I will beg that you put some one general in command of the Shenandoah and of all troops in front of Washingtou for the sake of the country. Secure unity of action and bring the best men forward. Goodby, and present my respects to the President. Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, MCCLELLAN'S, June 27, 1862-3 p. m. We have been fighting nearly all day against greatly superior num bers. We shall endeavor to hold our own, and if compelled to fall back, shall do it in good order, upon James River, if possible. Our men fight like veterans, and will do all that men can do. If we have to fall back on James River, supplies should be passed up to us under protection of the gunboats as rapidly as possible. McClellan has telegraphed you several times to-day. You may rely upon it the rebels are concentrating their greatest efforts at this juncture. MARCY, CAMP LINCOLN, June 27, 1862-4.30 p. m. General FITZ JOHN PORTER, Your dispatch of 4.10 received. Send word to all your troops that their general thanks them for their heroism, and says to them that he is now sure that nothing can resist them. Their conduct and your own has been magnificent, and another name is added to their banners. Give my regulars a good chance. I look upon to-day as decisive of the Try to drive the rascals and take some prisoners and guns. What more assistance do you require? war. Ever yours, MCCLELLAN. CAMP LINCOLN, June 27, 1862-5.5 p. m. General FITZ JOHN PORTER: I am ordering up more troops. Do your best to hold your own and let me know constantly the state of affairs and what you require. Do you need more batteries? You must hold your own until dark. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Major-General. Capt. CHAUNCEY MCKEEVER: JUNE 27, 1862—5.56 p. m. Have just returned from the front, where we have nothing but a stampede since I saw you there, owing to the behavior of the troops occupying the picket line. The first shot from a rebel was sufficient to start regiments. In order to preserve quiet to-night, if practicable, I ordered the Fifty fifth New York Regiment from the forest, and for it not to return there. I cannot rely on troops I have seen from General Couch's division for any assistance should an advance be made on my front. Of this the spectacle of to-day has fully convinced me. The unusual activity of the rebels, the balloon ascension this morning, the shelling of the woods this evening all along my front, and the display of an unusual force this afternoon indicate that they have it in mind to advance. If so, I should have not less than three brigades to spring to the defenses; now I can be whipped before the reserve will get up. De Russy's battery is also gone when there can be no place at which it is so much needed, as there are so many approaches to my position. I wish these suggestions to be well considered. The problem submitted for my opinion is very unlike the one which exists; in fact, I find Casey was whipped in detail. I desire to avoid such a disaster. Another musketry fire has broken out in front, but I really do not know whether it all comes from my troops, the pickets, or not. JOSEPH HOOKER, Brigadier-General, Commanding Division. JUNE 27, 1862-6 p. m. General S. WILLIAMS: The enemy have watched us very closely since 1 p. m., and opened upon us with one gun, rather as a feeler. He is very industrious, and is studying well our position. Move on my left at the railroad. the enemy in some force, but I have no evidence of it. Think My picket line is very long, and our position we will do all in our power to hold, but 2 miles is heavy and very fatiguing duty. I shall report all changes. HENRY M. NAGLEE, Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: Brigadier-General. Have had a terrible contest. Attacked by greatly superior numbers in all directions on this side; we still hold our own, though a very heavy fire is still kept up on the left bank of Chickahominy. The odds have been immense. We hold our own very nearly. I may be forced to give up my position during the night, but will not if it is possible to avoid it. Had I 20,000 fresh and good troops we would be sure of a splendid victory to-morrow. My men have fought magnificently. Capt. CHAUNCEY MCKEEVER: GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, JUNE 27, 1862–8.55 p. m. The last attack was all along the line of pickets in my front, and of course they were driven in. Enough is already known of our movements by the enemy to enable them to penetrate our object. This being the case, to thwart it there can be but one point of attack; that is on or near our left. JOSEPH HOOKER, Brigadier-General, Commanding Division. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE POTOMAC, Flag-Officer GOLDSBOROUGH: I desire you will send some light-draught gunboats at once up the Chickahominy as far as possible, and also that you will forthwith instruct the gunboats in the James River to cover the left flank of this army. I should be glad to have the gunboats proceed as far up the river as may be practicable, and hope they may get up as far as the vicinity of New Market. We have met a severe repulse to-day, having been attacked by greatly superior numbers, and I am obliged to fall back between the Chickahominy and the James River. I look to you to give me all the support you can in covering my flank, as well as in giving protection to my supplies afloat in James River. Major-General MCCLELLAN: GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Major-General, Commanding. U. S. FLAG-SHIP MINNESOTA, Norfolk, Va., June 27, 1862-3.40 p. m. Headquarters Army of the Potomac : SIR: In reply to your telegram of this date, just received, I beg to assure you that I will with great pleasure give every aid in my power in forwarding and protecting the vessels to which you allude. By the mail of to-day I wrote you a letter. I beg also to congratulate you and my friend General Hooker on gaining the point you had in view so completely two days ago. L. M. GOLDSBOROUGH, Flag-Officer. NORFOLK, June 27, 1862-9.30 p. m. Major-General MCCLELLAN: SIR: I will dispatch a tug instantly up James River, with orders for the two light-draught gunboats to go up the Chickahominy without a moment's delay. L. M. GOLDSBOROUGH, Flag-Officer. MCCLELLAN'S, June 27, 1862-1.20 p. m. Commodore GOLDSBOROUGH: I have ordered vessels with supplies to be sent up James River. As it may be very important for us, I will thank you to give any aid in your power to forward and protect these vessels to the vicinity of your gunboats, where they will be protected from the enemy's guns. