The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-12-18

is being abated by summary dismissals,
and If the law could be stringently en-
forced against The men it would soon
put an end to deserters. But stray
Cling on the march and in battle can be
prevented only by severe and summary
punishment on the spot. In this, and
many other important particulars our
military laws require revision and
amendment. They were mostly enact
ed for q small army and for times of
peace, and are unsuitcd to the govern
ment of the army we now have. and
the war in which we are now engaged.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. w. HALLECK, General-in- Chief.
EXHIBIT NO. 8.
HEADouARTERs ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
No. IS. August 25-9 P. NJ
Major General Halleck, Commander-in-C Chef
The column of the enemy alluded to
in my dispatch of 1890 P. M. to-day,
passed Gaines Cross Roads, and when
last seen near sunset, was passing to
the north-east under the east base of
Buck Mountain, in the direction of Sa-
lem and Rectortown. / am inclined
to believe that this column is only COW
ering the flank of the main body, which
is moving toward Front Royal and
Thornton's Gap, though of this / am
not certain. l shall push strong re-
connoissance across the river at Water.
loo Bridge and Sulphur Springs early
in the morning, to ascertain whether
the main body of the enemy has really
left, and if SO, to push forward in their
rear. There is certainly no force OPP
posite Rappahannock Station. Nc
Dowelrs is the only corps that is at all
reliable, that l have.
Sigel, as you know, is perfectly I'M
reliable, and suggest that some officer
of superior rank be sent to command
his army corps. His conduct to-day
has occasioned me great dissatisfac-
ton. Banks corps is very weak, not
amounting to more than 5000 men,
and is much demoralized. Kearney's
division is the only one that has yet
reached me from Alexandria. / shall
at all events, push McDowell's corps
and Kearney's division upon the ene-
my's rear. If / find my suspictions
confirmed in the morning, / shall also
put Reno across the river at Kappa
faunock Station, and direct him to
move forward cautiously upon Cul.
pepper. Banks corps must be left
somewhere in the rear, to be sent up
again. Sigers corps, although compo-
sed of the best fighting material we
have, will never do much service un-
der that officer. / will communicate
further with You in the morning.
JOHN POPE, Major General.
The following is a copy of the tele-
gram of the 9th inst, referred TO in
Gen. Halleck's letter to Stanton, pub
lished in this paper on the 9th of No
vember:
WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct. 6, 1862.
Major General Mcclellan: ~
l am instructed to telegraph you as
follows: The President directs that
you cross the Potomac and give battle
TO the enemy or drive him south. Your
army must move now while the roads
are good. If you cross the river be
tween the enemy and Washington,
and cover the latter by your line of op-
erations, you can be reinforced with
10000 men. If you move up the val
ley of the Shenandoah, not more than
IL, 900 or 5000 can be sent to you.
The President advises the interior line
between Washington and the enemy,
but does not order it, He is very de-
sirous that your army move as soon as
possible. You will Immediately report
what line you adopt, and when you in
tend to cross the river. Also, to what
point the reinforcements are to be sent.
1t is necessary that the plan of your
operations be positively determined on
before orders are given for building
bridges and repairing railroads. l am
directed to add that the Secretary of
War and the General-in-Chief fully
concur with the President in these in
structions.
Hw HALLECK, Generalin-Chief.