New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-21

night OF the twenty-thlrd the moYemen
took place in three columns.
At the Aqueduct. crossed near midnight
Georgetown battalion of militia undo
Major HOllingsworth. Captain Boyd's com
panv in the advance. followed BY the Car
rington Guards of Georgetown. ami III
johnson Guards of Washington. Ihes'
were followed speedily by the Fifth Mas
sachusetts. Twenty-eighth New York
brooklyn. Sixty-ninth New York, an'
one company of United States cavalry
These troops took possession OF Arlington
Heights.
AT Long Bridge. crossed at about the
same hour. battalion of district militia
consisting of the National Rifles, Captain
Smead: ZOuave company, Captain Powell
and Constitutional Guards, Captain Digges
and later, the Seventh. Twelfth anC
Twenty-fifth New York volunteers, under
command OF Major General Sanford; and
the Second. Third and Fourth New jersey
volunteers, under Brigadier General Run
Won. The Seventh New York was posted
at Hughes Tavern, near the Virginia END
of the bridge: the Second New Jersey hall
"A mile further on, at Roach's Spring. The
Twelfth and Twenty-fifth New York. and
the Third and Fourth New jersey, and one
company of cavalry moved TO the right. NJ
the river, a2d Joined the troops. who had
The First Michigan, Colonel Wilcox. d
detachment of United States cavalry under
Major StOneman. and a section of Sherman ;
battery under Lieutenant Ransom, marched
Via Long Bridge 10 Alexandria. The Fire
ZOuaves. commanded by Colonel Ellsworth.
went thither at the same time by water.
their landing being covered by the United
States steamer Pawuee. The troops arrived
by land and by water AZ about the same
u
change of shots with the pickets. aud cap
tured a small detachment of secession cav
airy. The whole of Sherman's battery
crossed during the night. and Ricketts, bat
terry marched over about noon on the TWEEN
ty-fourth. Thus quietly was taken the first
step into hostile territory-taken purely as
a defensive measure. and even then reluct-
antly. as though with sad foreknowledge
Of the fearful struggle which was 10 follow.
whose beginning was here.
Intrenching tools were Immediately sent
to these troops. and they commenced that
system of Notifications which finally en-
circled Washington.
On the twenty-sevepth of Nav. Brigadier
General Irwin Mcdowell was, by general
order No 20 assigned 10 the command OF
new military department which embraced
all that part of Virginia east of the Ale
ghany Mountains and north of James river,
except Fort Monroe and sixty miles around
the same. This energetic officer proceeded
to his post at once. and began his work with
vigOr. On the twenty-eighth
was issued his general order assuming COM
mand, announcing his adiutant general.
Colonies Stone, HeintzeIman and Hunter. of
the regular army. The New jersey troops
were already under General Runyon, BY
virtue of their militia organization.
Three days later general orders an
nOunced other staff officers, directed com
of brigades TO submit reports on
regular days. and little later depots were
established. the field commissa lat and
mathematics departments rendered more
effective. other brigades organized. and the
work of bringing something like order ont
Of chaos was pressed with all possible dis
patch.
The difficulties Of this task can hardly be
1verestimated. | have already spoken OF
an aversion in bigh quarters TO any such
of Virginia as should lead to
serious fighting within that State; this now
manifested itself in an unwillingness u
furnish the force south OF the river with
,uch equipments and transportation as
would render its advance possible. There
vas, too. a scarcity OF war material. and
nat which was at hand was carelessly used.
md in many cases wantonlv wasted By
rOops ignorant OF the strict economy of a
oldier's life. | need scarcely add that regi-
nents composed of men lust called from the
ield. Office and workshop 10 don the garb
# soldiers. commanded. too. by persons as
title experienced as themselves in all that
,ertained 10 military life. were far from be-
NJ an army. Nor was il enough TO cOnsti-
ute them such simply To assign them 10
ri ades, and TO see Ia il that these brigadeS
we're supplied with arms and subsistence.
o the work of instruction an efficient staff
rganiZation of educated army officers was
cry much needed. and these could not be
least. not promptly.
| should do injustice 10 the volunteers,
owever. if | failed to note here the ear
estness with which all sought. by every
means in their power. TO become familiar |
18th their duties. and, 40 far as possible. TO
vercOme the want of military education. |
lager search was made by officers, and bv /
lany enlisted men, after books on military |
cience. on tactics, field engineering. on du- |
les OF staff and line. and even in the broader /
nd more difficult branch of strategy. This |
pirit of inquiry. this cropping after knowl- |
dye. was perhaps OF little practical value /
that early day, but later it did much to
id to the efficiency of the army.
The commander however. was indefati-
able, and worked to good purpose By the
egInnlng OF July its effect could be seen in
le improved appearance of the troops.
Tn the eighth of July general order No
announces the organization of the troops
/ the department as consisting of five di-
lsions commanded by Generals TYLER and
unyOn. and Colonels Hunter. Heintzelman
nd Miles. These divisions consisted of
Eelve brlgades. an organization which was
ot materially changed until after the bat
of -, 1
rye number of three months regiments
fl only skeletons of brigades in the field.
In the meantime. however. confidence in
II strength had grown Unfortunately in the
orth, and the whole power OF popular and
will was turned to forcing an
lmedlate advance. Onward to Rich.
ond! was the cry. Rulers. legislators
al people seemed alike to forget that
istlly collected bodies of men were not an
my, and that without organization and
sclpllne and science in its army. the ma
RAJ strength o. the nation was but weak
SIS.
So early had this demand for immediate
ton become urgent, that on the fourth of
Inc we ind General Mcdowell replying |
a letter from the Adiutant General of the |
my as TO the number of men necessary to
e capture of Manassas Junction. 1t is
)rthy OF notice that this letter proposed |
e organization of field brigades under
ucated regular otficers-a suggestion I
lch did not receive favorable response. t
wever. until weeks afterward. when the I
my was on the point of advancing TO
tack the enemy. and when there was lit
or no time for anything more than sim {
e organization into brigades and divisions :
Al this point | will end my sketch. The |
,rv is not new. Much that l have said /
Is known 10 many of yOu before Rrt if I
nave so grouped the facts at my command !
to give YOU a clear impression of the dan
r and doubt which prevailed at Washing Y
> WHOM the first troops from the North .