attacked the company of the 6th Michigan on picket at Seneca. This company gradually fell back toward Poolesville. The enemy burnt their camp and recrossed the river, where they remained for some time, assuming a threatening appearance.

On the 8th of June, the Richmond (Va.) press spoke of a movement of Gen. Lee, in these words: "It is too generally known to raise any question of prudence in speaking of it, that Gen. Lee has put his army in motion. His designs are known only to himself, and those with whom it was his duty to confer. A few days will disclose them to the public, who are willing to wait patiently, in full confidence that the result will vindicate the wisdom of what he undertakes. A forward movement on his part has been for some time anticipated by the enemy, and is regarded with very perceptible uneasiness."

The facts were as follows: The position occupied by Gen. Hooker, opposite Fredericksburg, being one in which he could not be attacked to advantage, Gen. Lee determined to draw him from it. The execution of this purpose by him embraced the relief of the Shenandoah valley from the Federal troops that had occupied the lower part of it during the winter and spring, and, if practicable, the transfer of the scene of hostilities north of the Potomac. It was thought that the corresponding movements on the part of Gen. Hooker, to which those contemplated by Gen. Lee would probably give rise, might offer a fair opportunity to strike a blow at the army under Gen. Hooker, and that in any event that army would be compelled to leave Virginia, and possibly to draw to its support troops designed to operate against other parts of the Confederacy. In this way it was supposed that the Federal plan of campaign for the summer would be broken up, and a part of the season of active operations be consumed in the formation of new combinations and the preparations that they would require. Other valuable results, it was hoped by Gen. Lee, would be attained by military success.

The movement of Gen. Lee began on the 8d of June. Gen. McLaws's division of Gen.

Longstreet's corps left Fredericksburg for Culpepper Court House; and Gen. Hood's division, which was encamped on the Rapidan, marched to the same place. They were followed, on the 4th and 5th, by Gen. Ewell's corps, leaving that of Gen. A. P. Hill to octhe Confederate lines at Frederickscupy burg. The forces of Gens. Longstreet and Ewell reached Culpepper on the 8th, at which point the Confederate cavalry under Gen. Stuart was concentrated. Gen. Jenkins, with his cavalry brigade, had been ordered to advance toward Winchester, to cooperate with the infantry in the proposed expedition in the lower part of the Shenandoah valley, and at the same time Gen. Imboden was directed with his command to make a demonstration in the di

rection of Romney, in order to cover the movement against Winchester, and prevent the Federal troops at that place from being reënforced by the troops on the line of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. Both of these officers were in position when Gen. Ewell left Culpepper Court House, on the 16th of June.

On the 9th of June, the War Department issued a general order (No. 172) establishing two new military departments, as follows:

1. The Department of the Monongahela, embracing that portion of the State of Pennsylvania west of Johnstown and the Laurel Hill range of mountains, and the counties of Hancock, Brooke, and Ohio, in the State of Virginia, and the counties of Columbia, Jefferson, and Belmont, in the State of Ohio. The command of this department is assigned to Major-Gen. William T. H. Brooks, with his headquarters at Pittsburg.

cing that portion of the State of Pennsylvania east of Johnstown and the Laurel Hill range of mountains. The command of this department is assigned to Major-Gen. Couch, with his headquarters at Chambersburg.

2. The Department of the Susquehanna, embra

The following is the list of the military geographical departments and their commanders at this time:

Department of the Tennessee-Maj.-Gen. U. S. Grant. Department of the Cumberland-Maj.-Gen. W. S. Rosecrans.

Department of the Ohio-Maj.-Gen. A. E. Burnside. Department of New England-Maj.-Gen. John A. Dix. Department of the Gulf-Maj.-Gen. N. P. Banks. Department of North Carolina and Department of Virginia-Maj.-Gen. J. G. Foster.

Department of the Northwest-Maj.-Gen. John Pope. Department of Washington-Maj.-Gen. S. P. Heintzelman.

Department of the Monongahela-Maj.-Gen. W. T. H. Brooks.

N. Couch.
Department of the Susquehanna-Maj.-Gen. Darius

Department of Western Virginia-Brig. Gen. B. F. Kelly.