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Capt W. E. STURGES, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General: SIR: I have the honor to report that while in command of my regiment on picket, at 3 p. m. yesterday, I was detailed as division oflicer of the day. As soon as practicable I reported at division headquarters for instructions; after which I visited the different pickets on this front. While engaged in that duty I received a communication from General Kearny, directing me to report immediately to General Hooker, with a note requesting that officer to relieve the two regiments of this divis ion doing picket duty on General Hooker's front; to which General Hooker assented, and informed me that he had given General Abercrombie orders to relieve all of the regiments of Kearny's division occupying his (Hooker's) front. This conversation occurred between 7 and 8 o'clock p. m. I then returned to the outpost. After waiting for an hour or more, and no relief for our pickets, I, in company with Colonel Egan, visited our lines on the right. After passing the Fortieth New York, and at some distance to the rear, I discovered the Long Island Volunteers. On making inquiry of the commanding officer in regard to his position at that point he informed me he was doing picket duty; that he was sent to relieve Birney's brigade. I informed him that no part of Birney's brigade had been relieved, and advised him to relieve the Fortieth New York, in accordance with instructions given him. He declined, on the ground that he had been placed there to hold that position, and could not change it except by orders from General Abercrombie. The position occupied by the Long Island Volunteers was in the open field in front of Hooker's division and about 400 yards to the left of Hooker's redoubt and near the woods. This conversation occurred between 11 and 12 o'clock p. m. I then sought General Abercrombie, who informed me that he could not relieve any of the regiments without instructions from General Hooker. I then sent you a communication containing a statement of the difficulties I encountered in getting the proper regiments relieved. About 1 o'clock a. m. I received a communication from General Kearny, directing me to state to General Hooker that unless the regiments were relieved in an hour, he (Kearny) would relieve them and order them to camp. In accordance with these instructions I relieved the Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania and Fortieth New York from duty on Hooker's front about 3 p. m. The Fortieth New York was sent to camp; the Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania then relieved the Thirty-eighth New York, who also returned to camp. General Hooker soon after the relief of the above regiment discov ered their absence and immediately detailed others to fill their places. The whole line during my tour was quiet. I was relieved this morning by Colonel Hays, Sixty-third Pennsylvania. I am, sir, your obedient servant, J. H. HOBART WARD, Colonel Thirty-eighth Regiment, Division Officer of the Day. The report of the position of the pickets in front of the division was rendered this morning. Major-General MCCLELLAN: NORFOLK, June 28, 1862-1 a. m. Just received your second telegram upon the subject of the light draught gunboats going up the Chickahominy and covering the left flank of your army. Without a moment's delay instructions shall be communicated to Commander Rodgers to comply immediately with all you desire. L. M. GOLDSBOROUGH, Flag-Officer. Major-General MCCLELLAN : WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, June 28, 1862. Save your army at all events. Will send re-enforcements as fast as we can. Of course they cannot reach you to-day, to-morrow, or next day. I have not said you were ungenerous for saying you needed re-enforcements. I thought you were ungenerous in assuming that I did not send them as fast as I could. I feel any misfortune to you and your army quite as keenly as you feel it yourself. If you have had a drawn battle or a repulse it is the price we pay for the enemy not being in Washington. We protected Washington and the enemy concentrated on you. Had we stripped Washington, he would have been upon us be fore the troops could have gotten to you. Less than a week ago you notified us that re enforcements were leaving Richmond to come in front of us. It is the nature of the case, and neither you nor the Government are to blame. Please tell at once the present condition and aspect of things. A. LINCOLN. P. S.-General Pope thinks if you fall back it would be much better toward York River than toward the James. As Pope now has charge of the capital, please confer with him through the telegraph. HEADQUARTERS ARMY CORPS, Maj. Gen. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, Commanding Department Virginia : GENERAL: Our fast steamers are all employed, and I send to the Chickahominy the armed steam-tug C. P. Smith, which has completed the opening of the navigation of the Nansemond River. Captain Heine, who has performed this duty very creditably, will bear this dispatch to you if it is possible by any effort to reach you. Please send him back with instructions as to the manner in which I shall communicate with you. Commodore Goldsborough has been with me two hours, and no effort will be spared to support you at all points. I will open a regular communication with you by steamn the moment I hear from you. I have a dispatch from the President expressing an earnest desire that I should reach you with a message, that I may know your wants. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN A. DIX, Major-General. |