CHAPTER IX. OF THE ARM Y MCCLELLAN'S COMMAND IN CHIEF. OPERATIONS McClellan's Repudiation of Stone's Movement. ment. was, therefore, held closely McClellan's Repudia- MCCLELLAN, in his subreport (Nov. 1st) to the Secretary of War regarding the Ball's Bluff disaster, and referring to his orders to General Stone of October 20th, expressly stated that he "did not contemplate an attack upon the enemy or the crossing of the river in force by any portion of General Stone's command." This is confirmatory of our statement [see page 343] that Stone alone was responsible for the movement in force over the river. In that report McClellan also declares the advance upon Dranesville made by McCall, October 19-20, was but a reconnoissance, from which he was ordered to retire again to his old camp at Langley's, October 20th, and McCall so did retire, October 21st. The gradual withdrawal of the enemy from McClellan's front was not followed by a corresponding evacuation of their positions on the line of the river above Washington, and the General sought by his diversions either to drive the rebels back from Leesburg and Harper's Ferry or to give them a chance The key to General Mcto show if their intent was to try and retain Clellan's movements during the line of the Upper Potomac. The result the four months succeeding of the battle of Ball's Bluff was such as to in- | his installation as General-in-Chief is found duce a recall beyond the Potomac of all the in the mere fact of his appointment to that forces ordered forward to sustain Stone's position after what had transpired between movement, since it demonstrated the imprac- Scott, McClellan and the War Department. ticability of holding ground in face of the Under date of October 4th, 1861, the Generaladverse concentration indicated. The en-in-Chief, complained of Mc'Clellan's insubortrenchments thrown up at Leesburg indicated dination-citing evidences of glaring breaches the enemy's design to retain their positions of military usage and of the Articles of War. above Washington. After citing the evidence Scott wrote: McClellan's Supremacy of Command. This retirement, and the falling back of Has, then, a senior no corrective power over a Geary from Bolivar Heights after his gallant junior officer in case of such persistent neglect and action on the 16th of October, gave the Con- disobedience? The remedy by arrest and trial befederates the entire possession of the country fore a Gourt-Martial would probably soon cure the from Harper's Ferry to Leesburg. Banks evil; but it has been feared a conflict of authority The Grand Army. ten of cavalry and twenty- near the head of the army would be highly encouraging to the enemies and depressing to the friends of the Union. Hence my long forbearance, and continuing (though but nominally) in duty. I shall try to hold out till the arrival of Major-General Hal-powerful erections, more or less elaborate in leck, when, as his presence will give me increased confidence in the safety of the Union and, as I am unable to ride in the saddle or walk, by reason of dropsy in my feet and legs and paralysis in the small of the back, I shall definitively retire from the army." There is a volume of history in this paragraph. If McClellan was named to the position after the citations of a superior officer charging him with insubordination, all authority over him was at an end. He was construction and occupying an arc stretching from Great Falls, ten miles above Washington, to the Accotink Creek, fifteen miles below the city.* As the regiments were all then very nearly up to the standard, (1010) the force ready for the advance was above one hundred thousand. In this estimate it will be perceived the troops of Banks, Dix, Lander, Wool, &c., are not included, although each of these commands performed its part of the programme for pressing back the enemy. These figures only represent the strength of the divisions represented in the first grand review, Nov. 20th, in which seventy thousand splendidly equipped men participated. Not a day passed up to the 28th of January, 1862, that accessions were not made to the arms of all kinds above enumerated, until McClellan confronted the Confederate seventy thousan in and around Manassas with twice seventy II. General Wm. F. Smith, at and opposite Chain thousand of as superb soldiers as the world supreme. The Grand Army. The position and strength of the several divisions of the Army of the Potomac when the forward movement upon Manassas was, apparently, entered upon, were about as follows: I. General George A. McCall, at and opposite Great Falls, stretching down to Langley's; twelve regiments infantry; one of cavalry; two full batte ries. Bridge, with lines advanced to Miner's Hill: ten regiments of infantry; one of cavalry; two batteries. III. General Fitz-John Porter, with lines from Miner's Hill to Falls Church: thirteen regiments of infantry; two of cavalry; three batteries. `IV. General