ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFice, Washington, D. C., December 31, 1862. It is hereby certified that the preceding statement is accurately com piled from the monthly return of the 31st day of May, 1862, signed by Bvt. Maj. Gen. John E. Wool and his assistant adjutant-general, W. D. Whipple, and now on file in this office. Major-General MCCLELLAN : E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General. WASHINGTON CITY, D. C., June 1, 1862-9.30. You are probably engaged with the enemy. I suppose he made the attack. Stand well on your guard, hold all your ground, or yield any only inch by inch and in good order. This morning we merge Geueral Wool's department into yours, giving you command of the whole, and sending General Dix to Fort Monroe and General Wool to Fort McHenry. We also send General Sigel to report to you for duty. A. LINCOLN. Major General MCCLELLAN : WASHINGTON CITY, D. C., You are already notified that General Sigel is to report to you for duty. I suggest (do not order) that he have command of such of the forces about Fort Monroe, Norfolk, Newport News, &c., as you may see fit to put into active service, or such other command as may be suitable to his rank. A. LINCOLN. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, D. C., June 1, 1862-5 p. m. Major-General MCCLELLAN: Thanks for what you could and did say in your dispatch of noon to-day to the Secretary of War. If the enemy shall not have renewed the attack this afternoon, I think the hardest of your work is done. Shields' advance came in collision with part of the enemy yesterday evening 6 miles from Front Royal, in a direction between Winchester and Strasburg, driving them back, capturing a few prisoners and one rifled cannon. Firing in that direction to-day, heard both from Harper's Ferry and Front Royal, indicate a probability that Frémont has met the enemy. We have concluded to send General Sigel to Harper's Ferry, so that what I telegraphed you about him this morning is revoked. Dix goes to Fort Monroe to-night. A. LINCOLN. *See Part I, p. 749. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Captain GOLDSBOROUGH, Flag-Officer, Fort Monroe: June 1, 1862. A battle commenced yesterday between this and the rebel army, which is still undecided. Can you not order the gunboats on James River to move up as near Richmond as possible. It would undoubtedly prove a good co-operation for me. Now is the time if you expect to give me any assistance, and not a moment is to be lost. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Major-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, General S. P. HEINTZELMAN: You will move up all your available force to the support of General Keyes, leaving force sufficient to guard your left and rear. R. B. MARCY, Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, General E. V. SUMNER: The general commanding directs that you drive the enemy back op posite your front, along the line of the railroad, in order to afford effective support to General Heintzelman. R. B. MARCY, Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Brig. Gen. E. V. SUMNER, Commanding Second Corps : From further information the general commanding is convinced that the dispatch sent you by Major von Hammerstein exaggerates matters. The general does not think it probable that you will be attacked in the morning, and if you are, he thinks it will not be in so large force but that you can hold the ground you now occupy. He will communicate with you frequently, and he would prefer that you do not fall back to-morrow, even if you are not attacked, until you receive orders. I will telegraph to you frequently, giving you all the information we receive. The best place for you to send dispatches is to General Heintzelman's headquarters. Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: A. V. COLBURN, Assistant Adjutant-General. BALTIMORE, June 1, 1862–6 p. m. I did not look at my orders until I was on my way to Baltimore. I find to my surprise that I am taken from an independent position to be placed in a subordinate one. The change cannot be regarded by the public in any other light than that of a censure and a degradation. I beg you to let me take General Wool's command as it was, with instructions to send to General McClellan all the troops I can spare. JOHN A. Dix, Major-General. GENERAL ORDERS, War Dept., Adjt. Gen.'s OFFICE, The Department of Virginia is extended to include that part of Virginia south of the Rappahannock and east of the railroad from Freder icksburg to Richmond, Petersburg, and Weldon. Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, U. S. Army, will assume command thereof, and of all the United States forces within its limits. Maj. Gen. Jolin E. Wool, U. S. Army, is assigned to the command of the Middle Department, and will proceed to Baltimore and assume the command thereof. Maj. Gen. John A. Dix, U. S. Volunteers, will proceed immediately to Fort Monroe and assume command at that point, reporting to MajorGeneral McClellan for orders. By order of the Secretary of War: L. THOMAS, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, General HEINTZELMAN: As General Sumner thinks he may be attacked at daylight, you will please hold your command ready to support him if necessary. R. B. MARCY, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, General E. V. SUMNER: R. B. MARCY, MCCLELLAN'S HEADQUARTERS, General LORENZO THOMAS, Adjutant-General: I respectfully request that I may be informed whether the change just made in my command brings subject to my order any troops now posted between Richmond and the Rappahannock; also please direct the commanders of such troops to report to me at once by telegraph the location and strength of their commands. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, Maj. Gen. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN: There are no troops between Richmond and the Rappahannook in advance of Fredericksburg subject to your command. The troops on the left bank of the river opposite Fredericksburg control that place. Detachments of course are kept in that place. You will be duly advised of the ordering of all troops sent to your command. WASHINGTON, June 2, 1862-7.10 p. m. Maj. Gen. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN: HALLECK'S HEADQUARTERS, Hon. THOMAS A. SCOTT, Assistant Secretary of War: It is the unanimous report that no troops left Corinth till the 29th. We have abun dant evidence that the evacuation was a hurried one. Beauregard was there on the 29th, and had not been to Virginia. Copies of orders issued by him during the evacu ation have been found. His troops were to move on Okolona, Ripley, and Holly Springs. The destruction of the railroad at Booneville may have partially changed the programme. The main body of the enemy is retreating slowly south through a swampy country, destroying the road and bridges behind them. The cars were almost entirely occupied in removing stores and the sick. No one has given any intimation that any troops have gone east. H. W. HALLECK, Mr. Sanford, who is acquainted with the routes mentioned by General Halleck, says that there is no probability that any troops could reach Richmond by these routes without long delay. EDWIN M. STANTON. Major-General MCCLELLAN, WASHINGTON, June 2, 1862. Headquarters Army Potomac : The following dispatch has been received from General Halleck: M. C. MEIGS, Quartermaster-General : CORINTH, May 31, 1862. If Beauregard has been at Richmond others have forged his signature, as I have received letters from him about exchange of prisoners, and nearly every day for the last fortnight. The evacuation of Corinth commenced on Wednesday and was com pleted on Thursday night, but in great haste, as an immense amount of property was destroyed and abandoned. No troops have gone from here to Richmond, unless within the last two days. Dispatches from General Halleck represent the rebel army from Corinth retreating in great disorder to Okolona. General Pope is pursuing and harassing them with 50,000 men. We are anxious to know more particulars of your gallant action of yesterday. Nothing has been heard from McDowell since yesterday morning, nor of Frémont. The change at Fort Monroe will give you command of more troops, and as soon as possible we shall send you more from here. EDWIN M. STANTON, MCCLELLAN's, June 2, 1862-9 p. m. Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: Telegrams received. I am satisfied Beauregard is not here. Everything quiet to-day except some artillery firing heard at works on bridges. Enemy reported still in force in front of our right. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Major-General. HDQRS. HOOKER'S DIVISION, THIRD ARMY CORPS, Capt. CHAUNCEY MCKEEVER, Assistant Adjutant-General, Third Army Corps: I have the honor to report that I returned from my reconnaissance about 5 o'clock this p. m. I found skirting the swamp in front of Casey's camp, on the Richmond road, two roads; one leading to the railroad, the other branching toward the James River and to the south of Richmond. These were traversed for some distance the former to the railroad-without important discoveries. In advance of these roads the enemy appeared to have a regiment of cavalry and three of infantry, but as the latter were most concealed in the forest, it was not prudent to determine their number; it may have been much greater. Our picket exchanged a few shots. On my return my command encamped in rear of Casey's camp, it not being possible to occupy that ground from the stench arising from the 14 R R-V L XI, PT III |