Department of New Mexico-Brig.-Gen. James H. Carlton.

Department of the Pacific-Brig.-Gen. G. Wright. Department of Key West-Brig.-Gen. J. M. Brannan. Department of Kansas-Maj.-Gen. James G. Blunt. Middle Department-Maj.-Gen. Robert C. Schenck. Department of the South-Brig.-Gen. Q. A. Gillmore. Department of Missouri-Maj.-Gen. John M. Scho

field.

On the 12th of June, the Governor of Penn

sylvania issued the following proclamation: In the name and by the authority of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, by Andrew G. Curtin, Governor of the said Commonwealth:

A PROCLAMATION.

Information has been obtained by the War Departartillery, and mounted infantry, has been prepared for ment that a large rebel force, composed of cavalry, the purpose of making a raid into Pennsylvania. The President has therefore erected two new departments, one in Eastern Pennsylvania, to be commanded by Major-General Couch, and the other in Western Pennsylvania, to be commanded by Major-General Brooks. I earnestly invite the attention of the people of Pennsylvania to the general orders issued by these officers on assuming the command of their respective depart

ments.

force for the defence of the State cannot be overrated. The importance of immediately raising a sufficient The corps now proposed to be established will give

On the same day, Gen. Couch assumed the command of the Department of the Susquehanna, with his headquarters at Harrisburg, Penn. In consultation with Governor Curtin, they were of the opinion that the danger of an invasion of the State of Pennsylvania was certain. The Federal Government was therefore requested by the Governor to suspend all recruiting for the regular or volunteer service within the State, so that the citizens could be available in its defence. The request was granted. At the same time Gen. Couch issued the following order, calling for volunteers:

DEPARTMENT OF THE SUSQUEHANNA,
CHAMBERSBURG, June 12th, 1863.

The undersigned assumes command of this department. In view of the danger of the invasion now threatening the State of Pennsylvania by the enemies of the Government, a new military department has been made by direction of the War Department, embracing all the territory of Pennsylvania east of Johnstown and Laurel Hill range of mountains; headquarters at Chambersburg.

To prevent serious raids by the enemy, it is deemed necessary to call upon the citizens of Pennsylvania to furnish promptly all the men necessary to organize an army corps of volunteer infantry, artillery, and cavalry, to be designated the "Army Corps of the Susquehanna." They will all be enrolled and organized in accordance with the regulations of the United States service, for the protection and defence of the public and private property within the department, and will be mustered into the service of the United States to serve during the pleasure of the President or the continuance of the war. The company and field officers of the departmental corps will be provisionally commissioned by the President upon the recommendation of the General Commanding. They will be armed, uniformed, and equipped, and, while in active service, subsisted and supplied as active troops of the United States. When not required for active service to defend the department, they will be returned to their homes subject to the call of the Commanding General. Cavalry volunteers may furnish their own horses, to be turned over to the United States at their ap praised value, or allowance will be made for the time of actual service, at the rate authorized by law. All able-bodied volunteers between the ages of eighteen and sixty will be enrolled and received into this corps. The volunteers for the State defence will receive no bounty, but will be paid the same as like service in the army of the United States, for the time they may be in actual service, as soon as Congress may make an appropriation for that purpose.

If volunteers belonging to this army corps desire, they can be transferred to the volunteer service for three years or during the war, when they will be entitled to all the bounties and privileges granted by the acts of Congress.

The General Commanding, in accordance with the foregoing general authority, calls upon all citizens within his department to come forward promptly to perfect the company organizations under United States regulations, to wit: one captain, one first lieutenant, one second lieutenant, sixty-four privates as the minimum and eighty-two as the maximum standard of

each company.

The General Commanding specially desires that citizens of this district recently in the army should volunteer for duty in this army corps; thereby, from their experience, adding greatly to the efficiency of the force for immediate defensive operations; each company organization to be perfected as soon as possible, and report the name of the officers in com. mand, the number of men, and the place of its headquarters, in order that they may be promptly furwhich will be at Harrisburg. Any person who will nished with transportation to the general rendezvous, furnish forty or more men who will be enrolled, if otherwise unobjectionable, will be entitled to a captaincy.

