HEADQUARTERS, Seminary, March 19, 1862. Maj. Gen. JOHN E. WOOL: I have seen your dispatch to the Secretary of War, and beg to thank you for the spirit in which it is couched. (Copy to the Secretary of War.) Brigadier-General HOOKER: GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Major-General. HEADQUARTERS, March 19, 1862. General McClellan desires to be informed at once what the last news is from Aquia Creek and Fredericksburg. A. V. COLBURN, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS HOOKER'S DIVISION, Camp Baker, Lower Potomac, Md., March 19, 1862. Brig. Gen. S. WILLIAMS: Please say to the major-general commanding that I have no advices from Aquia or Fredericksburg later than those forwarded last night. I shall have further information to-night, at least I should have. Tell the general that with two brigades and a battery I feel very confident that I can overcome any opposition the rebels may present on this side of the Rappahannock, if it should not disappear of itself, which I think the most probable. An advance of a small force in that direction will be considered by the enemy as the head of a formidable column, for it is natural for them to look for an invasion from that direction. It is not their intention to make a stand on this side of the Rappahannock. JOSEPH HOOKER, Brigadier-General, Commanding Division. MARCH 19, 1862. Brig. Gen. R. B. MARCY: The bridges are all standing at Aquia Creek and guarded. Two Northern men have arrived at Liverpool Point from Fredericksburg yesterday. They represent large numbers of troops in the vicinity of Fredericksburg. They have been using the batteries at Aquia to-day. We can take possession of the bridges, if you desire, between this and morning, with the aid of the Stepping Stones. My negro spies are not in, but this information is reliable. JOSEPH HOOKER, Brigadier-General, Commanding Division. Brig. Gen. R. B. MARCY: BUDD'S FERRY, March 19, 1862. I have now two steamers at my disposal. Shall I embark two bri *See Wool to Stanton, March 18, p. 14. gades, and what shall I do with them when the bridges are burned? 1 am totally in the dark as to my future, as the bridges will be destroyed the moment I threaten them, if not before. JOSEPH HOOKER, Brigadier-General. MARCH 19, 1862-1 p. m. (Sent 2.25 p. m.) General HOOKER, Budd's Ferry: The sole object of your movement would [be] to force the enemy to destroy his bridges at Fredericksburg. From accounts received last night from Wyman as to strength I think two brigades very weak for the purpose. When I hear from you in answer to message sent a few minutes ago as to position of rebels I can decide definitely; meantime await further orders. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, WASHINGTON, March 19, 1862. General GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, Seminary, Va.: In accordance with your understanding with General Heintzelman yesterday morning, I directed General Hooker to cross two brigades of his division, a squadron of cavalry, and a light battery, and drive the rebels, which he said were still at their batteries at Aquia, toward Fredericksburg; but upon the receipt of a dispatch from him last night, stating that Aquia depot and the batteries had, according to the report of three deserters, been abandoned and the troops withdrawn, I advised him to postpone his movement until to-day, when he could probably learn more about it. I told him, however, not to look upon this as an order, provided he at any time considered it expedient to go ahead. He asks, "Shall I move camp permanently?" which I suppose means will he cross and remain permanently on the other side. I will let him know your wishes as soon as I get your answer. R. B. MARCY, HEADQUARTERS, Seminary, March 19, 1862. Brigadier-General MARCY: Direct Hooker not to move until further orders. A. V. COLBURN, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS RICHARDSON'S DIVISION, General E. V. SUMNER: DEAR SIR: A reconnaissance this morning shows that the bayonets spoken of yesterday in my dispatch were from General Banks' column, some 8 miles above us, and on the other side of Bull Run; that is, of Centreville. west I have some information as to the position of General Jackson. He is northwest of Manassas Gap 25 miles, and southwest of Winchester, at a place called New Market, in what is called the "Valley of the Blue Ridge;" has 35,000 men and three batteries. The infantry force at Warrenton Junction is 5,000 men and one regiment of Stuart's cavalry in advance 3 miles. At the Rappahannock Bridge they have some 50,000 men. They are falling back since Friday last toward Fredericksburg. The bridge is not yet broken down but is mined, and they appear to be throwing up a small bridge-head in rear on the heights. We have all this information from different intelligent persons, both white and black. Yours, truly, I. B. RICHARDSON, Brigadier-General, Commanding Division. [Indorsement.] HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, Fairfax Court-House, March 19, 1862. SIR: I have just received this report, and respectfully forward it to the Headquarters of the Army of the Potomac. I think that the informers have overstated the numbers of the enemy. Very respectfully, E. V. SUMNER, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding. Hon. E. M. STANTON, FORT MONROE, March 19, 1862. Secretary of War: Matters all right here and will work well. The forces can be landed rapidly, but none have arrived up to 1 o'clock p. m. If the general commanding decides to send all to this point that fact should be communicated in order to provide locations for them. Will you please ascertain and advise me? THOMAS A. SCOTT, MARCH 19 [1862]-9.45 p. m. THOMAS A. SCOTT, Assistant Secretary, Fort Monroe : Arrangements should be made for the accommodation of a large force at Fortress Monroe, so as to be ready if General McClellan should make that his point. I have requested him to give you instructions. EDWIN M. STANTON, THE SEMINARY, NEAR ALEXANDRIA, VA., Maj. Gen. