Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-04-08
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.

1 hhmI UT IUhh I-OI OuhOe
General McCleilan's Report of its Operation
| from the Epacuation of HarYison's Landing
till after the Battle Of Anietam.
fIEADoUiRTERs Army OF THE PoToMAc,l
October Is, 1862.
GRNrRAL:-I have the honor to submit O pre-
liminary report of the military operations un
der my charge since the evacuation of Harri-
sons Landing.
The measure, directed by the General-in-
Chief, was executed successfully, with entire
safety to my command and Its material, between
the l4th and 18th Of August. The line OF
withdrawal selected was that of the mouth of
the Chickahominy, Williamsburg and York.
town. Upon this line the main body of the
army, with all its trains, was moved, HeintzeI.
mans corps crossing the Chickahominy at
Jones's bridge, and covering by it's march the
movement Of the main column. The passage
OF the lower Chickahominy was effected by
means of batteau bridge two thousand feet In
length. Tho transfer Of, the army to York
town was completed by the 10Th Of August
The emhaEkatio of the troops and material at
Yorktown and Fortress Monroe was at once
commenced, and as rapidly as the means OF
transpor rtation permitted everything was sent
forward to Aqua Greek and Alexandria. No
mere sketch Of an undertaking of such magni-
tude and yet go delicate military character
will suffice to do Justice. l must now, however,
content myself with simple notice Of it, de.
ferring full description for my official report
of the campaign before Richmond-a labor
which propose to undertake as soon as events
will afford me necessary time. Justice TO the
achievements of the Army Of the Potomac and
the brave men who composed it requires that
the official recordlof thas campaign 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 interest, inasmuch as by frequent
reports from time to time | have kept the de
partment advised of events as they occurred.
I reached Aqua Creek with my staff on the
24th of August, reported my arrival, and asked
for orders. On the 9th of August received
from the General-in-C Chief permission to pro-
ceed to Alexandria, where / at once fxed nv
headquarters. The troops composing the Army
Of the Potomac were meanwhile ordered forward
to reinforce the army under General Pope. So
completely was this order carried out that on
the 30Gh Of August had remaining under my
command only camp guard of about one hun
dred men. Everything else had been sent to
reinforce General Pope. In addition, 1 ex.
haustsd all the means at my disposal to forward
supplies to that officer, my own headquarter
teams even being used for that purpose.
Upon the unfortunate issue of that campaign
I received an intimstion from the General in /.
Chief that my services were desired for the
purpose of arranging for the defense of the
capital. They were at once cheerfully given,
although, while awaiting definite instructions
at Alexandra, had endeavored, as just seen,
TO promote favorable result in the operations
then pending, and had thus contributed, though
Indirectly, yet as far ss could, to the defense
Of Washington. On the I'd of September, the
| formal order of the War Department placed
me in command of the Notifications of Wash
ington "and of all the troops for the defense OF
the capital" On the 1st of September had
been instructed that had nothing to do with
the troops engaged in active operations under
Gen. Pope, but that my command was limited
10 the immediate garrison OF Washington. On
the next day, however, was verbally instruct
ID by the President and the General-in-C Chief Ia
assume command of General Pope's troops lin.
cluding my ewn Army ofthe Potomac) as soon
as they approached the vicinity of Washington
10 90 out and meet them and to post them as
deemed best to repulse the enemy and insure
the safety Of the city. 41- .-----.a' %
At this time the task imposed upon me Waf
limited to the dispostions necessary TO resist q
direct attack Of the enemy upon the capital.
Such, indeed, was the danger naturally indicat.
ed by the defeat of our forces In front. The
various garrisons were at once strengthened
and put in order, and the troops we're disposed
to cover all the approaches to the city, and 81
as to be readily thrown upon threatened points
New defenses were thrown up where deemed
necessary. A few days only had elapsed before
comparative security was felt with regard Il
our ability to resist any attack upon che city
The disappearance of the enemy from the iron
Of Washington and their passage into Mary
land enlarged the sphere of operations, ant
made an active campaign necessary to cove
Baltimore, prevent the invasion of Pennsylva
mia, and drive them out of Maryland. Beinl
houored with the charge Of this campaign, en-
tered al once upon the additional duties impos
ed upon me with cheerfulness and trust, yet no
without feeling the weight of the responsible
ties thus assumed, and being deeply impressed
with the magnitude of the issdee involved.
Having made the necessary arrangements fo
the defense of the city in the new condition o
things, pushed forward the First and Nintt
corps, under Generals Reno and Hooker, form
ing the hight wing under General Burnside, Il
Leesburg on the 9Th instant; thence the Firs
corps by Brooksville, Cookesville, and Ridge
vile, to Frederick, and the Ninth corps b.
Damascus on New Market and Frederick. Thl
Second and Eleventh corps, under General
Sumner and Williams, on the 9th were movel
from Tehallytown TO Rockville, thence by Mid
dlebury and Urbsna on Frederick, the Elev
enth corps moving by lateral road hetweel
Urbana and New Market, thus maintaining
the communication between the center and righ
wing, ss we'll as covering the direct route from
Frederick to Washington. The Sixth, corps
under General Eranklin, /, MAS moved to Darnes
town on the 9th inst, thence by Dawsonvill,
and Barnville on Buckeyston, covering the ros
from the mouth of the Monocacy to Rockville
and being in position to'connect With and sup
lport the center should it have been necesssr
(as was supposedly 70 force the line Of the Mon
locaoy. COUGHS division was thrown forwar
Ito Offut's Crons Roads and Poolesyille by th
river road, thus covering that approach, watch
! Ing the forda of the Potomac, and ultimatel
following and supporting the Sixth corps. Th
. lobject OF these movements was to feel th
enemy Ito compel him to develop his intention
lat HE same time that the troops we're ia pr
J sition readily to cover Baltimore or Washing
ton, to attack him should he hold the line OF th
. Monocacy, or to follow him into Pennsylvani
liz necessary On the l2ih a portion of tho rigt
wing entered Frederick, after brisk skirmis
at the outskirts of the city and In It's etreet
r On tho 18th the main bodies of the right win
9 and center passed through Frederick. In til
city the manifestations of Union feeling wei
8 abundant and gratifying. The troops receive
Tho moat enthusiastio welcome at the hands