Any person who will bring twenty-five or more men, under the above conditions, will be entitled to a first lieutenancy, and every person who will bring fifteen or more men, under the same conditions, to a second lieutenancy. On their arrival at the place of rendezvous they will be formed into regiments. So the interests of the public service, companies from the far as practicable, and as may be found consistent with same locality will be put together in the regimental organizations.

For the present all communications will be addressed to Harrisburg. The chiefs of the respective organizations will report accordingly.

DARIUS N. COUCH, Major-Gen'l Commanding. At the same time Gen. Brooks assumed command of the Department of Monongahela, with his headquarters at Pittsburg, and proceeded to prepare to resist any attempt at an invasion.

Meantime, the force which Gen. Hooker had sent across the Rappahannock on a reconnoissance had intrenched its position and remained on the plain below Fredericksburg, and two bridges were constructed over the river. The enemy fortified themselves strongly, and waited for any demonstration. There were evidently about ten thousand men in their first line of defences, and others were visible upon the ridges and in the woods, within supporting distance. New earthworks appeared every morning on the heights; picket firing was constant, and occasionally their artillery opened fire. It was known that troops had been hurrying up for some time from Southeastern Virginia and North Carolina, and that the army of Gen. Lee had been reorganized and made to consist of three large corps, under Gens. Longstreet, Ewell, and A. P. Hill. Although the force displayed in Fredericksburg was large, yet Gen. Lee was supposed to be at Culpepper on the 12th, with the corps of Gens. Longstreet and Ewell, for the purpose of attacking the right of Gen. Hooker, and preparations

were made to resist him. On the 13th it was manifest that the movements of Gen. Lee in the direction of Culpepper, had been made on a larger and more extensive scale than was at first supposed, and embraced nearly the whole of his army, leaving near Fredericksburg not more than ten thousand men. Such a movement removed every doubt of his intention to assume the offensive.

There existed at this time many considerations to encourage Gen. Lee in this movement. The army of Gen. Hooker had been reduced, not only by the losses in the battle of Chancellorsville, but by the departure of nearly twenty thousand men, who had enlisted, some

for two years, and some for nine months, and whose term of service had now expired. No aid to him could be expected from the West. The Confederate authorities had declared that Gen. Johnston should be strengthened sufficiently to attack Gen. Grant in the rear and raise the siege of Vicksburg. This declaration, on their part, had caused the Federal Government to make every exertion to defeat it. All the troops which could be spared in the West were sent to Gen. Grant. The force of Gen. Burnside, in the Department of Ohio, was included. This not only compelled the latter to remain inactive, but actually exposed Ohio and Western Virginia. The entire levy of nine-months' men would go home in June, and the Federal Government had made no call for others in their place, and had not in reality succeeded in obtaining by enlistment any number of troops except the free and slave blacks it had been successful in organizing. There were also reasons why the army of Gen. Lee should take the field. It was now well known to the Confederate Government that it would be unable to reënforce Gen. Johnston, so that the siege of Vicksburg could be raised; a counteracting effort was therefore necessary in some quarter. The supplies which might be obtained by an invasion of the North were also greatly needed.

It was the purpose of Gen. Lee, if possible, to strike a most decisive blow. For this object an army of nearly one hundred thousand men had been collected in the field. It was first contemplated by Gen. Lee to enter Pennsylvania, and keep the army of Gen. Hooker fully occupied. Meantime, a body of chosen troops were to be detached from the forces of Gen. Beauregard, at Charleston, and Gen. Bragg, in Tennessee, and concentrate at Culpepper, for the purpose of making an attack on Washington. It was thought that the Federal Government, thus divided between a fear of leaving Pennsylvania defenceless, and the necessity of protecting the seat of government, would be obliged to fail signally in one quarter or the other. Either Washington would fall, or the chief towns of Pennsylvania and all the rich regions surrounding them would come into the possession of Gen. Lee's army.

Gen. Hooker penetrated the object of Gen. Lee in concentrating upon the Upper Rappahannock before it was too late. As early as the 12th of June he began to send his sick and wounded to Washington, and to remove his stores. A most formidable invasion by Gen. Lee was soon developed.