Irvin McDowell, from Falls Church to Munson's Hill: eleven regiments of infantry; one of cavalry; three batteries. V. General Louis Blenker, from Munson's Hill to one mile south of Mason's Hill: eleven regiments of infantry; one regiment of mounted riflemen; two batteries. VI. General Wm. B. Franklin, from Blenker's ever beheld. McClellan's Advance. A reference to the Summary, No. VI., will advise the reader of the several reconnoissances and advances made during November, December any January by McClellan's force. Slowly as his troops pressed outwardly, by the very weight of numbers, the Confederates withdrew -first from Munson's Hill, then from Vienna, then from Fairfax C. H. The advance from the northern wing of the army was, however, less marked. Up to Dec. 20th, when the lines to Springfield: twelve regiments of infantry; heavy skirmish at Dranesville occurred, the one of cavalry; three batteries. division of McCall had not permanently ad VII. General Sam'l P. Heintzelman, from Spring-vanced from the camp in front of the Falls. field to the Accotink and Alexandria road: seven regiments of infantry; one of cavalry; two batte ries. VIII. General Edwin V. Sumner, west bank of Potomac below Alexandria: twelve regiments of infantry; one of cavalry; three batteries. IX. General Erasmus D. Keyes, at and around Springfield (on the Orange and Alexandria rail road): seven regiments of infantry; one of cavalry; cannonaded Dam No. 5 at their pleasure, and, two batteries. * See pages 342-43 for list of separate works con Here were ninety-six regiments of infantry, stituting these defenses. Jackson's Advance. OCCUPATION OF THE EASTERN COUNTIES. on the 20th, shelled it with great fury in hopes of accomplishing its destruction, thus to render impossible Federal communication by the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. On the 17th Jackson marched from Winchester to Martinsburg with five thousand men. At the latter place he was reenforced by about two thousand seven hundred. He bore with him boats for a pontoon, proving that his purpose was to cross the Potomac. He struck the river at a point three miles below Williamsport, where the cannonade of the dam above referred to transpired. That furious waste of powder and shell evidently covered the rebels' real design, which was a descent on Williamsport, to secure the heavy store of flour and salt deposited there, as well as to lay hands on the specie of the Washington County Bank. The rapid concentration, at that then much exposed place, of the regiments of Generals Hamilton and Williams' commands, however, prevented the passage of the rebels at Falling Waters; and thereafter the demonstration seemed to be confined to the destruction of the dam. The artillery duel which followed was of the most exciting nature. Best's and Knapp's batteries responded from the Federal side—the first against the enemy's position at Falling Waters, and Knapp, with his two Parrott pieces, protecting the dam. Lauder's Operations. The forces above Williamsport were of Lander's command. This gallant officer was placed in charge of the "Department of Harper's Ferry and Cumberland,” created by General Order 91, October 24th, with the design of covering working parties on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad between these points. His troops were composed of Maryland and Virginia volunteers-raw levies, but effective, for under his vigilant eye they soon became skilful soldiers. Protecting their own property they were doubly interested and so secured the line of that road around Cumberland as to render that point safe, though the general want of energy in crowding the enemy back from the line of the river, from Williamsport to Leesburg, really left Lander only a post occupation at Cumberland. The failure to occupy Leesburg, Harper's Ferry and the neck opposite Williamsport, in November, 467 quote: The proclamation "The military forces of the United States are about to enter your counties as a part of the Union. They will go among you as friends, and with the earnest hope that they may not, by your own acts, be forced to become your enemies. They will invade no rights of person or property; on the contrary, your laws, your institutions, your usages will be scrupulously respected. There need be no fear that the quietude of any fireside will be disturbed, unless the disturbance is caused by yourselves. Special directions have been given not to interfere with the condition of any persons held to domestic service, and, in order that there may be no ground for mistake or pre text for misrepresentation, commanders of regiments and corps have been instructed not to permit any such persons to come within their lines" The most effective reassurance appeared to be in proclaiming that runaway negroes should be bayonetted back to their masters. As Henry A. Wise's plantation was thus protected in its "property" the "invasion," even to that arch enemy of the