mile of Bottom's Bridge. Enemy there in force. I am moving on sev eral roads, and will soon be in condition to ascertain the strength of their line. The information we get still tends to the conclusion that they intend fighting in front of Richmond. I would be glad to learn something about McDowell's position and the forces in front of him. It interests me as affecting my right flank. What are Banks and Fré mont and Wool doing? Hon. Wм. H. SEWARD: GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Major-General, Commanding. MCCLELLAN'S, May 18, 1862. Dispatch received. My pickets are within a mile of Bottom's Bridge and scouts have been within a quarter of a mile. Am advancing on the other roads. Indications that enemy intend fighting at Richmond. Policy seems to be to concentrate everything there. They hold central position, and will seek to meet us while divided. I think we are committing a great military error in having so many independent columns. The great battle should first be fought by our troops in mass; then divide if necessary. I do not think gunboats can do much without assistance of land forces. I am getting on well. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, FORT MONROE, May 18, 1862. Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: As you may have already been informed, the Navy was repulsed within 8 miles of Richmond on Thursday, after four hours' fighting. The Galena was hit twenty-eight times, perforated eighteen times; 13 men killed and 11 wounded. The gun of the Stevens bursted, killing 1 mau. Lieutenant Morris injured in the leg. Monitor hit three times; uninjured. She and the Galena are at City Point. Port Royal and Stevens are at Harden's Bluff. All quiet here and at Norfolk. I am preparing for coming events. I hope you will send ten regiments over; if they should not be required to defend Norfolk they would be ready for the onward march. I thank you again and again for your kind and friendly messages. I will take care that you have no cause to regret your confidence or appreciation of myself. Maj. Gen. JOHN E. WOOL: JOHN E. WOOL, Major-General, Commanding. WASHINGTON CITY, May 18, 1862. It will be impossible at this time to send you more troops. Five gen erals in the field are asking for troops, and there are none to give them. You will have to hold fast with the force you have. I had the pleasure of signing your new commission to-day. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE POTOMAC, General S. P. HEINTZELMAN, White House : The commanding general directs that you move one division of your corps to Saint Peter's Church to-morrow, the other division to take post in the vicinity of New Kent Court-House, picketing toward Jones' Bridge. A sufficient command will, however, be left by you at Cumberland to assist in breaking up the depot in that place and to guard the public property there for the time being. When the stores are all removed the detachment will rejoin its proper command. Please acknowledge this dispatch. By order of Major-General McClellan: GENERAL ORDERS, No. S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Camp near White House, Va., May 18, 1862. I. The attention of the general commanding has been called to the publication of letters from officers and others connected with this army containing information which must have been of much value to the enemy should it have reached him. To communicate precise intelligence of the strength, position, or movements of the army in private letters, not designed for publication, is itself highly improper, and liable to prove of serious disadvantage to our operations; but when such intelligence is allowed to pass into the public prints the proceeding deserves grave censure, if indeed the offense does not become one demanding the exaction of the penalty denounced by the law for giving information to the enemy. Henceforth the communication, for publication, of any intelligence likely to prove of advantage to the enemy is prohibited; and the utmost circumspection is enjoined upon correspondents in their private letters. II. The publication of official reports of military events, or the circulation of copies of the same, for private purposes, in advance of their having reached the War Department and of the authorization of their publication by the Secretary of War, is improper and unmilitary, and is strictly prohibited. Official reports are the property of the Government; they cannot be published or put in circulation without the consent of the proper authority. III. The forces commanded by Brig. Gens. F. J. Porter and W. B. Franklin are designated the Fifth and Sixth Provisional Army Corps. By command of Major-General McClellan : Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General. FORT MONROE, VA., May 19, 1862. The desponding tone of General McClellan in calling for more troops induced me to ask for more troops. The calling for troops on his part creates a suspicion of weakness, and consequently may lead to defeat. It is therefore I called for more troops, to be ready to meet coming events foreshadowed by calls made on the Government. The Sixteenth [Massachusetts] Regiment, with a section of artillery and a squadron of dragoons, occupies Suffolk. I intend sending a greater force as soon as I can forward supplies. I will have