On Friday, the 12th of June, it was ascertained at Winchester that a large body of the enemy were moving up the Shenandoah valley. On Saturday an attack was made by the advance of the enemy, under Gen. Rhodes, upon Berryville, which was held by Gen. McReynolds as an outpost of Winchester. The force of Gen. McBeynolds was about three thousand men, and the position was midway between Winchester and Snicker's Gap, through which the enemy

advanced. The attack was repelled with vigor and firmness for some time, when, in consequence of overwhelming numbers, a retreat upon Winchester was commenced. The 6th Maryland, Col. Horne, with Capt. Alexander's 1st Maryland battery covered the retreat, and maintained their ground until, the enemy closing around them, they were compelled to abandon their guns. A large part of the regiment were made prisoners, but were not disarmed, and, in the confusion which ensued during the darkness of the evening, withdrew unobserved, being familiar with the roads, and escaped.

On the same day, early in the morning, the pickets of Maj.-Gen. Milroy, at Winchester, were driven in by the advance of Gen. Ewell, with the divisions of Gens. Early and Johnson. A detachment was sent out to feel their strength, and an artillery fire was kept up for some time. Gen. Milroy, then in command at Winchester, had a force of seven thousand men, with three batteries of field artillery, and six siege pieces, in a fort. As the forces of the enemy increased during the day, the advanced regiments of Gen. Milroy were compelled to fall back to the cover of the town. Some guns, posted in the outskirts, prevented the enemy from crossing Mill creek that day; but all the country southward from the creek was free to them. During the morning of Sunday, and, in fact, all day, skirmishing took place between the 18th Connecticut and 87th Pennsylvania regiments and the skirmishers of the enemy's force, who were posted in the woods, a mile east of Winchester, on the Berryville road, and extending across to the Front Royal road on the southeast. The Federal troops kept close in upon the town, while the enemy came up to the eastern side of the public cemetery, across which the principal firing took place. About half past four P. M. the skirmishers of the enemy charged up the Berryville and Front Royal roads to the edge of the town, but by a welldirected fire were repulsed in confusion. A charge was now ordered by Gen. Milroy to be made by these two regiments, but the enemy were found to be so well supported in the distant woods that the regiments were compelled to get back as soon as they could.

About five o'clock P. M. the enemy appeared in strong force, with two eight-gun batteries, directly west of the main fort north of the Romney road, which runs directly west from the town, and about fifteen hundred yards from the outworks. These were held by the 110th Ohio, and company L, 5th regiment artillery. After getting his batteries into position and opening fire, Gen. Ewell massed his infantry, and charged across the fields to the very muzzles of the Federal guns, although the latter were fired vigorously. Without a pause, the enemy crossed the ditch, came over the breastworks, and planted their colors on the embankment. The Ohio regiment was driven from the works at the point of the bayonet. Some escaped back

Gen. Milroy, finding that the enemy were on the east, south, and west of him, and were moving toward the Martinsburg road, which runs north from the town, ordered all the troops and artillery from the south and east into the line of earthworks encircling the main works, when the contest between the Federal artillery and that of the enemy continued until night. At that time the second brigade, under Col. Ely, occupied the town and the space to the main fort on the northwest; the first brigade, under Gen. Elliott, occupied the main fort, and the third, under Col. McReynolds, was posted in the Star fort, north of the main fort. Soon after dark the enemy charged across the ravine between their new position and the main fort, but met such a fire as quickly repulsed them, Quiet then prevailed.

At one o'clock, on Monday morning, Gen. Milroy called a council of brigade commanders, and it was decided to abandon the position, and retreat to Harper's Ferry. The troops were then quickly put in motion, taking nothing except what they had upon their persons. They marched on the road to Martinsburg about four miles, when they encountered a strong force of the enemy, upon whom an advance was made and repulsed. The 18th Connecticut and 5th Maryland regiments, being on the left of the line, were captured almost entire. Of the remainder, about 1,600 reached Maryland Heights; about 400 Hancock and Cumberland, and about 1,700 Bloody Run. Three full batteries of field artillery, and all the siege guns in the Star fort and the main fort, were taken by the enemy; also the quartermaster's and commissary's stores, the ammunition of all kinds, 6,000 muskets, 200 wagons with horses and mules, and all the private baggage of officers The dead and wounded were left

and men.

on the field and along the roadside as they fell. On Tuesday a large train of wagons, which had left Gen. Milroy early on Sunday, arrived at Harrisburg. It had not been molested.

