Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-02-03

and must be met by an active campaign in
Maryland.
Taking all necessary measures for the de-
fence OF Washington, Gen Mcclellan, on the
9Th. left having received no authoritative and
explicit transfer OF the command into his
hands, and proceeded to reorganize and push
forward the shattered Army of Virginia with
the Army of the Potomac against the victori-
Gus enemy.
Gen. Halleck and the President remained
in a condition Of great alarm for the safety of
Washington while the movement was going
on, but were entirely uncertain as to where
the enemy was or what he would be at. On
the llth, the former telegraphed, II think the
main force of the enemy Is in your front; more
troops can be spared from here" On the
18th, the latter telegraphed, "Gov. Curtin
telegraphs me, Il have advices that Jackson
is recrossing the Potomac at Williamsport
and probably the whole rebel army will be
drawn from Maryland Please do not let the
enemy get off without being hurt" TTT
On the 18th, Gen. Halleck telegraphed,
Until you know more certainly the enemy's
force south OF the Potomac, YOU are wrong in
thus uncovering the capital"
On the 10th, Gen. Mcclellan having posi-
tive evidence that the whole rebel army was
in Maryland Gen. Halleck telegraphed: "Of
course | cannot advise. / think, however,
you will find the whole force of the enemy in
front has crossed the river"
With;his left resting well on the Potomac.
and sure of his plans, Gen. Mcclellan steadily
moved forward with his army on five parallel
roads, ready for concentration at any time in
battle. He had on the 18th come into pos
session OF an order issued by Gen. Lee,
which revealed to him the whole of the enc
my's plans, and confirmed his own purpose.
The whole case made by the "Committee
on the Conduct of the War;" without sending
for Gen. Mcclellan or any of his staff in rela-
ton to the Mary land campaign, and the cap
ture Of Harper's Ferry, is examined at length
by Gen. Mcclellan.
The gallant carrying of Durkettsville by
Franklin. which put that General, on the night
of the l4th, within three and half miles of
the point on Maryland Heights where he
might have formed a junction with Miles,
had not that officer previously Withdrawn
from those heights, which he had been or
dered to hold to the last, is graphically de-
scribed
The battles of South Mountain and An
tietam are next described at length. On the
day after the former victory. the President
telegraphcd 10 Gen. Mcclellan, "God bless
YOU and all with YOU; destroy the rebel army
if possible
The results of the Maryland battles are
thus summed up:
Thirteen guns. thirty-nine colors, upwards
of fifteen thousand stand of small arms, and
more than six thousand prisoners were the
trophies which attest the success of our army
in the battles of South Mountain, CHAMPION
Gap and Anteam. Nor a gun or a color was
lost by our army during these battles. The
grand total o.: our losses in men at Antetam
is stated at -, 400.
In reply to his telegram announcing that
the enemy had been wholly driven from Ma
ryland, General Mcclellan received this dis
patch:
1--WE are still left entirely in the dark as to
your movements and those of the enemy
This should not be 30. You should keep me
advised of both as far as YOU know them.
III. w. HALLEcK."
Gen. Mcclellan replied with what intorma-
ton he possessed. and added: IL regret that
you find it necessary TO couch every dispatch
have the honor to receive from you, in a
spirit of fault-finding. and that you have not
vet found time to say one word in commenda.
ton of the recent achievements of this army
or even to allude to them.''
Gen. Mcclellan then goes on to paint the
condition, after its victories, of this heroic
army, hastily recognized after the crushing
defeats it had experienced under Gen. Pope
and far from Its base of supplies on the Upper
Potomac. In three weeks from the day when
the command of the shattered legions had
been hurriedly thrust into his hands, Pennsyl
vania and Maryland had been dely cred, the
capital saved. and the triumphant enemy
driven back in Geieat beyond the river. IC
have followed that enemy would, in the cir
cumstances. have been sheer madness. Gen
Lee had taken up positions and was receiving
renforcements in Virginia. Gen. Mcclellan
at once proceeded 10 urge the rapid reorgan
ization OF his own forces to enable him TO re-
sumo the offensive in the cncmy's own coun
try. IF | am reinforced all ask" he tele
graphed, land am allowed to take my owl
course, will hold myself responsible for the
safety of Washington"
The reinforcement of the army for the
forwarding ofsuppIies went on, however, mos
October 9Th, for instance, did not arrive I'll
the 18th, nor did the clothing of one corps
reach that corps till the end of the month
Horses were deficient in great numbers. fol-
both artillery and cavalry.
The President visited Gen. Mcclellan il
person during this delay. and reiterated the
strongest assurances of his trust III him, and
his confidence that all would be done that
could be; and Gen. Mcclellan winds up hi'
sketch OF difficulties in the way of his move
ment with a calm and full assertion of his owl
superior competency as a commander, TO de-
termine the facts IN regard to the fitness o
his men to enter upon a great campaign In Z
hostile country over the "General-ln-ChIet II
his office al Washington
Late in Ocober the advance began. Or
Warrrn.on. Virginia, ready to act in any di
rection. Longstreet was IN the immediat,
front at Culpeppcr, jackson, with Hill, nea
Chester and Thornton's Gap and everythin,
gave promise of a speedy and decisive open
Ing of the campaign
On the night of the eth Gen. Mcclellan
was relieved of the command of the Army O
the Potomac. which was transferred to Gen
Ambrose L. Burnside.
Three DAYS afterwards Pleasanton was at
tackled by Longstreet and Stuart.
Gen. Mcclellan thus concludes his repor,
This report is in fact the history Of tn
Army of tho Potomac DurinO tho pprIo,