The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-12-16
GENERAL HALLECK'S REPORT.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY I

y
WASHINGTON, Dec. g '62, !
SIR: In compliance with your orders,
l have the honor to 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:
THE CAMPAIGN ON THE PENINSULA.
The first thing to which my attention
was called on my arrival here was the
condition of the army at Harrison S Ian
ding, on the James River. | immedi-
ately visited Gen. Nc Clellan's headquar
ters for consultation. | left Washington
on the 23d and returned on the 9Th
The main object Of this consultation was
TO ascertain if there was possibility OF
An advance upon Richmond from Har-
rison's Landing, aud if not, to favor some
plan of uniting the armies of Gen. Nc
Clelan and Gen. Pope on some other
line. Not being familiar with the posi-
ton and numbers Of the troops in Vir-
ginia, and on the coast, took the Pres
ident's estimate Of the largest number of
reinforcements that could be sent TO the
army Of the Potomac. On the day of
my arrival at Harrison's Landing, Gen.
Nc cClellan was of opinion that he would
require at least $4,000 additional troops
informed him that this number could
not possibly be sent, that was not au-
thorized to promise him over 10000,
and that could not we'll see how even
that number could be safely Withdrawn
from other places. He took the night
for considering the matter, and inform
ed me the next morning that he would
make the attempt upon Richmond with
the additional 10000, but Immediately
on my return TO Wa hington he lele-
graphed that he would require $4,000,
a force which it was impossible to send
him without leaving Washington and
Baltimore almost detenseless The only
alternative now left was to withdraw the
army of tie Potomac to some position
where il could unite with that of Gen.
Pope, and cover Washington at the same
time that it operated against the enemy.
Alter full consultation with my officers,
| determined to attempt this junction on
the Rsppahannock, by bringing McClel-
lan's forces 10 Aqua Creek According
ly, on the 30th OF July | telegraphed to
him 10 send away his sick as quickly as
possible, preparatory to a movement of
bis troops. This was preliminary to the
was ordered by telegraph on the 81 of
August. In order that the transfer TO
Aqua Creek might be made as rapidly
as possible, | authorized Gen. Mcclellan
10 assume control of all the vessels in the
James River and Chesapeake Bay. of
which there was then vast fleet The
Quartermasler General was also request
ed 10 send TO that point all the transports
that could be procured. On tho oh |
received protest from Gen. Nc Cellan.
dated the 4lh, against the removal of the
army from Harrison Landing. a copy
Of which is annexed, marked Exhibit
No. ], with my reply on the OH, mark
ed exhibit No. 2. On the lst of August
| ordered Gen. Burnside to Immediately
embark his troops at Newport News. and
transfer them to Aqua Greek, and take
position opposite fredericksburg. This
officer moved with great promptness, and
reached Aqua Greek on the night Of the
Sd. His troops were immediately land
ed. and the transports sent back to Gen.
Mcclellan