HARPER'S FERRY, W. VA., August 5, 1863. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief: The number of this command present for duty is: Cavalry, six companies, 329 officers and men; heavy artillery, four companies, 442 officers and men; light artillery, three batteries, 356 officers and men; infantry, 3,446 officers and men. Of these, three regimentsthe First Eastern Shore (Maryland) Volunteers, the Second Eastern Shore (Maryland) Volunteers, and the First Regiment Potomac Home Brigade (Maryland) Volunteers-were raised for special service in the State of Maryland, and decline crossing the Potomac. The regiments last named would possibly go to Leesburg or Winchester, Va. Two other regiments-Ninth and Tenth Maryland— are six-months' men, just raised and partially drilled. HENRY H. LOCKWOOD, Officer Commanding Eleventh Corps: Brigadier-General. AUGUST 6, 1863—9.25.a. m. General Gordon's division must be held to mean the First Division of the Eleventh Corps. The General-in-Chief was informed before he issued the order that General Gordon's present command is not the same that he brought to this army. You are desired, however, to state, as soon as practicable, the regiments that composed the division that General Gordon joined us with, and, as far as possible, their strength. S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. SECOND DIV., FIFTH ARMY CORPS, Colonel LOCKE, Camp at Beverly Ford, Va., August 6, 1863. Assistant Adjutant-General, Fifth Corps: COLONEL: I have the honor to report my division in position commanding Beverly Ford. I have one regiment on the river bank; one brigade to its right and rear, about 900 yards; one brigade to its left and rear, about the same distance. One brigade about 1,000 yards in rear of these two, in support. My supply trains, &c., in rear of this last brigade. R. B. AYRES, Brigadier-General, Commanding. P. S.-I have received a request from Major-General Newton, commanding First Corps, to relieve his pickets, as soon as convenient, as far as Rappahannock Station, and have replied that I am not instructed to relieve any troops, save the regiment of the First "Corps stationed at and guarding the ford. [Indorsement.] AUGUST 6-11.30 p. m. General Ayres to be informed that his course is a correct one. S. W. [WILLIAMS.] Colonel WILKINSON, Commanding: WESTON, August 6, 1863. One of Rowan's men just in from Glenville, where, in company with 9 citizens this morning, he killed 1 rebel and wounded 1. He says reliable men told him there were 300 of Jackson's men at Cedar Creek Mills, 6 miles from Glenville, gathering horses and cattle for Jackson's command, who they say is going to occupy Glenville. I give the report for what it is worth. From the many reports I hear, I think there are rebels near Glenville. I will press horses in a. m. for scout to Glenville, and when I can hear reliably will advise you. C. J. HARRISON. CINCINNATI, OHIO, August 6, 1863. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief: General Scammon is calling loudly for troops. He asks for four régiments. I do not see how I can help, but will do what I can. A. E. BURNSIDE, Major-General. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, August 6, 1863-1 p. m. Major-General BURNSIDE, Cincinnati, Ohio: Why is General Scammon calling for troops from you? General Kelley, who commands in that department, asks for no re-enforcements. H. W. HALLECK, BALTIMORE, MD., August 6, 1863. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief: The following telegram is just received from the captain in command at Drummondtown. One company of local cavalry is all the force left on the Eastern Shore, and, with that, I can give little protection, nor do anything considerable for prevention of rebel depredations or of contraband trade: Major-General SCHENCK: DRUMMONDTOwn, Va., August 6, 1863. Light-house on Smith's Island much damaged by 9 men, purporting to be from Richmond. Light-reflectors, boats, &c., were taken. Damage, $2,000. They threaten Hog Island. Every man that could be spared from the line has been forwarded to reach Hog Island before their landing, and to scout both neighborhoods. I shall leave guards at both places. The mischief is done by rebels who left these counties, aided by friends here. We have captured 1 on the bay side. He asks if he will be exchanged. Is he not a spy? W. P. LORD, ROBT. C. SCHENCK, Major-General SCHENCK, Baltimore, Md.: WASHINGTON, D. C., August 7, 1863-11.45 a. m. General Lockwood has only about 300 cavalry under his command. If more troops are required to guard prisoners of war, they must be taken from Baltimore and the railroad guard. Additional troops cannot at present be sent to your department. H. W. HALLECK, WAR DEPARTMENT, Maj. Gen. GEORGE G. MEADE, Washington City, August 7, 1863. Commanding Army of the Potomac: GENERAL: Great difficulty has been experienced in the regulation of the subject of the transit of sutlers' merchandise to the Army of the Potomac. These stores cannot be permitted to encumber the railroads; and by being transported over the other lines of communication from here to the army, where there is no safety from their capture by guerrillas, opportunity is afforded for collusion with them for the seizure of such goods, or where there is a real capture, the merchandise is so much aid to the rebels. In either case, the capture may be made the foundation of heavy claims for indemnification hereafter. The Secretary of War desires me to present for your consideration the following suggestions upon the subject, with the view to the determination of some proper system in the premises: It is proposed that all sutlers present to you, before coming for or sending for goods, a manifest, in which shall be set forth the goods which they desire to bring to the army. In acting upon these manifests, you are to take into consideration the question of the probable safety of the routes to the rear, so that there will be little risk of the goods falling into the hands of the enemy, as well as how far the character and quantity of merchandise sought to be introduced is just and proper. If you approve the manifests, the goods