Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-12-03
Gen. Ha11cck,s Renort.

The commander in chief, in his report to
the secretary of war, says he started, on the
Oath of July, to visit the army of the Poto-
mac, to ascertain if there was a possibility of
an advance upon Richmond from Harrison's
Landing, and if not, to form some plan of
uniting the armies of Gen. Pope and Gen.
Mcclellan.
Gen. Mcclellan was of opinion that it would
require $4,000 additional men to go on. Gen.
Halleck replied that there could not possibly
be sent more than 10000. Gen. Mcclellan
asked to consider the matter till morning,
when he agreed to go on with that number
On Gen. Halleck's arrival home he received
dispatch saying that at least 81, 900 would
be required. The report states that such re-
Inducements could not be sent without
leaving Washington md Baltimore al
most defenceless, and an order for the
withdrawal of the army of the Potomac was
issued Aug. 3D. A previous order had been
given for the removal of the SICK and trans
ports in vast numbers were supplied but
protest was received from Gen. Mcclellan on
the 9th, and the order was not put in force
for eleven days, on the 18th. On the LIST day
of August orders were given to Gen. Burn
side to embark at Newport News for Aqua
creek, and he arrived promptly on the night
of the I'd.
A review of the movements before Wash
ington is made. Gen. Halleck saws that a
part of the army of the Potomac was
ordered to the front from Alexandria, and
that Gen. Cox was ordered to come by rail
via Washington from western Virginia, with
the main portion of his force. Of General
Pope's order of the 9th, to Gen. Porter, to
be at Bristol station the next morning, he
says :--"For some unexplained reason Gen.
tbic ,rda nd
his corps was not in the battles of the 18th
and 29th, in which Gen. Pope gained consid-
cradle ground, though the battles were I'M
decisive.
OF the reinforcement from Alexandria, EN-
bracing at length the whole peninsula army,
Gen. Halleck says some of the corps moved
with becoming activity; but the delays of 9TH
ers were neither creditable nor excusable.
The soldiers actually engaged in those battles
fought with great bravery, but many thou
sands struggled away from their commands,
and it is said that not a few voluntarily sur
rendered to the enemy, so as to be paroled as
prisoners of war. 1t is added that had the
army of the Potomac arrived a few days ear
lier, the rebel army could have been easily
defeated, and perhaps de troyed.
The losses at South Mountain and Antie-
tam, are put at 1742 killed, 9066 wounded,
and 9l3 missing-a total of 1921. The re-.
port states that the army rested on the north
bank of the Potomac, near Sharpsburg, from
the 18th OF September until the 26th of De-
tober; and that the long inactivity of so large
an army, in the face of defeated foe, and
during the most favorable season for rapid
marches and a vigorous campaign, was a
matter of great disappointment and regret.
Gen. Halleck states that he telegraphed
Mcclellan Oct. 9Th to cross the river. Gen.
Mcclellan disapproved the plan of crossing
south of the Blue Ridge, but proposed to cross
at Harper's Ferry and move on Winchester
but he did not cross until Oct. Goth, and then
at Berlin, the passage occupying till Nov. 3D..
During this period Gen. Mcclellan stopped
communicating with the COMMUNICATIVE chief,
addressing the president. On the 9TH his re-
moval was ordered