New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-30
tioDs and tha. would undertake any labor and run

any rick for that purpose. / therefore desired him
to feel no hesitation in communicating freely with
me, as lie might rest assured that every suggestion
that he would make would meet all respect aud con-
alteration at ny hands, and that far as IT was IN
my power TO do 90, would carry out bis wishes
with all energy, and with all the means at my com
maud. In reply 10 this communication received
letter from Gen. McCle an, very general in Its terms
and proposing nothing toward the accomplishment Oh
the purpose had sugge.tcd 10 him. II became ap'
parent that considering the situation in which the
Army of the Potomac and the Army Of Virginia
were placed in relation 10 each other, ana the aOso
Lutte necessity OF harmonious and prompt coopera,loh
between them, some military superior DotD OF oen'
McClelan and myself should be cesled TO WashIug-
ton and placed in command of all the operatons ia
Virginia, In accordance with these views, MAJOR
Gen. Halleck wac called 20 Washington and placed
in general command. Many circumstances, when
iG is not necessary here 70 get icrth, III.
duced me TO express to tho President, 10 the
Secretary Of War, aud 10 Gen. Balleck, mJ desire
TO be relieved from the command VI tho Army VI
Virginia aud 10 be- returned TO the Western eoun'
try. Ny services, however, were considered peces'
sary in the projected campaign, and my wishes
were not complied with. 1 accordingly TOOK mo
field In Virginia with grave forebodings OF the
suit, but with O determination 20 carry ont the
& laos OF the Government with all the energy ahd
with all the ability of which was master. ffe-
vious TO taking the field l issued the following
orders which yet out very fully the policy wmcn 4
|
ceived the sanction of the Government, and 30 lar
a. know, the approval OF the country
| The order recurring the troops 10 subsist upon the
cou airy an which tneir operations were conducted
has with willful disregard OF It's terms, been con-
,roed great 10 NV discredt, aS authorizing iDdis.
crminale robbery and plumber. Yet the terms OF
tsts order are 50 specific TO the manner and by
whom oil pro- ery subsistence needed Tor The use
of the army should be seized, and the order IL 30
cannon IN The history Of warfare, that have teen
"a hot, "A cnuld ed and
misunderstood. Ii is therefore, submitted here for
the calm examination OF the Government and OF the
public. ! believed then, and believe now, that the
po " there laid down was wise and just, and Was
we'll calculated 10 secure efhcieDt and rapid opera
lions Of the army aud in Case OF reverse, 10 leave
| the enemy without the means of subsstiDg In the
country over which our aruiy had passed, and over
which any pursuit must be conducted The long de-
Law and embarrassment OF tie army under Gen. Lee,
in its subsequent movements toward Washington,
accustomed largely by the want OF SUPP lies taken
from country under this order, fully justified ls
| wisdom.
Ii WAS determined, before I left Washington, TO
take the field in Virginia, that the union OF the
srniee OF Virginia and Of toe Potomac was absolute
y essential both 10 the safety OF the nation cay Ilsl
AND to the further successful prosecution OF the
OparatiODs against Richmo ID. The mission Of tie
army under my command therefore was 10 cover, AS
far us possible the front OF WashIngo on, and make
secure the Valley OF the Shenanhoab snd 50 operae
upon The eneHys lines Oh " thc
west aud northwest, rs 10 force him 10 make such
heavy oetachments from bis main force at Rich.
