The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-04-17

100. =. = :. |. .x-4 - = 49,
the CAMPAIGN { IN MARYLAND.
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South IA Mountain and Antiotam.
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Surrender Of Harper y Ferry.
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OFFICIAL REPORT OF GENERAL
.-95mn2 lz,McCLELLAN. iron sdi sEHcliI
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The following official report from Gen.
Mcclellan begins with the evacuation of
Harrisons Landing, and covers all his OPP
erations, in reaching Aqua Creek and
Alexandria; his resuming the command
of the forces after the failure of Pope; and
his operations in Maryland, including
the battles of South Mountain and An
tietam. u. IN ioc-t. .,io; 4.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY THE PoroMAc,
-4F bratt e.-ls{ October Is, 1S62.J ,5r
GENERAL: / have the honor to submit
preliminary report of the military opera
tons under my charge since the evacua-
ton of Harrison's Landing. .fasr~g5 od
The measure, directed by the General
in Chief, was executed successfully with
the entire safety to my command, and its
material, between tle 18th and 18th of
August. The line of withdrawal selected
was that OF the mouth of the Ohickahom-
my, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. Upon
this line the main body of the army, with
all its trains, was moved, Heintzleman's
corps crossing the Chickahominy at Jones'
bridge, and covering by its march the
movement of the main column. The pas
sage of the Lower Chickahominy was
effected by means of batteau bridge two
thOusond feet in length. The transfer of
the army to Yorktown was completed by
the 10Th of August. The embarkation of
the troops and material at Yorktown and
Fortress Monroe was at once commenced,
and as rapidly as the means of transporta-
ton admitted everything was sent forward
to Aqua Greek and Alexandria. H. iu ~.
No mere sketch of an undertaking of
such magnitude, and yet so delicate mill :
tary character, will suffice to do justice 1
must now, however, content myself with a
simple notice OF it, deferring full descrip-
ton for my official report of the campaign
before Richmond labor which propose
to undertake as soon as events will afford
me the necessary time. Justice to the
achievements of the Army of the Poto-
mac and the brave men who composed it,
requires that the official record of that cam
paign should be prepared with more care
than circumstances have hitherto permitted
me to bestow upon it. The delay will not
have been felt as injurious to the public in
terest, inasmueh as by frequent reports
from time to time have kept the depart
ment advised of events as they occurred.
l reached Aqua Greek with my staff or
the Oath of August, reported my arrival
and asked for orders. On the 9th of Au.
gust l received from the General int Chic
permission to proceed to Alexandria, where
I at once fixed my headquarters. Tht
troops composing the Army of the Potomac
were meanwhile ordered forward to rein
force the army under Gen. Pope. So com
pletely was this order carried out, that or
the 9Oth of August had remaining under
my command only camp guard of about
one hundred men. Everything else haC
been sent to reinforce Gen. Pope. In ad
dition, exhausted all the means at my
disposal to forward supplies to that officer
my own headquarters teams even being
used for that purpose. -. .e.. >
Upon the unfortunate issue of that cam
paign, / received an intimation from the
General-in- Chief that my services were de-
s'red for the purpose of arranging for th4
defence of the capital. They were at once
cheerfully given, although while awaiting
definite instructions at Alexandria, hat
endeavored, as just seen, to promote :
favorable result in the operations thel
pending, and had thus contributed, though
indirectly, yet as far as could, to the de
fence of Washington. On the I'd of Sep
TENDER the formal order of the War De
partment placed me in command of tn,
Notifications of Washington "and all tn
troops for the defence of the city of Wash
ingtOn." On the LIST of September l hat
been instructed that / had nothing tx
| do with the troops engaged in active oper
atoms under Gen. Pope, but that my com
mand was limited to the immediate garri
son of Washington. On the next day
however, l was verbally instructed by thu
| President and General in Chief to assum,
command of Gen. Pope's troops (ncludins
my own army of the PotOmac), as soon al
they approached the vicinity of Washing
ton, to go out and meet them, and to pos
them as deemed best to repulse the enc
my and insure the safety of the city.
At this time the task imposed upon M
was limited to the dispositions necessar,
to resist a direct attack of the enc
my upon the capital. Such, indeed, wa
the danger naturally indicated by the de
feat of our forces in front The variou
garrisons were at once strengthened ant
put in order, and the troops were disposed
to cover all the approaches to the city, an,
SO as to be readily thrown upon threatene'
points. New defences were thrown NJ
where deemed necessary. "A few days on
ly had elapsed before comparative securit.
was felt with regard to our ability forests
any attack upon the city. The disappear
ance OF the enemy from the front of Wash
lngton and their passage into MARYLAND
enlarged the sphere of operations, AM
made an active campaign necessary t.
cover Baltimore, prevent the invasion. o
pennsylvania, and drive them out of Ma
ryiand. Being honored with the charg
OF this campaign, entered at once upOl