
The soldiers actually engaged in these
battles fought with great bravery, but many
thousands struggled away from their com
mands, and it is said not few voluntarily
surrendered to the enemy, so as to be parol-
cd as prisoners Of war. 1t is added that had
the army of the Potomac arrived few days
earlier, the rebel army could have been easily
defeated, and perhaps destroyed.
The losses at South Mountain and Antie-
tam are put at |, ,742 killed. 5000 wounded,
and 913 missing; total of 10000.
The report states that the army rested on
the North bank of the Potomac, neal
Sharpsburg, from tie 18th of September
until the 26th of October, and says that the
long inactivity of so large an army. in the
face of defeated toe, and during the most
favorable season for rapid marches and a
vigorous campaign, was matter OF great
disappointment and regret.
Gen. Halleck states that he telegraphed
to Gen. Mcclellan, October 9th, to cross
the river. Gen. Mcclellan disapproved OF
the plan of crossing South ofthe Blue Ridge.
but proposed to cross at Harper's Ferry and
move or Winchester; but did not cross un
til October 10Th, and then at Berlin; the
passage occupying till November Sd.
During this period Gen. Mcclellan stop
ned communicating with the Gcneral-i in
Chief, addressing the President. On the
5th his removal was ordered
The Secretary of War details the military
operations during the past year, points tc
the fact that the department of the Pacific
has been free from any Of the calamltles oc
casioned by the rebellion. An earnest anC
deep sympathy has been manifested by thu
loyal citizens of the Pacific States in the sup
port of the Union.
From survey of the whole field of ope
rations, it is apparent that whatever disas
ters our arms may have suffered at particu
lar points, a eat advance has been mad
since the commencement OF the war.
The Union forces are now in the field un
der the best commanders, stronger thai
~ tp ha laH Q