mouO as would enable the Army OF the Potomac 10
withdraw from its portion at Hsrrison's Landing
aud TO take shipping for AcQuia Creek or for Alex
andrlA; and ii, as was feared, the enemy ebOuld
tbfow his whole force In the direction OF WashiUg
ton, il became my duty 10 reels, his advance al
all hazards and TO lay and embarE,ss he move
ment 10 gain all the tune possible for the arrival
OF the Army OF the Potomsc behind the kappa-
A. l. al ..sfsl afI
Halleck / instructed Gen. King at Fredeiicksbdrg
10 send forward dstacbmt ns Of his cavalry 10 Opr
rate upon the line of The Virginia Central Railtosd
aud Us far ss possible TO embsrrass and destroy COM
municaliOn between Richmond and the Valley OF the
| SHENANDOAH, Several cavalry expeditions which
that officer dspatched for the purpose com
pletey successful and succeeded 10 breaking up the
railroad at several points upon several occssions
Al tue same time directed Maj Gen. Banks TO send
forwaTd infantry brigade with all his cavalry,
to march rapidly upon Culpepper Court House, and
after taking possession OF that place, 10 push Tor.
ward cavalry toward the Raj idan, in the direction
: of Gordopsvle. Ga the lt,h OF July, after this
movsu,en, successfully accomplished, directed
G Gen. Banks 10 push forward, during the night Of
that day, the whole OF his cavalry force under Brig
Gen. Hatch from CulpeppeT, with orders 10 take
possession Of Gordonsvlle and 10 destroy the rail-
road Tor ten fifteen miles east OF that place, with
portion Of his forces, while all remaining pushed
forward in the direction Of Charlotte svie, destroy
lng the railroad bridges and interruptiDg that hue VI
communication tar az practicable. Az that time,
there was 10 force Of the enemy at Gordonsvile or
in the vicinity, and tho whole operation ss ordered
was not only EARLY practicable but would have
been attended with serious consequences TO the
enemy; bat, TO my surprise and dissatiefao.
ton, / received on the l'th OF July, iron
Gen. Bsnks, q report that Gen. Hatch had taken
with him infantry artillery, and trains OF wagons,
and that IN Of bad ioads be had that
date ouly tucceded in going lsr as Madison Court.
House. Meantime, on tue 10th Of July, the advance
OF Jacktob's forces under Ewell hui reached Go E
louisville, and The proposed movement, o. ordered,
became impracticable No tatisfaCiOTy explanation
Las ever been made TO VI this departure rom my
orders on the part of Gen. Hatch. Finding IL no
longer practicable 20 occupy Gordonsve ne l had
desIxned sent orders 10 Gen. Banks 10 direct Gen
Hatch TO select from bis own cavalry ard thar 4
Gen. Mcdowell, which l had sent forward, fl'c D.
hundred to two thousand Of the best mounted ne ,
and 70 proceed from Madison Court. lloufe afou.j
the west ,ide Of the Blue Ridge to n point wi. ace
lie could make essy descent upon tie Railroad
west OF GOrdonsvlle, and II succt ssfu l. push for.
ward to Charlottesville, and il possible d9-lTOy the
railroad between tina. place End LyHcbburg ln
compliance with this order. Gen. Hatcu commenced
10 make the movement directed, but abandoned II
very soon after he started, AID geturDed by the way
OF Spenyville 10 hi post. soon as had received
the report Of this second failure l relieved Ger.
Hatch from the command Of the cavalry Of GeI.
Bankss corpe, an sent Brig. Gen. Buiord 10 report
10 G,neial Bants as toe Chef OF Cavalry Of
bis corps. On Tue 18th Of Joly i lett Wash
iugon. and after reviewing Ricketts's Division,
of Mcl 'owels corps at Waterloo Bridge, repaired
TO thc headquarters Of Gen. Banks few miles
soutl -eae. OF Little Washington. All preparations
havi Z been completed l instructed Gen. Banks 10
move forward on the 9Th Of August and Jake post st
the point where the turnpike from Sperryviiie to
Culpepper crosses Hazel River. Gen. Mcdowell
was o. dered on the day previous TO move forward
with RickctIs's division IRON Waterloo Bridge TO
Culpepper Court House, 90 that on the 7.h Of Au-
gust al. the infantry aud artillery forces OF tie
l,,,y az Viryini. xo.re asaembed eIony the turp.