Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-01-19
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE Poro1Ae,
EaIrfax Conf HolIse March ~ t.sl


council OF the Generals commanding ara y
corps at the Headquarters Army of the Pot,,.
nac, were of the opinion
L. That the enemy having retreated from
Aanassas 10 Gordonsv Vile, behind the Rsppa-
hammock and Rapidsn, It is the opinion OF the
G' neTais commanding army corps that. the
operations to be carried on will be best under.
taken from Old Point Comfort, between the
York snd James rivers, upon Richmond: pro-
vided-
ist- That tie enemy's vessel, the Merrimac,
can be IA utralized.
ID That the means Of nsportation, sufi.
eient fer an immediate transfer of the force to
It's new base, can be ready at Washington ana
AIeKaGdrn 20 move down the Potomac; and
90 That naval auxiliary force can be had
20 silence or AID IN siiencing the enemy's Bat
ieEles In York river. -"
4th. That the force to be left TO cover Wash
iDeton shall BE- such as to give an entire feel
ing Of security for its safety from menace
tUEanimoUs.
H. IL the foreeoir cannot bs. the army
should then be mo ed against the en- envy b. hind
The RappaharDock al the earliest possible mo-
mrnt, and the means for reconstructing bridges,
repairing railroads, and stocking them with
material sufficient for the supplying the army
should at once be collected for boil the Orange
and Alexandria and Aqua and Richmond rail.
Rote.-That with the forts on the right bank
OF the Potomac fully garrisOned, and those on
me left bank occupied, covering force in front
OF tbs Virginia line OF $500 men would suffice
fkeyes, Heintzleman, McDoweiiI
total OF 1000 for the defense Of the city
would snffice. (Sumner3
WASHINGTON, ID. O., April Cd, 1852.
Ia compliance with your instructions we
have examined the papers submitted TO u, and
have The honor TO make the following report:
l. The Presidents war order No 3, dated
March sth, requires that on taking up any new
ta>- OF operations that the city Of Washington
shall he left entirely secure.
The other points Of the order IL is unnecessary
20 consider, as The enemy since It's date have
abandoned their positions aAd bsits ries on ,ha
Potomac, and retired behind The Rappahan.
mock.
The eouaeil or general Officers held At Fair,
hK Court-House, March i3ta. took place After
the enemy had retired from Manassas and de.
ssoysd the railroads in their roar. The couAcu
ofcaoed unanimously 70 take mp q new base of
OPERATIONS from Fortress Monros, and three OF
he gfnerak q majority decided that the foros
necessary TO be len should b samcisnt to gar.
rIson the forts on the rs ht bank Of NE Potomac
and 70 " occupy" those on The left bauR with a
covering force Of 26,UO0 II a. we mini. the
Judgment OF Officers that some 30OGo would bss
nro,ssary thus 70 man these forts, which, with
the hunter OF the covering force, would mako
q total Of 5S,10.
id The Presidents direction, Of March Il
20 General Mcclellan, directs
Isl. To leave such q force al Mana ,-as juno
lion a. shall make it entirely certain mai Ia
emmy shall not reposss - it,
ri. That Washington shall be left entirely
srCurs.
I'd. Thas the remainder Of The srny NOV.
down the Potomac, or move In pursuit of the
rttmy.
In regard 70 occupying Manassas Junc.io,
ss thr enemy have destroyed the railroads
aiding To IL, IL may be fair ass ume that they
lave no Intention " returning for the reocCu
patton OF their late position, and therefore no
very tArEr force would be necessary 10 hold
hat position
MalOi General Mcclellan repor: 20 the Ad-
JU'ant General Of pril /, after giving The sew
ezsl po-Itions Of the troops proposed 70 be .er,
for lie d<!ence Of Washington gives a repre-
ztn'aiion - follows:
At WaErrnion there Ii - be ..,. 77N0
AZ HAnaAha>b Say. 1859
In t1r Va Icy of the Shenandoah I4SY
On u-e Lover Potonac ......- Iaa