Republic, was not so serious a matter, after all. The malignant return made for such clemency [see Letcher's Message, Appendix, page 524,] placed the Federal authorities, viewed with reference to succeeding events, in a very absurd predicament; but, that was the policy then prevailing, East and West; the status of the negro was not to be disturbed even though his bondage gave the greatest possible “aid and comfort to the enemy.” There were nine thousand slaves in the two counties to a white population, before the rebellion, of about thirty-three thousand; but many of the whites were then in arms against the Union. Those remaining outwardly welcomed the advent of the Federal forces: covered by the ægis Occupation of the "Eastern Counties." of such a proclamation, | offices-State, county and municipal-by alleged what had they to complain authority from the Commonwealth of Virginia, in of or to fear? Lockwood disregard and violation of the declaration of the landed at Newtown, Maryland; then march- people of Virginia, represented in Convetion at the city of Wheeling, on Thursday, June 13, 1861, and through to Horntown, then to Drummondof the ordinances of said Convention, and of the town, where the United States flag was found acts of the General Assembly, held by authority of flying before the Court House. The militia, said Convention. It is therefore ordered, by direcorganized under Letcher's orders, voluntarily tion of the President, that if any person shall heredisbanded; every Confederate flag and sym- after attempt within the State of Virginia, under the bol of rebellion disappeared, and the occupa- | alleged authority of said Commonwealth, to exertion proved a source of prosperity to the cise any official powers of a civil nature, within the people. To the rebels it was a sore affliction, limits of any of the commands of the occupying since they drew from those two counties im- forces of the United States, unless in pursuance of mense supplies of cereals and forage. All the declarations and ordinances of the Convention commerce with the western shore was suspended; the light-houses along the river were relit; the Courts and County offices were reopened; and, generally, affairs assumed a pleasant face. Lockwood, in his sub-proclamation, dated Drummondtown, Nov. 23d, authorised the "judges, magistrates, and other civil officers to continue in their several offices and perform all and every function of the same conformably to the Constitution of the United States, the law of Virginia, previous to the ordinance of secession,' except so far as modified or changed by any subsequent act of the Legislature sitting in Western Virginia, and the laws passed by said Legislature, sitting in Western Virginia, subsequent to the passage of said act of secession." The only additional requirement was for the office holders to take the oath of allegiance to the United States. Official Acknowledge Vriginia Government. assembled at Wheeling on the 13th day of June, 1861, and the acts of the General Assembly, held by authority of said Convention, such attempt shall be treated as an act of hostility against the United States, and such persons shall be taken into military custody. Commanding officers are directed to enforce this order within their respective commands. By command of Major-General MCCLELLAN. "L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General." It is to be regretted that partizan "politics" with its baleful breath for power, ere long came forward to create a new State of Western Virginia, whose limits only extended on the east to the western crest of the Alleghanies—thus leaving all that portion of Eastern Virginia occupied by our forces without a civil loyal power for recognition. such a creation was unconstitutional is plain to any reader of the Constitution. It says (Art. IV. sec. 3.): That "New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other State, nor any State be formed by the junction of two or more States--without the consent of the Legisla tures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress." This acknowledgement, ment of the Western by the Federal officers, of the authority of the Western Virginia Legislature, was in furtherance of the Executive policy in the treatment of the case. It was a sound procedure, which only had to be adhered to, to cloak all of The wiser-nay, the shrewder-policy was Virginia with the vestment of loyalty when to recognize the Western Virginia Governthe State should all be redeemed. Generalment as the State Government de facto of Order 99, dated Nov. 14th, and issued from Virginia, as was done in the above orders. headquarters, made public the administrative The subdivision of the State is another of the policy adopted. It read: sins of commission for which the Federal Congress and President must answer. } “HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Nov. 14, 1861. Complaint has been made to the President of the United States that certain persons within the State of Virginia, in places occupied by the forces of the United States, claim to be incumbents of civil It is well here to look over the lines to see how the enemy regarded affairs, in a military sense, at the close of the year 1861. That they were both jubilant and depressed the Rebel Views of "The Situation " REBEL VIEWS OF "THE SITUATION.” 