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, Commanding the Army of the Potomac, near Alexandria, Va.: GENERAL: On the 16th instant I received from General Barnard an order to repair immediately to Fort Monroe. At the same time I received at your headquarters in Washington, from yourself, General McDowell, and General Barnard, verbal instructions for my guidance, providing, among other things, that I should make no reconnaissance in person of the landings on York River, lest the enemy thereby might receive intimations of intended movements. In obedience to your orders, I have now the honor to make a brief report, premising that I am indebted to Colonel Cram and General Mansfield for almost all the information I obtained. In the presence of Colonel Cram I examined some intelligent negroes, who corroborated information which he had previously received. A pretended deserter from our ranks, sent out by General Wool several months ago, has recently returned, a real deserter from the enemy, with precise information of the rebel works between York and James Rivers. This information is laid down on the maps, three in number, herewith inclosed, and all furnished by Colonel Cram-two copied in his office, one in the office of Captain Stewart, of the Engineers. The first landing or landings on York River are on Back River. Pontoon-boats at high water can go well up the northwestern branch, perhaps as far as Big Bethel, but if the enemy is disposed to make an obstinate stand behind this stream, such a movement of pontoons would be perilous, if not impossible. This line of defense would be turned with apparent ease by a movement from Newport News along the direct road which heads the stream in question. On this matter, however, more information is desirable. The next landing, and the best as a mere landing, is at Ship Point, on Poquosin River-a regular wood landing, with 12 feet of water. Here the enemy have had a strong battery, some ten guns, but it is reported have recently evacuated it-for what reason it is hard to conjecture, unless they intend or did intend to evacuate Yorktown. The road from this landing leads through woods to the Hampton and Yorktown roads. The interior battery at the head of Goose Creek, between that creek and a branch of Back Creek, indicates an apprehension that we may land on the little peninsula, which is nearly closed at that battery, and negroes informed us that pontoon-boats could land on Cheeseman's Creek, a mile or more above Ship Point Battery. The best landing for our purposes, in the opinion of Commodore Goldsborough and Colonel Cram and others, is the one considered in your office on the 16th instant, namely, the right bank of York River, between Wormley's Creek, about 2 miles from Yorktown, and a little inlet about 3 miles from Yorktown. So far as we can learn there are no batteries on this part of the river. Gunboats a half mile from the shore or less can protect the landing. The land, elevated some 20 or 30 feet above the river, is cultivated, and without natural obstacles some half mile or more back from the river. The little peninsula between Back Creek, Back Bay, York River, and the little inlet just mentioned will apparently furnish an impregnable position for the landed forces should they be forced back by superior numbers. Pontoon-boats, ac *Not found. cording to information furnished by the negroes, will ground along the shore on hard sand. The bluff banks are not too steep for infantry. At the little inlet 33 miles from Yorktown the landing will apparently be protected from any batteries between Yorktown and Wormley's Creek, and more particularly from two batteries of two Dahlgren guns, each said to be masked, 2 miles from Yorktown, and therefore near the mouth of that creek. Finally, the road from this landing turns all the enemy's defenses on the Hampton and Yorktown roads up to a point 4 miles from Yorktown. The roads from Hampton and from Newport News to Yorktown pass through alternations of woods and open fields, with woods sometimes on one side and open fields on the other, and with occasional defensive lines of considerable natural strength. Should the enemy occupy these roads and positions in force, a rapid advance by the direct roads would be difficult, and attended with much loss of life; but by extending our flanks considerably we shall naturally find some places of easy approach, by which all the natural defenses will be turned. Considerable road and bridge making would be essential to safe and sure operations. The enemy now holds Big Bethel, where the first serious resistance on the road from Hampton will be encountered. Northwest Branch, Deep Creek, and the narrow divide between the two furnish a strong, continuous defensive line against rapid approaches-no serious obstacle, I think, against slow and careful approaches. The works of the enemy at Wall's Creek seem to be built mainly or altogether to prevent our landing at that point. A similar remark may be made of the works between Deep Creek and Warwick River. Warwick River, near its mouth, has, it is reported, been obstructed by the rebels. I have nothing to add to the information furnished by the map as to the works of the enemy between Hampton or Newport News and Yorktown. It will be noticed that one or two small batteries are found wherever a road from York River side joins the main road from Hampton, while no notice is taken of the roads which come in from the James River side. Still these roads seem to turn the positions of the enemy equally well. According to the map there are no prepared works beyond Deep Creek to prevent a march from Newport News by way of the Court-House and the head of Warwick River to a position entirely above Yorktown. The last natural line of the enemya branch of Warwick River, a branch of Wormley's Creek, and the divide between the two, where the last batteries are seen on the Hamp ton and Yorktown road, about 2 miles from the latter place-unfortunately is not turned by the landing below Wormley's Creek, and this fact suggests the want of other means of turning the works of the enemy entirely above Yorktown, and if possible above Williamsburg. At Williamsburg, 12 miles above Yorktown, the enemy have fortified to some extent another natural line. On the right of the road, 1 mile below Williamsburg, there is Fort Magruder, a square redoubt with two mounted guns; on the left of the road two square redoubts without mounted guns. Commodore Goldsborough expressed his desire to co-operate in every way and his decided belief that the enterprise would be successful. He had secured twelve pilots when I left, and can doubtless find as many more as may be necessary. He thinks he can protect a landing, and said something about running a gunboat or two by Yorktown in the night, but did not seem entirely willing to undertake that maneu There will be no difficulty in obtaining at Fort Monroe all the ver. |