THE WAR OF THE REBELLION: A COMPILATION OF THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE UNION AND CONFEDERATE ARMIES. PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF The Hon. STEPHEN B. ELKINS, Secretary of War, BY MAJ. GEORGE B. DAVIS, U. S. A., MR. LESLIE J. PERRY, MR. JOSEPH W. KIRKLEY, Board of Publication. SERIES I VOLUME XL-IN THREE PARTS. CONSTANTINE CHASE, WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1892. 61728 PART III.-VOL. XL. CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, FROM JULY 5, 1864, ΤO JULY 31, 1864.* UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. CITY POINT, VA., July 5, 1864-12.30 р. т. Major-General HALLECK, Washington, D. C.: (Received 6.45 p. m.) If the enemy cross into Maryland or Pennsylvania I can send an army corps from here to meet them or cut off their return south. If required, direct the quartermaster to send transportation. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. WASHINGTON, July 5, 1864—1 р. т. Lieutenant-General GRANT, City Point, Va.: There has been no telegraphic communication with Harper's Ferry since yesterday, a little after noon; but we learn through the railroad company that Sigel had reached Maryland Heights and withdrawn all troops from south of the river, destroying the bridges. We can learn nothing whatever of Hunter The enemy have destroyed bridges from Harper's Ferry to Patterson's Creek, where Kelley succeeded in driving them back. The line from the Monocacy to Harper's Ferry has been cat, and the re-enforcements sent from here fell back to the Monocacy. General Howe has been sent there with about 2,800 men, to force his way to Harper's Ferry. We have nothing reliable in regard to the enemy's force. Some accounts, probably very exaggerated, state it to be between 20,000 and 30,000. If one-half that number we cannot meet it in the field till Hunter's troops arrive. As you are aware, we have almost nothing in Baltimore or Washington, except militia, and considerable alarm has been created by sending troops from these places to re-enforce Harper's Ferry. You probably have a large dismounted cavalry force, and I would advise that it be sent here immediately. It ran be remounted by impressing horses in the parts of Maryland likely to be overrun by the enemy. All the dismounted fragments here we armed as infantry and sent to Harper's Ferry. H. W. HALLECK, Major-General and Chief of Staff. *For Correspondence, etc., from June 13, 1864, to July 5, 1864, see Part II. (3) |