"There should be two gunboats at Aquia creek at once. Shall I push the rest of Sumner's corps here, or is Pope so strong as to be reasonably certain of success? I have sent to inspect the works near here and their garrisons. 66 As soon as I can find General Casey, or some other commanding officer, I will see to the railway, &c. It would be well to have them report to me, as I do not know where they are. I am trying to find them, and will lose no time in carrying out your orders. Would like to see Burnside. "G. B. MCCLELLAN, "Major General H. W. HALLECK, Washington." "Major General. p. m. "ALEXANDRIA, August 27, 1862-1.15 "Franklin's artillery have no horses, except for (4) four guns without caissons. I can pick up no cavalry. In view of these facts, will it not be well to push Sumner's corps here by water as rapidly as possible, to make immediate arrangements for placing the works in front of Washington in an efficient condition of defence? I have no means of knowing the enemy's force between Pope and ourselves. "Can Franklin, without his artillery or cavalry, effect any useful purpose in front? "Should not Burnside take steps at once to evacuate Falmouth and Aquia, at the same time covering the retreat of any of Pope's troops who may fall back in that direction? 66 I do not see that we have force enough in hand to form a connexion with Pope, whose exact position we do not know. Are we safe in the direction of the valley? "ALEXANDRIA, August 27, 1862-1.35 p. m. "I learn that Taylor's brigade, sent this morning to Bull run bridge, is either cut to pieces or captured. can. "That the force against them had many guns, and about (5,000) five thousand infantry, receiving re-enforcements every minute; also, that Gainesville is in possession of the enemy. Please send some cavalry out towards Drainsville, via Chain bridge, to watch Lewinsville and Drainsville, and go as far as they If you will give me even one squadron of good cavalry here I will ascertain the state of the case. I think our policy now is to make these works perfectly safe, and mobilize a couple of corps as soon as possible, but not to advance them until they can have their artillery and cavalry. I have sent for Colonel Tyler to place his artillerymen in the works. 66 Is Fort Marcy securely held? "General HALLECK." "G. B. MCCLELLAN, "Major General. "ALEXANDRIA, August 27, 1862-2.30 p.m. "Sumner has been ordered to send here all of his corps that are within reach. Orders have been sent to Couch to come here from Yorktown with the least possible delay. But one squadron of my cavalry has arrived; that will be disembarked at once and sent to the front. "If there is any cavalry in Washington it should be ordered to report to me at once. "I still think that we should first provide for the immediate defence of Washington on both sides of the Potomac. I am not responsible for the past, and cannot be for the future, unless I receive authority to dispose of the available troops according to my judgment. Please inform me at once what my position is. I do not wish to act in the dark. “G. B. McCLELLAN, "Major General H. W. HALLEck, 66 Commanding United States Army." "Major General. "ALEXANDRIA, August 27, 1863-6 p.m. "I have just received the copy of a despatch from General Pope to you' dated 10 a. m. this morning, in which he says: 'All forces now sent forward should be sent to my right at Gainesville.' "I now have at my disposal here about (10,000) ten thousand men of Franklin's corps, about (2,800) twenty-eight hundred of General Tyler's brigade and Colonel Tyler's first Connecticut artillery, which I recommend should be held in hand for the defence of Washington. "If you wish me to order any part of this force to the front, it is in readiness to march at a moment's notice to any point you may indicate. 66 In view of the existing state of things in our front, I have deemed it best to order General Casey to hold his men for Yorktown in readiness to move, but not to send them off till further orders. 66 August 28, 1862—4.10 p.m. "General Franklin is with me here. I will know in a few minutes the condition of artillery and cavalry. 66 "We are not yet in condition to move; may be by to-morrow morning. Pope must cut through to-day, or adopt the plan I suggested. I have ordered troops to garrison the works at Upton's hill. They must be held at any cost. As soon as I can see the way to spare them, I will send a corps of good troops there. It is the key to Washington, which cannot be seriously menaced as long as it is held. "Major General HALLECK, 66 Washington, D. C." "G. B. McCLELLAN, "Major General. I received the following from the general-in-chief: “WASHINGTON, August 28, 1862. "I think you had better place Sumner's corps as it arrives near the guns, and particularly at the Chain bridge. "The principal thing to be feared now is a cavalry raid into this city, especially in the night time. "Use Cox's and Tyler's brigade, and the new troops for the same object, if you need them. "Porter writes to Burnside from Bristow, 9.30 a. m. yesterday, that Pope's forces were then moving on Manassas, and that Burnside would soon hear of them by way of Alexandria. offi "General Cullum has gone to Harper's Ferry, and I have only a single regular for duty in the office. 66 Please send some of your officers to-day to see that every precaution is taken at the forts against a raid; also at the bridge. Please answer. On the 29th the following despatch was telegraphed : "CAMP NEAR ALEXANDRIA, 66 August 29, 1862—10.30 a. m. "Franklin's corps is in motion; started about (6) six a. m. I can give him but two squadrons of cavalry. I propose moving General Cox to Upton's hill, to hold that important point with its works, and to push cavalry scouts to Vienna, via Freedom hill and Hunter's lane. Cox has (2) two squadrons of cavalry. Please answer at once whether this meets your approval. I have directed Woodbury, with the engineer brigade, to hold Fort Lyon. Sumner detached, last night, two regiments to vicinity of Forts Ethan Allen and Marcy. Meagher's brigade is still at Aquia. If he moves in support of Franklin it leaves us without any reliable troops in and near Washington. Yet Franklin is too weak alone. What shall be done? No more cavalry arrived; have but (3) three squadrons. Franklin has but (40) forty rounds of