may be purchased, and upon their presentation at the office of the Quartermaster-General, the necessary permits may be given thereupon for their passage to the army, provided there be no objection found to the same. A certificate of sutlership will be required to accompany the manifest of the sutler upon its presentation at the office of the Quartermaster-General. All It is to be distinctly understood that no permits will be granted by the Quartermaster-General for the transportation of sutlers' stores upon the railroads, or other government means of conveyance. sutlers' goods, not covered with passes as herein provided, will be liable to immediate confiscation by any commanding officer or provost-marshal, if sought to be introduced into the army. No permits will be given to sutlers' agents unless they present the sutler's certificate of office, accompanied by written evidence of agency; nor will any certificates be issued except the sutler elected under the law be a citizen of the United States. Be pleased, general, to report at your early convenience how far the suggestions herein made seem adapted to the circumstances of the case. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAS. A. HARDIE, Assistant Adjutant-General. AUGUST 7, 1863-6.15 p. m. Brigadier-General CRAWFORD, Commanding Fifth Corps: The major-general commanding directs that the Fifth Corps be moved to-morrow morning to the vicinity of Beverly Ford; that as much of the artillery as can be placed in position on this side of the river be thus placed, and the remainder held ready to be transferred to the right bank, should it be required there. A bridge will be thrown across the Rappahannock in that vicinity to-morrow. A. A. HUMPHREYS. Officer Commanding First Corps: AUGUST 7, 1863-6.20 p. m. I am instructed by the major-general commanding to inform you that four batteries have been ordered to report to you from the Artillery Reserve-one 12-pounder and three rifled. Also that the Fifth Corps has been ordered to move to the vicinity of Beverly Ford tomorrow morning. The artillery will leave the park to-morrow morning at as early an hour as practicable. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General, and Chief of Staff. Officer Commanding Eleventh Corps: AUGUST 7, 1863-8 p. m. By direction of the major-general commanding, I transmit herewith a copy of the report* upon the inspection of the guards on the railroad from the vicinity of these headquarters to Manassas Junction, and am instructed to say that it exhibits a very unsatisfactory condition of the arrangements for protecting the road and an inefficient execution of the guard duties connected with it. The majorgeneral commanding directs that you include that portion of the road from Warrenton Junction to Bealeton Station in the space protected by the Eleventh Corps, sending not less than a regiment to execute this duty, including the guard at the station. I am instructed to say that the guard placed on the line of the road will be not less than 12 men to the mile, posted in groups of 3 or 4, and that at night these squads will keep up a constant patrol between the groups. Every bridge or culvert upon the road, how *Not found. ever small, will be guarded. The guard at Warrenton Junction will be increased to the number recommended in the inspector's report. The whole line of the road should be frequently inspected. The officer in command at Manassas Junction should ascertain the point at which the guarding of the road by General King's command ceases, and, if practicable, extend his protection to that point. The major-general commanding desires to know where the protection of the road by General King's forces ceases. He directs me to say that guarding the road is esteemed a very important duty, and that its protection cannot be effective without strict vigilance on the part of those to whom it is intrusted. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General, and Chief of Staff. Major-General MEADE, HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Washington, D. C., August 7, 1863. Commanding Army of the Potomac: GENERAL: I inclose herewith a copy of General Orders, No. 274, in advance of printed copies. This order is based on that of General Taylor in moving from the Rio Grande on Monterey, but the allowance is more liberal, and yet, I have no doubt, many will consider it niggardly, being so much below that formerly permitted to the Army of the Potomac. I am satisfied, however, from the experience of General Grant in Mississippi, and of General West in his march from California to New Mexico, that there is no necessity for the large trains heretofore allowed, and for which there is no parallel in European warfare. I am satisfied, moreover, that when our armies become accustomed to this allowance, it may be still further reduced without any serious inconvenience. One thing is certain, we must reduce our transportation or give up all idea of competing with the enemy in the field. Napoleon very correctly estimated the effective strength of an army by its numbers multiplied by its mobility; that is, 10,000 men who could march 20 miles per day as equal to 20,000 men who could march only 10 miles per day. Unless we can reduce our impedimenta very considerably, we can equal the enemy only by a vast superiority in numbers. While your army is inactive this matter should be thoroughly studied, and the land transportation reduced to a much lower standard. By comparison with other armies now in the field, and our armies in the Mexican war, as well as with European armies in campaign, I am satisfied a very great reduction can be made in the transportation of the Army of the Potomac, and moreover, until this reduction is actually made, we can expect no decided successes in the field by that army, no matter how much heroic bravery it may exhibit on the battle-field. I understand from General Ingalls that a very great reduction of transportation has been made within the last month. During this extreme heat, troops and animals should be moved as little as possible. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, General-in-Chief. |