Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-12-13
Gen. HaIIeck's Report-Important De-
YelOpementS.

sSAoPSHAShtSs
Washington, Dec. 2, 1S62.-Gen. Hal
leck, the Oommander-in-C Chief, in his re
port To the Secretary of War, states that
he started on the oath of July to visit the
Army of the Potomac, to ascertain if there
was possibility of an advance upon Rich
mond from Harrison's Landing, and if not,
to form some plan of uniting the armies OF
| Gen. Pope and Gen. Mcclellan, who was
OF the opinion that it would require 50.-
uoo ad0luona! troops 10 go on. Halleck
replied that there could not 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. Halieck's arrival home, he received
dispatch that at least 35 900 troops
would be required The report states
that such reuforcements could not be
sent without leaving Washington and Bal
timoTe almost detenseleSs. and an order
t for the withdrawal OF the army of the
Potomac was issued on August Sd, q pre-
vious order having been given for the re-
mosal Of the sick, and transports in vast
numbers supplied. A protest was read
from Gen. Mcclellan on the 9Th, and the
! order was not put in for eleven days-un.
| til the 18th
On the LIST orders were issued TO Gen.
Burnside to embark at Newberg for Aqua
Greek, who arrived promptly on the night
of the 3D.
1t is added, had the army of the Poto-
mac arrived a few days earlier, the rebel
army could have been easily defeated, and
perhaps destroyed. The losses at South
Mountain and Antietam are put at Lao
killed, 5000 wounded, and 91S missing-a
total of 1921. The report states that
the army rested on the north bank of the
Potomac, near Sharpsburg, from the 18th
of September to the 9th of October, and
says the long activity of SO large an army
in the taco If a defeated foe, and during
the season FUR rapid marches and vigor-
Gus campaign, was a matter of great dis
appointment.
A review of the movements before
Washington is made. He says that part
of the Army of the Potomac was ordered
forward from Alexandria, and that Gen
Cox was ordered 20 come by rail via
Washington from Western Virginia with
the main portion of his force.
Gen. Pope, on the 9th, ordered Gen.
Porter to be at Bristow Station the next
morning. The report says that for some
unexplained reason, Porter did not comply
with this order, and his corps was not in
the battle of the 9th and goth, in which
Gen. Pope gained some ground, although
the battles were not decisive.
OF the reintOrcements from Alexandria,
embracing at length the whole Peninsula
army, it is said some of the corps moved
with becoming activity, but the delays
were neither creditable 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 volun-
tariy surrendered to the enemy, so as to
be paroled as prisoners of war.
In this emergency Cox's troops were
ordered forward in great haste from Wes-
tern Virginia.
Baleck then recites the history of
Pope's campaign, and brings out letter
from Pope, in which that officer pro-
nounces Sigel as wholly unreliable.
Halleck commends Pope's earlier dispo-
sitions for isolating Jackson's forces, as
well planned. The delays of some of
McClellan's troops in marching to Pope's
relief were neither creditable nor excusa-
bic. He says no full official report of the
campaign has yet been received from
Pope. He concludes this subject by say
ing that if McOlellan's troops had arrived
a little earlier the rebel army could have
been easily defeated, and perhaps de-
stroyed.
Halleck next sketches the history of th'
Maryland campaign and denounces th'
surrender of Harper's Ferry, and implicit
ly censures Mcclellan for it. He the1
complains of McClelan's long inactivity
in tho foc of n IafaoraI 4
he was utterly ignorant of what his plar
OF campaign was, as towards the close
Mcclellan sent no reports to him, but onl,
to the President direct.
Halleck next sketches Buell's campaign
and says that as a commission is ordered
to investigate, it would be obviously inn
proper for him to express his opinion
now.
He says an investigation has been or
dered OF Morgan's strange abandonment
of Cumberland Gap.
Grants and Rosecrans' operations are
sketched without comment.
Curtis withdrawal to Missouri is termed
unfortunate, and is said to have proven ted
the carrying out of intended movements
| In Arkansas.
He says it is quite possible that Indian
hostilities may be resumed in the spring
and preparations will be made accordingly
The forces in South and North Carolina
are pronounced too small to accomplish
much. Gen. Halleck calls attention tc
to the fact that orr victories have mo-
been followed up, and says that in Mary
land, Virginia, Kentucky and Middle Ten
nessee the rebel armies have exhibited
much more mobility aud action than oul
own. He says this is partly owing to oul
enormous baggage and immense transpor
tation, and says that our troops, especial.
in the East have been little accustomed t.
such marching as is required by activ'
operations.
THE BRINsMADE CAsE.-The New 7orl
Board of Police Commissioners on Monday
afternoon rendered decision in the cele-
brated Brinsmade case, whereby they cen
sure Superintendent Kennedy for having
detained Mrs. Brinsmade without writer
authority from the War Department. Ii
conclusion they passed resolution ez-
pressive Of their continued confidence IL
his zeal and ability as Police Superinten'
dent.
A New York correspondent of the Phil
adelphia Press says: