[Received 10.30 a. m.] CAMP NEAR ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, Rebel scouts last night at Liston. In the cavalry skirmish at Poolesville yesterday the rebels lost one captain and fifteen men killed and wounded, besides six (6) prisoners. Third Indiana cavalry, one squadron, did the work very handsomely on our side. Last reports that the rebels were not in sight near Poolesville and Hyattstown. Our cavalry are pushing forward in all directions, while the army will, at least, occupy the line of the Seneca to-day. Pleasonton's report of last night, that there were 100,000 rebels on this side of the river, was derived from the notorious Captain White. It is not fully reliable. We shall know better to-day. I will keep you fully informed. Major General H. W. HALLECK, G. B. MCCLELLAN, Major General. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., September 9, 1862. It is reported here that the wagons of regiments and brigades are unemployed, while requisitions on post quartermaster for transportation of supplies to your army cannot be filled. This evil should be remedied by Colonel Ingalls. H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief. Major General MCCLELLAN, Rockville, Maryland. [Received 3.20 p. m., September 9, 1862 ] ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, 11.45 a. m. Your telegram of 11 a. m. received. You have been entirely misinformed. Every train belonging to this army is actively employed in bringing up supplies, except a very small number actually necessary to move camp. Some of the corps cannot even move their baggage until their wagons return. Colonel Ingalls has given the subject his full attention, and you may rest assured that there neither has been, nor will be, any delay that can be prevented by these headquarters. The great trouble will be in the confusion. necessarily existing at Washington under present circumstances. This I doubt not will be speedily remedied by General Meigs and Colonel Rucker. My cavalry are foraging on the country, giving receipts for what they take. I shall follow that plan as far as circumstances render possible, both for forage and rations, Major General HALLECK, GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Major General Commanding. General-in-Chief United States Army. [Received 5.15 p. m., September 9, 1862.] ROCKVILLE, 3.30 p. m. At noon to-day all the troops ordered forward were in motion for their new positions. The latest information from the front indicates the enemy in large force near Frederick. Our cavalry have taken several prisoners and the standard of a rebel cavalry regiment to-day. From the parties now out I hope to know soon something definite as to the strength, position, and intention of the enemy. They talk of going to Gettysburg and York. I do not think they have yet left Frederick in any force. I am anxious for the prompt arrival of the rest of my cavalry from Fort Monroe. When the prisoners get in I shall learn something from them. Thus far my cavalry have gained the advantage. General H. W. HALLECK, G. B. McCLELLAN, Major General Commanding. General-in-Chief. [Received 3 p. m.] ROCKVILLE, MD., September 9-7.30 p.m. From such information as can be obtained Jackson and Longstreet have about one hundred and ten thousand (110,000) men of all arms near Frederick, with some cavalry this side. Major General H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief. G. B. MCCLELLAN, Major General. [Received 10.30 p. m.] HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Near Rockville, September 9, 1862-8.15 p. m. On my return to camp I learn from General Pleasonton that Colonel Farnsworth arrived at Barnesville at 3 p. m., after a sharp skirmish in which we captured fourteen (14) unwounded, of whom two commissioned officers; and four wounded, of whom one a captain. Many were killed and wounded, whose numbers are not yet known. Farnsworth ran them some two miles towards Frederick, and thinks rebels in force near Hyattstown. The 7th, 9th, and 10th Virginia cavalry were engaged to-day against Farnsworth. We have regained and now hold the Sugar Loaf mountain. I do not yet know details. Will hold Barnesville with a strong cavalry force. Am informed that Jackson's headquarters are to-day at New Market, Stuart's at Urbana. I am pretty well prepared for anything except overwhelming numbers. Must move cavalry. GEO. B. McCLELLAN, Major General HALLECK. [3.30 a. m.] ROCKVILLE, September 9-9 p. m. My troops to-night occupy the following positions: Burnside at Concklington, Sumner's and Banks's corps at Middlebury, Franklin at Darnestown, Couch at the mouth of Seneca creek, Sigel is on the other side of the Potomac, opposite Chain Bridge. Our cavalry had a smart skirmish with three regiments of rebel cavalry to-day, taking quite a number of prisoners, and killing and wounding others, among them two commissioned officers. Jackson's headquarters were at New Market to-day, and Stuart's at Urbana. GEO. B. McCLELLAN, Major General. Major General J. E. WOOL. [Received 3. 15 a. m, 10th.] ROCKVILLE, September 9, 1862-10 p. m. I have heard to-day that Heintzelman has been placed in command of everything on the Virginia side of the river. I prefer not to have this done unless there is some good reason for it. Please communicate with me before carrying this order into effect, giving me your reasons for the proposed changes. Please recollect that I am still responsible for the defence of Washington, and that no changes can be made in my arrangements without consulting me. I wish to give you the fullest latitude, but, at the same time, I desire to be consulted as to any changes made in important commands. Please reply immediately. Suspend the operation of the order until you hear from me. GEO. B. McCLELLAN, Major General N. P. BANKS. [Sent 10 a. m.] Major General. