The National tribune., 1907-08-22
THE BATTLE AT KERNsvILLE, VA.
C-Tyler's first position.
D-Tyler's second position.
E-Jackson's first position.
F-Tyler's third position.

security, altho with less celerity and
brilliancy of results. up the Peninsula"
Since Johnston had not allowed McClel-
Ian to steal a march on him and gain
his rear the Fortress Monroe route Of
fered attractions. but now there was
the terrible Merrimac. The decision of
the council of war, which Mcclellan ap-
proved, was summed up as follows:
Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
Fairfax Court House. March 13, 1862.
"a council of the Generals command
ing army corps. at the Headquarters of
the Army of the Potomac. were of the
opinion:
Il That the enemy having retreated
from Manassas to Gordonsyille, behind
the Rappahannock and Rapidan, it is
the opinion of Generals commanding
army corps that the operations to be
carried on will be best undertaken from
Old Point Comfort, between the York
and James Rivers, provided, first. that
the enemy's vessel, Merrimac. can be
neutralized; second. that the means of
transportation sufficient for an imme-
diate transfer of the force to its new
base can be ready at Washington and
Alexandria to move down the Potomac;
and, third, that a naval auxiliary force
can be had to silence or aid in silencing
the enemy's batteries on the York Riv-
er; fourth. that the force to be left to
give an entire feeling of security for it's
safety from menace. CUnanimous.)
III. II the foregoing cannot be. the
army should then be moved against the
enemy behind the Rappahannock at the
earliest possible moment and the means
for reconstructing bridges, repairing
railroads and stocking them with ma
terials for supplying the army should
at once be collected for both the Orange
& Alexandria and the Aqua G. Rich
mond Railroads. (Unanimous)
IN. B.-That. with the forts on the
right bank of the Potomac fully garri-
soned and those on the left bank occu-
pied. covering force in front of the
Virginia line of $4,000 would suffice
CKeyes, Heintzelman and McDowelD. A
total of 10000 men for the defense of
the city would suffice tSumner)."
The President Gives Qualiaed Ap-
prOval.
This decision was at once commune
Gated to the War Department, and in
his urgency to get Mcclellan to act the
President replied the same day approx
ing it.
WAR Department, March 13, 1862.
1.-THE President having considered the
plan of operations agreed upon by your
self and the commanders of army corps.
| makes no objection to the same, but
gives the following directions as to its
Execution.
Il. Leave such force at Manassas
Junction as shall make 1t entirely cer-
tain that the enemy shall not repossess
himself of that situation and line OF
communications
| ''2. Leave Washington entirely secure
| '3. Move the remainder of the force
down the Potomac. choosing a new base
at Fortress Monroe or anywhere be.
tween there and here: or at any event
move such remainder of the army al
once in pursuit of the enemy by some
route.
Edwin M. Stanton. Secretary of War
'Maj.-Gen. George B. Mcclellan"
1 Secretary Stanton. not to be put of
any longer by McClellan's silence and
evasions. had required from him some
thing explicit as to what he contem-
plated doing with his immense army
Mcclellan answered that while Fortress
Monroe was to be the base the line OF
operations would be that Of Yorktown
and West Point upon Richmond. The
expectation was OF decisive battle be-
tween West Point and Richmond. He
would reduce Yorktown and Gloucester