ammunition, and no wagons to move more. I do not think Franklin is in condition to accomplish much if he meets with serious resistance. I should not have moved him but for your pressing order of last night. What have you from Vienna and Drainsville? "G. B. MCCLELLAN, 66 Major General HALLECK, "Washington, D. C." To which the following is a reply: "Major General. “WASHINGTON, August 29, 1862—12 m. "Upton's hill arrangement all right. We must send wagons and ammunition to Franklin as fast as they arrive. "Meagher's brigade ordered up yesterday. Fitzhugh Lee was, it is said on good authority, in Alexandria on Sunday last for three hours. I have nothing from Drainesville. "Major General MCCLELLAN." "H. W. HALLECK, On the same day the following was received from his excellency the President: “WASHINGTON, August 29, 1862--2.30 p. m. "A. LINCOLN. "What news from direction of Manassas Junction? What generally? To which I replied as follows: 66 p. m. "CAMP NEAR ALEXANDRIA, August, 29, 1862-2.45 "The last news I received from the direction of Manassas was from stragglers, to the effect that the enemy were evacuating Centreville and retiring towards Thoroughfare gap. This by no means reliable. "I am clear that one of two courses should be adopted: 1st, to concentrate all our available forces to open communications with Pope; 2d, to leave Pope to get out of his scrape, and at once use all our means to make the capital perfectly safe. 66 'No middle ground will now answer. Tell me what you wish me to do, and I will do all in my power to accomplish it. I wish to know what my orders and authority are. I ask for nothing, but will obey whatever orders you give. I only ask a prompt decision that I may at once give the necessary orders. It will not do to delay longer. "A. LINCOLN, President." And copy to General Halleck. To which the following is a reply: 66 "G. B. MCCLELLAN, Major General. p. m. WASHINGTON, August 29, 1862-4.10 "Yours of to-day just received. I think your first alternative, to wit, 'to concentrate all our available forces to open communication with Pope,' is the right one, but I wish not to control. That I now leave to General Halleck, aided by your counsels. "Major General MCCLELLAN." "A. LINCOLN. It had been officially reported to me from Washington that the enemy, in strong force, was moving through Vienna in the direction of the Chain bridge, and had a large force in Vienna. This report, in connexion with the despatch of the general-in-chief on the 28th, before noted, induced me to direct Franklin to halt his command near Anandale until it could be determined, by reconnoissances to Vienna and towards Manassas, whether these reports were true. General Cox was ordered to send his small cavalry force from Upton's hill towards Vienna and Drainsville in one direction, and towards Fairfax Court House in the other, and Franklin to push his two squadrons as far towards Manassas as possible, in order to ascertain the true position of the enemy. With the enemy in force at Vienna, and towards Lewinsville, it would have been very injudicious to have pushed Franklin's small force beyond Anandale. It must be remembered that at that time we were cut off from direct communication with General Pope; that the enemy was, by the last accounts, at Manassas in strong force, and that Franklin had only from 10,000 to 11,000 men, with an entirely insufficient force of cavalry and artillery. In order to represent this condition of affairs in its proper light to the general-in-chief, and to obtain definite instructions from him, I telegraphed as follows: "Have ordered most of the (12th) twelfth Pennsylvania cavalry to report to General Barnard for scouting duty towards Rockville, Poolsville, &c. 66 If you apprehended a raid of cavalry on your side of river, I had better send a brigade or two of Sumner's to near Tenallytown, where, with two or three old regiments in Forts Allen and Marcy, they can watch both Chain bridge and Tenally town. "Would it meet your views to post the rest of Sumner's corps between Arlington and Fort Corcoran, whence they can either support Cox, Franklin, or Chain bridge, and even Tenallytown? "Franklin has only between (10,000) ten thousand and (11,000) eleven thousand for duty. I anxiously await reply to my last despatch in regard to Sumner. Wish to give the order at once. 66 Please authorize me to attach new regiments permanently to my old brigades. I can do much good to old and new troops in that way. I shall endeavor to hold a line in advance of Forts Allen and Marcy, at least with strong advanced guards. I wish to hold the line through Prospect hill, Mackall's, Minor's, and Hall's hill. This will give us timely warning. Shall I do as seems best to me with all the troops in this vicinity, including Franklin, who I really think ought not, under present circumstances, to advance beyond Anandale ? "G. B. MCCLELLAN, 66 General HALLeck.” 66 Major General. On the same day I received a despatch from the general-in-chief, in which he asks me why I halted Franklin in Anandale, to which I replied as follows: 66 By referring to my telegrams of 10.30 a. m., 12 m., and 1 p. m., together with your reply of 2.48 p. m., you will see why Franklin's corps halted at Anandale. His small cavalry force, all I had to give him, was ordered to push on as far as possible towards Manassas. 66 It was not safe for Franklin to move beyond Anandale, under the circumstances, until we knew what was at Vienna. 66 General Franklin remained here until about 1 p. m., endeavoring to arrange for supplies for his command. I am responsible for both these circumstances, and do not see that either was in disobedience to your orders. "Please give distinct orders in reference to Franklin's movements of to-morrow. I have sent to Colonel Haupt to push out construction and supply trains as soon as possible. "General Tyler to furnish the necessary guards. 66 I have directed General Banks's supply trains to start out to-night at least as far as Anandale, with an escort from General Tyler. "In regard to to-morrow's movements I desire definite instructions, as it is not agreeable to me to be accused of disobeying orders, when I have simply exercised the discretion you committed to me. 66 Major General HALLECK, "Washington, D. C." H. Ex. Doc. 15-12 "G. B. MCCLELLAN, "Major General. |