469 Rebel Views of "The Situation." tone of their journals prove | produce a total loss of con-jubilant over their mili-fidence in the Lincoln adtary successes but depress-ministration among its own ed at the formidable attitude of the Federal people; and that would most probably be Government and the failure of all their the real effect. Both the North itself, and schemes for a foreign recognition. Their more particularly the administration in powsuceesses were conceived to have been deci- er, are impelled to offer battle at this moment sive, east and west-were so avowed by Da- by necessities which seem to us as imperative vis in his message of Nov. 18th, as well as by as irresistible. They must fight, and we are the press generally. There was complaint ready for the fray. The defiant cry of the | at the want of greater success. Those oppos- whole South is, 'Lay on, Macduff.'" If uted to the "defensive" policy adopted by Da- tered by an enemy this was prophetic. None vis, conceived it possible to have winter- so well as the rebels themselves knew the quartered their armies on Northern soil; and best policy to pursue for their “subjugation :" their organs, while accepting the general re- it would have been well to have profited by sults of victories won, still declared the past their apprehensions. Earlier than this the campaign but a comparative success. [See rebel chiefs considered the advance against the article quoted in Appendix, page. 523.] Manassas as a failure; and though they preThere was no fear of McClellan's approach. pared to run, if such a necessity should arise The Richmond Dispatch of Dec. 23d, said: by McClellan's springing upon them some "It is the warm sun that brings out the ad- unlooked-for strategy or energy, they still der. The splendid season of dry weather regarded the Army of the Potomac as harmthat we have had for three weeks has hard- less, for the winter at least. The Richmond ened the earth, restored the roads, prepared Examiner of November 14th, reviewing their the way for a grand advance of the enemy successes, said: wherever he is in force. It is almost incredible that he will refuse to avail himself of the auspices which thus smooth his path. The untoward affair on Friday last at Dranesville, will probably inspire his soldiers with some confidence in themselves, and conspire with the excellent roads to invite an advance." The expectation of an advance against Manassas was as generally entertained in Rich- forgotten. In its old stand point it defies the advance of the enemy. It is a standing menace and mond as in the Northern cities. The rebel insult to the enemy. It is within twenty miles of Congress had prepared for such a contingen- his capital, and it means to stay there or to advance cy by resolving Nashville, Tennessee, as the|—not to fall back. Meantime McClellan has let the best future capital of the Confederacy; Govern-period for an attack go by. We still believe he will assail ment and State archives were put in order General Johnston in this position, but we have no apprefor immediate shipment to the interior-all hension about the result.” in expectation of the march of the vast army The enemy thus indicated the "situation” around Washington upon Richmond. So in Virginia, where was gathered the mighticertain were the Confederates of this advance est army this continent is likely ever to bethat the press construed any further delay hold; and if this freely confessed scorn of on the part of the Federals as an evidence of Federal pluck and sagacity now has the sigwant of pluck, and of confidenee in their nificance of historic truth, it is not the histoSaid the Dispatch: "To refuse to rian's place to suppress this evidence of their fight under the influences now pressing upon prescience for fear of injury to the memory it, would argue an imbecility in the North, of those wholly responsible for it. The peoits generals, and its armies, which could not ple of the North writhed under this scorn of fail to be interpreted most unfavorably their army; but, what could the people do ? against that section. Such a failure ought to | The chief in command, having adopted the cause. | "In the Peninsula Magruder holds the enemy securely in check. In the single battle there fought At Manassas the enemy was ignominiously routed. our army has held its ground firmly, proudly and defiantly. It awaited with confidence the onset of the finest army that had been hitherto organized on this continent, and drove it back with a loss, not so much of numbers as of honor, that never will be |