cars running on the railroad in two or three days, and the telegraph line established in the course of two days to Suffolk, and I am informed it will be established between Fort Monroe and Cherrystone Creek to-morrow. The principal part of my forces is at Norfolk and in advance of the naval station, and near the intrenchments facing toward Suffolk. The rebels tore up the rails for some distance from Suffolk leading to here, and burned the bridge that crosses Blackwater River. It is reported that they destroyed all the bridges on the Roanoke Railroad. The people of Norfolk have shown as yet no disposition to acknowledge the Government of the United States; at the same time assert with confidence that General McClellan will be beaten, the rebels having more than 100,000 men in and around Richmond. I do not believe the latter statement, yet it may be true. JOHN E. WOOL, HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, Brig. Gen. R. B. MARCY, Chief of Staff: GENERAL: Richardson's division is in camp at this place. Sedgwick's division at the junction of the road leading past Dr. Mayo's house and the direct road from New Kent Court-House to Bottom's Bridge, about 3 miles from this. I cautioned him particularly about watching the roads leading in upon our left. Very respectfully, E. V. SUMNER, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding. TUNSTALL'S STATION, May 19, 1862-3 p. m. Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: Has been raining again to-day, but the whole army has nevertheless advanced. Have been to Bottom's Bridge to-day. Enemy are there. Expect our reconnoitering parties to be at New Bridge to-day. The troops well together and in hand. Railway in good order between Pamunkey and Chickahominy, except two small bridges, which were burned. Brig. Gen. LORENZO THOMAS, Adjutant-General : GEO. B. MCCLELLAN. NEAR TUNSTALL'S STATION, May 20, 1862 The instructions of the Secretary of War to muster out the Ninth New York Cavalry were duly received. Deeming that it would prove highly injurious to the public service to discharge here a regiment for the most part in a state of disaffection I have ordered the regiment to Albany, N. Y., there to await the arrival of an officer to be designated by you to muster it out, and I respectfully request that you will please detail an officer for the purpose. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Major-General GENERAL ORDERS, Camp near Tunstall's Station, Va., May 20, 1862. HDQRS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, No. 126. When forage is found in the vicinity of the line of march of this Army, brigade quartermasters, after leaving three months' supply for the subsistence of the owners and their families, including slaves, at the rate of a bushel and a half per month for each person, are authorized to take the remainder for the use of the Government animals. An accurate account will be kept of all the forage thus taken and receipts given to the owners or their agents for the same, which accounts will be paid on presentation to the chief quartermaster of this army, provided the owner takes the oath of allegiance to the United States; if the oath is not taken, the accounts will be left for future settlement by the Government authorities. No other persons except those herein mentioned will be permitted to take property of any description from the people of the country without special authority from these headquarters. By command of Major-General McClellan : S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General. SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Camp near Tunstall's Station, Va., May 20, 1862. XIV. The Artillery Reserve is assigned to duty with the Fifth Provisional Army Corps. Colonel Hunt will report in person or by a staff officer to General Porter at 6 o'clock to-morrow morning. By command of Major-General McClellan : S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General. Abstract from return of the Army of the Potomac, Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, U. S. Army, commanding, for May 20, 1862. Your long dispatch of yesterday [to-day] just received. You will have just such control of General McDowell and his forces as you therein indicate. McDowell can reach you by land sooner than he could get aboard of boats, if the boats were ready at Fredericksburg, unless his march shall be resisted, in which case the force resisting him will certainly not be confronting you at Richmond. By land he can reach you in five days after starting; whereas by water he would not reach you in two weeks, judging by past experience. Franklin's single divis ion did not reach you in ten days after I ordered it. A. LINCOLN, President United States. MCCLELLAN's, May 21, 1862-12.10 p. m. Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: Notwithstanding rain of last night, everything has advanced except headquarters camp. Franklin is at Cold Harbor, 3 miles from New Bridge; Porter a few miles behind him. Our light troops have crossed at Bottom's Bridge, and reconnaissance now being pushed beyond to ascertain position of enemy. All goes well. Weather is again cloudy. I am starting for Bottom's Bridge and Cold Harbor, returning to this camp to night. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, See Part I, p. 28. |