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., September 10, 1862. Scouts report that the remainder of confederate army, under Smith and Robinson, were to cross Potomac last night at Edwards's Ferry and Monocacy. No reliable account of numbers; they themselves say about forty thousand. Major General MCCLELLAN, Rockville. [Received 1 45 p. m.] H. W. HALLECK, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF POTOMAC, Camp near Rockville, Md., September 10, 1862. In reply to your despatch of this morning, I have the honor to state that General Pleasonton, at Barnesville, reports that a movement of the enemy last night is said to have been made across the Potomac from this side to the other side. We shall know the truth of this rumor soon. Pleasonton is watching all the fords as high as Conrad's Ferry, and his pickets out to the mouth of the Monocacy. He has sent out this morning to occupy Sugar Loaf mountain, from which a large extent of country can be seen in all directions. General Burnside had his scouts out last night to Ridgeville and within three miles of New Market. No enemy seen with the exception of a picket. They were told that Stuart's cavalry, 5,000 in number, occupied New Market, and that the main rebel force, under Jackson, was still at Frederick. Burnside has sent a strong reconnoissance to-day to the mountain pass at Ridgeville. I propose, if the information I have received proves reliable regarding the natural strength of this position, to occupy it with a sufficient force to resist an advance of the enemy in that direction. I have scouts and spies pushed forward in every direction, and shall soon be in possession of reliable and definite information. The statements I get regarding the enemy's 1 forces that have crossed to this side range from 80,000 to 150,000. I am perfectly certain that none of the enemy's troops have crossed the Potomac within the last 24 hours below the mouth of the Monocacy. I was informed last night by General Pleasonton, that his information rendered it probable that Jackson's forces had advanced to New Market, with Stuart's cavalry at Urbana. In view of this, I ordered the army forward this morning to the line along the high ridge from Ridgeville, through Damascus, Clarksburg, &c., but the information subsequently obtained from General Burnside's scouts, that the mass of the enemy was still at Frederick, induced me to suspend the movement of the right wing until I could verify the truth of the reports by means of Burnside's reconnoissance in force to-day. My extreme left advanced to Poolesville this morning. The work of reorganization and refitting is progressing very satisfactorily under the new heads of staff departments. A despatch, this instant received from General Pleasonton, dated Barnesville, 10.20 a. m., says "my scouts occupy the ferry at the mouth of the Monocacy. They found no enemy except a few pickets on the other side of the Monocacy, at Tykville, about three miles from that stream; it was reported there was a force of 6,000 men." His Excellency the PRESIDENT. [Sent 4 p. m.] GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Major General. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., September 10, 1862. Three good regiments have arrived from Suffolk. Had they not better be united with some new regiments as a reserve brigade, near Tennallytown, or some other point, instead of sending them immediately into the field. H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief. Major General MCCLELLAN, Rockville. [Received 8.50 p. m.] BROOKVILLE, September 10-8 p. m. General Burnside has an advance guard at Damascus. five thousand men at Goshen and Seneca Bridge, four thousand at Cracklington. Hooker's command in the vicinity of Brookeville. I cannot learn that there is any large force of the enemy's infantry this side of the Monocacy. I think there is little indication of the enemy's advancing either on Baltimore or York. I shall probably get positive information to-morrow. G. B. MCCLELLAN, Major General HALLECK. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF POTOMAC, 10.30 p. m., September 10, 1862. Everything that we can learn induces me to believe that the information you have received is substantially correct. I think the enemy are checked in the directions of Baltimore and of Gettysburg. You should concentrate all the troops you can in the vicinity of Chambersburg, not entirely neglect ing Gettysburg. I will follow them up as rapidly as possible, and do all I can to check their movement into Pennsylvania. Call out the militia, especially mounted men, to do everything in your power to impede the enemy by the action of light troops. Attack them in flank, destroying their trains and any property which must inevitably come into their possession. You may be sure that I will follow them as closely as I can, and fight them whenever I can find them. It is as much my interest as yours to preserve the soil of Pennsylvania from invasion, or, failing in that, to destroy any army that may have the temerity to attempt it. G. B. MCCLELLAN, A. G. CURTIN, Governor of Pennsylvania. Major General Commanding. [Received September 11, 12 10 a. m ] BROOKVILLE, September 10—11.55 p. m. I have ordered a general advance to-morrow. Send me up all the troops you can spare. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Major General. Major General HALLECK, General in-Chief. [Received 10.15 a. m.] ROCKVILLE, September 11-9.45 a. m. Colonel Miles is at or near Harper's Ferry, I understand, with 9,000 troops. He can do nothing where he is, but could be of great service if ordered to join me. I suggest that he be ordered at once to join me by the most practicable route. GEO. B. McCLELLAN, There is no way for Colonel Miles to join you at present. The only chance is to defend his works until you can open a communication with him. When you do so, he will be subject to your orders. H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief. Major General MCCLELLAN, Rockville. [Sent 10.20.] WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., September 11, 1862. The governor of Pennsylvania wishes the services of General Reynolds. Can you order him here for that purpose? H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief. Major General MCCLELLAN. |