mand. I respectfully ask that it be decided to whose command these troops belong to General Wool or my own. I have supposed they were under my orders. The cavalry which escaped from Harper's Ferry and are now in your army will remain with it. Major General Cox's old division will march to Hancock and take cars to Clarksburg, where it will meet and report to General Milroy. General Cox will command the district of Western Virginia, but will co-operate with you whenever he can do so. Major General MCCLELLAN. [Received 11.05 p. m.] H. W. HALLECK, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THe Potomac, It is probable that I was not sufficiently explicit in the telegram I sent you regarding the construction of permanent wagon bridges across the Potomac and the Shenandoah, at Harper's Ferry. I did not intend to be understood as recommending them for our present operations particularly, but with reference specially to the permanent occupation of that important strategic military position. I still think it of great importance that these bridges should be constructed without delay. General H. W. HALLECK, GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Major General. [Sent 1.30 p. m.] WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., October 6, 1862. I am instructed to telegraph you as follows: The President directs that you cross the Potomac and give battle to the enemy, or drive him south. Your army must move now, while the roads are good. If you cross the river between the enemy and Washington, and cover the latter by your line of operations, you can be re-enforced with thirty thousand men. If you move up the valley of the Shenandoah, not more than twelve or fifteen thousand can be sent to you. The President advises the interior line between Washington and the enemy, but does not order it. He is very desirous that your army move as soon as possible. You will immediately report what line you adopt, and where you intend to cross the river; also to what point the re-enforcements are to be sent. It is necessary that the plan of your operations be positively determined on before orders are given for building bridges and repairing railroads. I am directed to add that the Secretary of War and the general-in-chief fully concur with the President in these instructions. Major General MCCLELLAN. [Received 6 p. m.] H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Near Sharpsburg, October 6, 1862-4.30 p. m. Your telegram ordering Cox's division to Clarksburg was received before the one directing the offensive across the Potomac. Is it still intended that Cox should march at once? It is important, in making my decision regarding the route to be taken by the army, that I should know, first, what description of troops I am to be re-enforced with upon the Shenandoah route, and also upon the other route between the enemy and Washington; whether they are to be old or new troops, or what proportion of each. If possible, I should be glad to have Peck's division sent to me, if it can be got here within a reasonable time. Second. Will you inform me what the present condition of the Alexandria and Leesburg railroad is; also the Manassas Gap railroad; and what time it would require to put them in working order? It is believed that the Harper's Ferry and Winchester railroad is not materially injured. Major General HALLECK, G. B. McCLELLAN, Major General Commanding. General-in-Chief, United States Army. [Received 7.45 p. m.] HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Lieutenant Comstock has received an order relieving him from duty with the army of the Potomac, to report to General Wright. Lieutenant Comstock has been engaged in arranging and superintending the defences of Harper's Ferry, and his services cannot be dispensed with there, at this time, without manifest detriment to the service, as he has made himself familiar with the whole ground. I therefore most respectfully beg leave to suggest that Lieutenant McAllister, who is now here, be directed to report for duty to General Wright. I should regret very much to lose the services of Lieutenant Comstock at Harper's Ferry at this time. General HALLECK, General-in-Chief, United States Army. [Received 7.50 p. m.] GEO. B. MCCLELLAN. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, October 6-5.40 p. m. Copy of General Grant's despatch just received. From the bottom of my heart I congratulate you on the results, and hope that the army of the Potomac may soon again offer good tidings to the country. When you despatch to Grant please offer my congratulations. G. B. MCCLELLAN, Major General. [Received October 7, 1862, 1 p. m.] NEAR SHARPSBURG, 1.30 a. m. What arrangements are in progress in regard to supplying the army with hospital tents? Are there any on hand in Washington? If so, be pleased to let me know the number. If there are none, how long would it take to have them manufactured and delivered here in considerable amount, say three or four thousand. General M. C. MEIGS. G. B. MCCLELLAN, Major General Commanding. QUARTERMASTER GENERAL'S OFFICE, Five hundred (500) hospital tents were sent to Frederick about the 20th September. About 1,000 are pitched in use at hospital camps in the District of Columbia. Each regiment as raised is supplied with its allowance of (3) three hospital tents. Provision is made to keep up this supply with a reason able surplus. There are in depot at Washington, 700; in Philadelphia, 250; in New York, 300. Total hospital tents in depot, 1,250. Material is scarce and dear. It would take a long time to procure and send to Sharpsburg three or four thousand hospital tents. It would cost four or five hundred thousand dollars. Major General GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, M. C. MEIGS, Quartermaster General. Commanding, Headquarters near Sharpsburg, Maryland. QUARTERMASTER GENERAL'S OFFICE, I telegraphed yesterday that there are in depot here, at Philadelphia, and New York, about 1,250 hospital tents. Do you want them, and where, and when? Is there not danger of burdening your army by care of too much such property if sent forward at this time? The railroads are now embarrassed to supply you, and here supplies wait for the return of cars detained, still loaded, near your position. Major General GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, Headquarters near Sharpsburg. M. C. MEIGS, Quartermaster General. [Received 1 p. m., October 7.] NEAR SHARPSBURG, Maryland, 11.30 a. m., October 7. General Burnside's corps marched this morning for Harper's Ferry, and will encamp in Pleasant Valley. General Cox's division remains here awaiting your decision upon my despatch of last evening. I should be glad to get the information asked for concerning the railroads as soon as practicable. I am taking steps to put this army in marching order as rapidly as possible. