, 1862-12-06
Gen. McGfelIan's petay
in moving
GENERAL P0PE'S CAMPAIGN
The Campaign in Maryland,
How Harper's Ferry, its Troops and
Munitions were Lost.
DELAY OF MCCLELLAN TO PURSUE
THE ENEMY.
Disastr ous Campaign of
Gen. Buell.,
HEADQUARTERS oF TEE Army,

AXs0
WAsa1EGros,: Dec. z, 1861.
SIR: In compliance with FOUR orders, have
the honorto submit the following report of
military operations since the 23d Of July last,
when, In compliance with the Presidents
order, assumed the command Of the army as
General-in- Chief: -:
TIE CAMPAIGN ON pHE PENINSULA.
The first thing to which, my attention was
called On my arrival hero WAS the condition Of
the army at Rarrison's Landing, on the James
River. I Immediately vfeited Gen. McC1el.
}en's headquarters for consultation, I left
Washington on the 24th aud rttturned on the
eth. The main object Ut this consultation
ras to ascertain II there wss possibility OF
an advance upon Richmond from Uarrison's
Landing, md ii not, to favor some plan ct
uniting The armies tot Gen. Mcclellan and
Gen. Pope on some other line. Not being f4-
1nilfar with tho position aud numbers OF the
troops in Virginia. and On the coast, took
Inc Presidents estimate of the largest NUN
her Of rcinforcements that could be cent to
the army Of the Potomac. On the day Of my
arrival at uusrison's Landing Gen. Mcclellan
WIS Of opinion that {. would require at least
$4,000 additional troops. informed him that
This number con'd not possibly be sent, thnt
was not authorized to promise him over
2o,0C0, mud that could not well See how even
that nunbcr could be safely withdrawn from
other Iluces. liz took the night for ccnsid-
erIng The matter, and informed me the next
morning that he would make the attempt
npuu Richmond with tic additional 20 O6D,
but immediately on my return to Washington
be tclegraphed that ho would require IS UO0,
n force u hich It WAS Impossible to send him
without leaving Washington and Baltimore
almost defensciese. The only alternative noW
left was to withdraw the :,rmy Of the Poto-
1rac to Bomc position where il could unite
with that Of Gen. Pope, and cover washing
X at tho came time that it operated against
the enemy. After full consultation with my
officers, I determined to attempt this junction
Oh the Rappahannock, by bringing McC1e1.
1an's forces to Aquis Creek. Accordingly, on
the 10h July telezraphed to him t. send
away bis sick as quietly as possible, prepare,
1try to movement Of his troops. This Wae
prt li1piuary to the withdrawal of his entire
army, Which Was ordered by telegraph on tue
Sd Of August. In order that the transfer to
Aqua Creek might be made as rapidly rs pos
siole, authorized Gen. Mcclellan to assume
control OF all the vessels in the James Rive,
ard chesapeake Bay, of which there was thea
q vast teet. The Quartermaster General was
alfo requested to send to that point all the
transF orts that could be procured. On the
5th received g protest from Gen. Mcclellan,
dated the 4tn. against the removal Of the army
iron Harrison's Landing, copy Of which il
on the 9th, marked exhibit No.2. On the Isl
It August ordered Gen. Burnside to imme
diately embark his troops at Newport News
transfer them to Aqua Greek, and take posi-
tion opposite Fredericksburg. This Office
moved with great promptness, and reached
Aqua Creek on the night Of the Sd. Hi
troops were Immediately landed, and tn.
transports sent back 10 Gen. Mcclellan,
DELAY OE CEN 11cCT EJTaN IN .rny-Txrr