The Portland daily press., 1862-12-03
Gen. IHalieck's RepOrt.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.
The Commander-in-Chief,i in his report to
the Secretary of War; states that he started on
the 2ith of July to visit the army of the Poto-
mac to ascertain il there was possibility of
an advance upon Richmond from Harrisons
Landing, and if not, to form some plan of unit
ing the armies of Gen. Pope and Gen. McClel-
Ian, who was of the opinion that it would re-
quire 10000 additional men 10 go on. Halleck
replied that there could not possibly be sent
more than 10000. Mcclellan asked to con-
slider the matter till morning, when he agreed
to go on with. that number. On Gen. Hal
leck's arrival home, he received dispatch
saying that at least $1,000 would be required.
The report states that such reinforcements
could not be sent without leaving Washington
and Baltimore almost dcfcneeless, and an or
der for the withdrawal OF the army of the Po-
tomac was issued August 3, a previous order
having been given for the removal of the sick,
and transports in vast numbers supplied, but
that Il protest was received from Gen. McClel-
Ian on the 9th, and that the order was not put
in force for eleven days, on the 14th August
The first orders We're given to Gen. Burnside
to embark at Newport News for Aqua Greek,
who arrived there promptly on the night of
the Sd. A review of the movements before
Washington is made
He says that part of the army of the Po-
tomac was ordered to the front from Aexan-
dria, and that Gen. Cox was ordered to come
by rail via. Washington from Western Virgin
ia with the main portion of his force.
or Gen. Pope's order on the 9th to Gen.
Porter to be at Bristow Station the next
morning. he says for some unexplained reason
Porter did not comply with the order. and his
corps was not in the battle of the 2Sth and
10Th, in which Ger. Pope gained considerable
ground, though the battles were not decisive
Of the rpnfornamppt from A Alayop6ria
bracing at length the whole Peninsula army, it
is said some of the corps moved with becoming
activity, but the delays of Others were neither
creditabe nor excusable.
The soldiers actually engaged in these battles
fought with great bravery but many thousands
struggled away from their commands, and it is
said, not few voluntarily surrendered to the
enemy so as to be paroed as prisoners of war;
1t is added, 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 Antietam
are put down at 1742 killed, S066 wounded,
and 913 missing, a total of 10,721.
The report states that the army rested on
the north bank of the Potomac near Sharps-
burg, from the 18th of Sept to Oct 26th and
says the long inactivity of so large an army in
the face of defeated foe, and during the most
favorable season for rapid marches and Wig
orous campaign, was matter of great disap-
pointment and regret.
Gen. Halleck states that he telegraphed Nc
Clellan Oct. 9th to cross the river. General
Mcclellan disapproved the plan of crossing
south of the Blue Ridge, but proposed to cross
at Harper's Ferry and move on Winchester,
but did not cross until Oct. 18th and then at
Berlin, the passage occupying till Nov. 3d.
During this period Gen. Mcclellan stopped
communicating with the Commander-in-chief
addressing the President On the 5th his re-
moval was ordered