Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-12-10
THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
Extracts from General Halleck's Report to the
SacrAtarY nf War

THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
Extracts from General Halleck's Report to the
Secretary Of War.
| The Commander in Chief. in his report 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 a posi-
bility 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. '.who was of the opinion
that it wonId require fifty thousand additional
men to go on.'' Haleck replied that there
could not possibly be sent more than twenty
thousand. Mcclellan asked to conslder the
matter till morning, when he agreed to go on
with that number. On Gen. Halleck' s arrival
home, he received a dispatch saying that at
least thirty five thousand would be required
The report states that such renforcements
could not be sent without leaving Washing
ton and Baltimore almost defenceless, and an
order for the withdrawal of the army OF the
Potomac was issued Aug 8, previous order
having been given for the removal of the sick,
and transports in vast numbers supplied but
that protest was received from Gen. McClel-
Ian on the 5ih, and that the order was not put
in force for eleven days-on the l4th.
On the 1st, orders were given to Gen. Burn
side TO embark at Newport News for Aqua
Greek. and he arrived there promptly on the
night OF the Sd.
review of the movements before Wash
iDgton is made. He says that a part OF the
Army of the Potomac was ordered TO the front
from Alexandria, and that Gen. Cox was or
dered to come by rail via Washington from
Western Virginia with the main portion of
his force. OF Gen. Pope's order on the 9th
to Gen. Porter to be at Brstow Station the
next morning he said, ssFor some unexplained
reason Porter did not comply with this order,
and his corps was not in the battles of the
2Sth and 29th," in which Gen. Pope won con-
siderable advantages, though the battles were
not decisive.
OF the reinforcements from Alexandria, en-
hracing at length the whole Peninsula army
it is said ''some of the corps moved with be-
coming activity, but the delays of others were
neither creditabe nor excusabIe.'' The SOL
diers actually engaged in those battles
''fought with great bravery" but many thou
sand straggied away from their commands,
and it is said that not few voluntarily sur
rendered TO the enemy to be paroled as
s.prisoners of war; 1t IS added s.Had the
Army OF the Potomac arrived few days ear.
iier, the Rebel army could have been easily
defeated, and perhaps destroyed
The losses at South Mountain and Antietam
are put at l,742 killed e.O66 wounded and
9l3 missing; total of 10,72l.
The report states that the army rested on
the north bank of the Potomac, near Sharps-
hn~sh- f---- .i'v 1rtfI ovpteuI
10Th of October, and says that ethe long mac
tivity of so large army in the face of de.
feated foe and during the most favorable sea-
son for rapid marches and a vigorous campaign
was matter of great disappointment land
regret"
Gen. Halleck states that he telegra phed
Mcclellan, Oct 6, 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 Win
chester, but did not cross until Oct 26, and
then at Berlin, the passage occupying till Nov.
3. During this period Gen. Mcclellan stop
ped communicating with the Commander in
Chief, addressing the President. On the 5th
his removal was ordered