The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1863-04-17
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC |!
Gen. McCleuan's Report of its Opera.
tions from the Evacuation of bar.
rison's Landing till after the
Battle of Antietam.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoroMAC, }
October Is 1862

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoroMAC, J
October Is, 1862
| GENERAL: | have the honor to submi
preliminary report of the military opera
tions under my charge since the evacua
ton of Harrison's Landing.
The measure, directed by the general
| in chief, was executed successfully, with
entire safety to my command and its ma
terial, between The 14th and 18th of Au.
gust. The line of withdrawal selected
was that of the mouth Of the Chicka-
homny, Williamsburg, and Yorktown.-
Upon this line the main body Of the army
with all It's trains was moved, Heintzel,
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 Chickahominv
was effected by means Of Il batteau bridge
two thousand feet IN length. The trans
fer Of the army to Yorktown was comp'et-
ed by the 10Th of August. The embsrka~
ton Of the troops and material at York
town aud Fortress Monroe was at once
commenced, and AS rapidly as the means
Of transportation permitted everything
was sent forward to Acquia creek and
Alexandria. No mere sketch Of an under
taking Of such magnitude and yet so deli
cate a military character will suffice to do
Justice. | must now, however, content
myself with simple notice Of deferring
full description fox my official report OF
the campaign before Richmond-a labor
which propose to undertake as soon as
events will afford me the necessary ime
Justice to the achievements of the Army
Of the Potomac and the brave men who
onposel it requires that the official re
cord Of that 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 in
iurious to the public interest, inasmuch as
10y frequent reports from time to time
have kept the department advised ofeyents
as they occurred.
Ireachei Acquia creek with my staff
on the 9th Of August, reported my arriv
al, and asked for orders. On the 9th Of
August | received from the general n,
chief permission to proceed to AIexan-
dria, where | at once fixed my headquar>
tors. The troops composing the Army Of
the Potomac were meanwhile ordered
forward 10 reinforce the army under Gems
eral Pope So completely was this order
carried out that on the Goth Of August ]
had remaining under my command only
a camp guard of about one hundred men
Everything else had been sent to reinforce
General Pope. In addition, exhausted
all the means at my disposal to forward
supplies to that officer, my own headquar
ter teams even being used for that pur-
pose.
Upon the unfortunate issue Of that
campaign [ received AN int;mation from
the oeneralin chief that my services were
desired fer the purpose of arranging for
the defense Of the capital They we're a,
once cheertuly given, although while avail,
ting definite instructions at Alexandria, |
had endeavored, as just seen, to promote
favorable result in the operations then
pending, aud had thus contributed, though
Indirectly, yet as far as I could, to the de-
fense OF Washington. On the ID Septem
ber the formal order of the War Depart
ment placed me in command of the forti :
fications Of Washington and Of all tie
troops for the defense of the capital" On
the 1st Of September had been instruct>
ed that | had nothing to do with the
troops engaged in active operations under
Gen. Pope but tn at nv command was
limited TO the immediate garrison OF
Washington On the next day however.
was verbally Instructed by the President
aud the general mischief to assume com
,nand Of General Pope's troops GncIuding
my own Army Of the Potomac as soon as
they approached the vicinity Of Washing
ION, 10 go out and meet them and to post
them as deemed best to rspulse tae enc
nv ant, insure the safety Of tie city
At this time the task imposed upon
me was limited to the dispositions necess>
arv to resist direct attack of the enemy
upon the capital. Such, indeed was The
danger naturally indicated by the defeat
Of our forces in front. The various earri
sons were at once strengthen ed and put
in order, and the troops were disposed to
cover all the approaches to the city, and
so as to be readily thrown upon threaten
ed points New defenscs we're thrown up
where deemed necessary. A few days on
| " bad elapsed before comparative secur-
itv was felt with regard to our ability to
resist any attack upon the city. The dis.
appearance of the enemy from the front
Of Washington and their passage in e
Maryland enlarged the sphere of opera,
tions, and made An active campaign neces
sary to cover Baltimore, prevent the in
vasion of Pennsylvania, and drive them
out of Maryland. Being honored witt
the charge OF this campaign, entered a
once upon the additional duties imposed
upon me with cheerfulness and trust, We
not without feeling the weight of the res
possibilities thus assumed. and being deep
ly impressed with the magnitude of til
issues involved.
Having made the necessary arrange
ments for the defense Of the city in tn
new condition Of things. pushed forwar
the First and Nin,h corps, under Gener
ais Reno aud Hooker, forming the rigb
wing Under General Burnside. to Lsesbur
on the 5,h instant; thence the first corp