New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-06
HBADouAErsEs AaSI OF TIE p9T % ,es, ;

.r COURT-HOUeF,
counc fths Generals commanding army corps at the
headquarters Of the Army OF the fosomac "eis |" VIC
F,s That the enemy having rstre,ted from Hsn.;
TO Gordonsye behind the Rsppahannock and the hapssu
II Is the opinion Of the generals commanding army
Ga Point Comfort York aud James Rivers upon
Richmond provided frst that the enemys vessel tns nel
for an mmod.e transfer Of the force to Il. new
aa. be ready Wsshinton aud 70 0 hs
or aid tss II s1 Sle the @
a sbs be such as TO give an entire feeling Of security for
il ss1ety from menace. Unanimous;
Second i Ii: FOREGOING cannot BE- the army ~ ss
earliest possible moment and the mesns for feconstrucng
bridges repairing railroads and stocking them with 4.
Doth the and Alexandria and the Acquia and RICH
with the fort. on the right bank Po
fully raonsd and those the opposite side SceS
you'd a ey ~ ,Ia: and
total $4,000 for the defense OF the c woua
The same day Gen. Mcclellan informed the War
Department that the Council Of Commanders OF
Army Corps have unanimously agreed upon plan
OF operations and Con. Mcdowell will at once pro-
coed with it to Washington and lay 1t before you."
| To this the Secretary Of War replied: "What-
ever plan has been agreed upon proceed at once to
execute, without losing an hour for my approval"
THE PRESIDENTS ORDERS.
The plan of operations was submitted to the Presi.
dent on the same day, and he approved the same;
|
Fra. Leave such force .. Manassas Junction as shall
make II entirely certain shall not repossess
| % Second. Leave Washington secure.
Thd. Move the remainder the force down the Poto.
between hero there's or a. all events, such
msndsr Of the army at once In pursuit oil tho enemy 0S some
EMBARKATIoy OF THE ARMY.
The army was directed to return to Alexandria to
be embarked for the PENINSULA previous TO their
embarkatlon all the corps to be concentrated upon
the division nearest Alexandria The transporta'
ton not proving sufficient fer Immediate embarka-
tion the troops were, for several days, exposed to
tho rains which then set I'M being deprived of their
former camping accommodations, although, III many
instances, not far distant from them, having only
shelter tents 10 protect them from the incemency OF
the weather.
! To Gen. Mcdowell was at first assigned the ad.
vance OF the expedition. Bot when II was found
that there not transportation enough to embark
at his entire corps, be consented, in order to
utilize what was there, TO allow his troops 10 remain
until such time they could DE moved together,
, with the understanding that the troops preceding
him should not operate upon his proposed held oil
labor. The result, however. was that the corps OF
Gen Mcdowell was put OF TIL the last, which, in
2 pursuance of subsequent orders, led 70 his corps
being retained here for the defense OF Washington.
HOW WASHINGTON WAS LEFT UNDEFENDED.
By reference to the Presidents general war order,
No. 3, Of March 8 1862, 1t will be seen that no
change Of base Of operations OF the army OF the 10
} tomac WIS TO DO made without leaving IN and about
! Washington such force in the opinion not only
OF Gen. n cClellan, but Of ''the commanders OF all
the army CORPS" was sufficient TO render the capital
entirely secure. And by reference to the report OF
the council of war held at Fairfax Court House, on
the 18th OF March, 1862, consisting OF Gems. mellow
ell, Sumner, Heintzelman, aud keyes, 1t VIII be
seen that three members OF that council deemed
necessary for tho safety Of Washington that the
for,s on the right bank OF the Potomac should be
fully garrsoned; those on the LEFT bank occupied,
and a covering force of y, 900 men," Tho other
General Is umner) deemed 40 600 men IN all sufficient.
Notwithstanding this order OF inc fres,deGI anu
himself left Alexandra for the peninsula, ne sent
back orders, te,lh0ut conference rnh me Command
ers Of corps. for all the corps u the Ary 81 As Po-
lfom0c but taat Of Gen. Banks, TO embark at once
for the peninsula Just previous TO leaving, Gen.
Mcclellan addressed The following communication to
the Adutant. General oftne army: !
/ "SrEAxER ConnoDoRB. April l. 1852
GEssHAt. have @ reqae', tins. you Si 10y the follow
The approximate numbersand positions eit near and In
rear OF the Army the Potomac sbouts follows:
ob,r,. .uens troops to give MIN 5000 for the deisnss
baltimore sad 1888 available for the Eastern Shore AnnsPo
s &C. Fort Delaware very well sasoned oy about 4V9
mel. THE garrison Of the fort, around Washington
10 men; other di.poSaoe troops, with Gen Wadswoh
6s troops employed in guarding the railway. Mary
land amount 70 $50 Those Is designed to
sve being old resments BY dnouned cavalry aud to send
den Aberconbe occupies wsrrenton with force which.
inclndine Col Ceary iie Plains and tine cavalry be az
hs disposal will snosat to sons $50 mes with 10 pieces Of
artillery. A.. N A., -. ...,a !
for service IN and n and in many Of
the Eastern States may be ordered to Washington learn
from Gov there 500 now ready in
This force should be glad to have sent AT
.nce 10 Manassas -Four thousand mon FROM Gen. Wsds-
worth desire to be ordered Manassas These troops with
the rar guards alluded to- will make up force
| under Gen. AOeroombie to somethins like 863?
wmrenton upon SIrabug lie should remain strasburs
too allow nserst assume DEFINITE form In that region
before proceeding h 9 :. Ss''n.Su will thu,
including Bepkers division 23 strong, with "a pieces Of
1857 s:rous with IL guns, 3Sas dp0sabs csvalry
the railroad guards ABOUT s0o men, amount 70 ABOUT
i. designed to relieve Cen. Hooker by regiment
gay $50 men leaving with 800 cavalry, ,Sso the
Lower Potom.e
al wsrren'On there isto be....... 49, men
l 'In the Valley Of the SheDandosh.. s6I men,
i 'Un the Lower Petomac............. l.JW men.
| "r, ..s4,4s men,
Tbers will illus DO left for tho gsrsons and the mont Of
wasLiIston under Gen. Wssworth 1900 men, exclusive
Tbe troop. Organizing or ready service In New
,': assemble. @ %.Sins:Sn :aSscs whe
NEEDED an SIy I.psSMy ySsa co%@s
"Brs.Ien. TnonAs. Adjut.ntGsOeral u s. Army" A.,
This statement to the expression OF one OF she
witnesses, was VERY indefinite. Zen. Waus
worth, who had been ordered to take charge OF the
| d.feuses of Washington upon learning the DISPOSE,
tonr of troops proposed by Gen. Mcclellan, and
feeling the great Importance OF tue trust c1n.s s
10 his Charge and the total nadeqnacy OF the means
provided him for that purpose, addressed 70 the Sec
| rrstarv of War the following communication;
a. HsipeUARrHRs MILIrAHr D"rRIor OF wAsaIsSToS'
.aSS, q a., e. fs Ap, tsa
Of the forces e under my command Tor the de-
| lenses Of W ashingtoni * aas
Iii Alst
Cavalry lsiI companies only m0an'ed''''"''''' 90