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Major General Commanding. Major General H. W. HALLECK. [Sent 12.15 p. m.] Cox's division must go west at once. Suffolk. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., October 7, 1862. Couch's division is at Yorktown and The Manassas Gap road can be repaired in a few days. The Leesburg road is much more injured. Your army can reach the former in less time than would be required to repair the latter. The troops to be sent you will be partly new and partly old-mostly new. Our scouts report the enemy in force at Mount Jackson, Sperryville, and Warrenton, his artillery and heavy baggage moving to Staunton. McAllister can be sent in Comstock's place, but must go at once. The governor of New York wishes a list of officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates to fill vacancies. He will also call in a few days for officers to take charge of drafted men to fill old regiments. Have lists made of those who can be spared for that purpose. General Seymour has leave. Major General HALLECK. H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief. [Received 2.30 p. m.] HEADQUARTERS Army of THE POTOMAC, Near Sharpsburg, October 7, 1862—1 p. m. After a full consultation with the corps commanders in my vicinity, I have determined to adopt the line of the Shenandoah for immediate operations against the enemy now near Winchester. On no other line north of Washington can the army be supplied, nor can it on any other cover Maryland and Pennsylvania. Were we to cross the river below the mouth of the Shenandoah, we would leave it in the power of the enemy to recross into Maryland, and thus check the movements. In the same case we would voluntarily give him the advantage of the strong line of the Shenandoah, no point of which could be reached by us in advance of him. I see no objective point of strategical value to be gained or sought for by a movement between the Shenandoah and Washington. I wish to state, distinctly, that I do not regard the line of the Shenandoah valley as important for ulterior objects. It is important only so long as the enemy remains near Winchester, and we cannot follow that line far beyond that point, simply because the country is destitute of supplies, and we have not sufficient means of transportation to enable us to advance more than twenty or thirty-five miles beyond a railroad or canal terminus. If the enemy abandon Winchester and fall back upon Staunton, it will be impossible for us to pursue him by that route, and we must then take a new line of operations based upon water or railway communication. The only possible object to be gained by an advance from this vicinity is to fight the enemy near Winchester. If they retreat, we have nothing to gain by pursuing them, and in fact cannot do so to any great distance. The objects I propose to myself are to fight the enemy if they remain near Winchester, or, failing in that, to force them to abandon the valley of the Shenandoah, there to adopt a new and decisive line of operations which shall strike at the heart of the rebellion. I have taken all possible measures to insure the most prompt equipment of the troops, but from all that I can learn it will be at least three days before the first, fifth, and sixth corps are in condition to move from their present camps. They need shoes and other indispensable articles of clothing, as well as sheltertents, &c. I beg to assure you that not an hour shall be lost in carrying your instructions into effect. Please send the re-enforcements to Harper's Ferry. I would prefer that the new regiments be sent as regiments not brigaded, unless already done so with old troops. I would again ask for Peck's division, and, if possible, Heintzelman's corps. If the enemy give fight near Winchester, it will be a desperate affair, requiring all our resources. I hope that no time will be lost in sending forward the re-enforcements, that I may get them in hand as soon as possible. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Major General, Commanding Army of Potomac. Major General H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief, United States Army. [Received 9.50 p. m ] HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF POTOMAC, General Cox's division is ordered to march to-morrow via Hagerstown to Hancock, where it will take the cars via Cumberland to Clarksburg, Virginia. Some of the regiments of this division have not been paid for eight months. The rolls have been for some length of time in the hands of Major Johnson, their paymaster, and I understand that the money for their payment has been to his credit for more than a month. I would request that he be ordered at once to Hagerstown to follow the division from there, and to pay it as soon as he can overtake it. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Major General. PAYMASTER GENERAL United States Army. [Received 10.40 p. m ] HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF POTOMAC, October 7, 1862—10 p. m. As I shall probably require a regiment of heavy artillery, I have this evening directed General Banks to have Colonel Tyler's 1st Connecticut artillery, which regiment is drilled in that aim, organize and equip the regiment as soon as possible for service in the field. I trust this will meet your approbation. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Major General. Major General H. W. HALLECK, |