Maj.-Gen. Milroy had previously rendered himself very obnoxious to the enemy, in consequence of rigorous measures adopted by him in Western Virginia. Their hatred to him was so bitter that a reward of ten thousand dollars was offered for his head.

Subsequently a court of inquiry was ordered, preliminary to a court martial, upon the conduct of Gen. Milroy at Winchester. The report of the Judge Advocate-General, with the evidence elicited, was laid before the President, who rendered the following decision:

In June last a division was substantially lost at and near Winchester, Va. At the time it was under Gen. Milroy, as immediate commander in the field, Gen. Schenck, as department commander at Baltimore, and Gen. Halleck, as commander-in-chief at Washington. Gen. Milroy, as immediate commander, was put under arrest, and subsequently a court of inquiry examined chiefly with reference to disobedience of orders, and reported the evidence.

dence, together with the Judge Advocate-General's The foregoing is a synoptical statement of the eviconclusions. The disaster, when it came, was a surprise to all. It was well known to Gen. Schenck and Gen. Milroy for some time before that Gen. Halleck thought that the division was in general danger of a surprise at Winchester; that it was of no service there commensurate with the risk it incurred, and that it ought to be withdrawn. But, although he more than once advised its withdrawal, he never positively ordered it.

Gen. Schenck, on the contrary, believed the service of the force at Winchester was worth the hazard, and so did not positively order its withdrawal until it was so late that the enemy cut the wire and prevented the order reaching Gen. Milroy. Gen. Milroy seems to have concurred with Gen. Schenck in the opinion that the forces should be kept at Winchester, at least until the approach of danger; but he disobeyed no order upon the subject.

Some question can be made whether some of Gen. Halleck's despatches to Gen. Schenck should not have been construed to be orders to withdraw the force and obeyed accordingly; but no such question can be made against Gen. Milroy. In fact, the last order he received was to be prepared to withdraw, but not actually to withdraw till further order-which further order never reached him.

Serious blame is not necessarily due to every serious disaster, and I cannot say that in this case either of these officers is deserving of serious blame. No court martial is deemed necessary or proper in the case. A. LINCOLN.

Maj.-Gen. Halleck, in his annual report, dated Nov. 15th, says:

Winchester and Martinsburg were at this time occupied by us simply as outposts. Neither place was susceptible of a good defence. Directions were therefore given on the 11th of June to withdraw those garobeyed, and on the 13th Winchester was attacked and risons to Harper's Ferry; but these orders were not its armament and a part of the garrison captured.

On Sunday, the 14th, about 4 P. M., Gen. Rhodes, who had been instructed, after dislodging the force at Berryville, to cut off the communications between Winchester and the Potomac, appeared before Martinsburg, north of Winchester, and demanded its surrender of Gen. Tyler, who was in command. This was refused, and an attack was made, which Gen. Tyler resisted until dark. He then prepared to evacuate the position. This movement being discovered by the enemy, the attack was renewed, and a bloody contest followed, which He then crossed at Shepherdstown, and subsewas kept up until he reached the Potomac river. quently moved to Harper's Ferry with his forces. The following is Gen. Lee's report of the taking of Martinsburg:

CULPEPPER COURT HOUSE, June 18th, 1863. Gen. S. Cooper, Adjutant and Inspector-General: GENERAL: On the afternoon of the 14th, Gen. Rhodes took possession of Martinsburg, capturing several pieces of artillery, more than two hundred prisoners, and a supply of ammunition and grain. Our loss was one killed and two wounded.

R. E. LEE, General. Gen. Lee subsequently reported that more than four thousand prisoners, twenty-nine pieces of artillery, two hundred and seventy wagons and ambulances, with four hundred horses, were captured in these operations, besides a large amount of military stores.