Official Records of the Rebellion

[p.89]

On the 14th and 15th, and before we had been able to embark all our sick men, two army corps were put in motion toward Fort Monroe. This was reported in the annexed dispatch:

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Berkeley, August 14, 1862—11 p. in.

Movement has commenced by land and water. All sick will be away to-morrow night. Everything being done to carry out your orders. I don’t like Jackson’s movements. He will suddenly appear when least expected. Will telegraph fully and understandingly in the morning.

GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major. General.

Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Washington, D. C.

The phrase “movement has commenced,” it need not be remarked, referred obviously to the movement of the main army after completing the necessary preliminary movements of the sick, &c. The perversion of the term to which the General-in-Chief saw fit to give currency in a letter to the Secretary of War should have been here rendered impossible by the dispatches which precede this, of the 14th, which show that the movement really began immediately after the receipt of the order of August 4.

The progress made in the movement of the 15th was reported in the following dispatches:

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
August 15, 1862—12 m.

Colonel Ingalls this moment reports that after embarking the remaining brigade of McCall’s division with the sick, who are constantly accumulating, the transports now disposable will be all consumed.

Two of my army corps marched last night and this morning en route for Yorktown— one via Jones’ Bridge and the other via Barrett’s Ferry, where we have a pontoon bridge. The other corps will be pushed forward as fast as the roads are clear, and I hope before tomorrow morning to have the entire army in motion.

A report has just been received from my pickets that the enemy in force is advancing on us from the Chickahominy, but I do not credit it; shall know soon. Should any more transports arrive here before my departure, and the enemy do not show such [p.90] a force in our front as to require all the troops I have remaining to insure the safety of the land movement with its immense train, I shall send every man by water that transports will carry.

GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major- General.

Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Commanding U. S. Army.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Berkeky, August 15, 1862—1.30 p. m.

The advance corps and trains are fairly started. I learn nothing more in relation to reported advance of rebels via Jones’ Bridge. Shall push the movement as rapidly as possible.

GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major-General.

Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Washington, D. C.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Berkeley, August 15, 1862—10 p. m.

Coggins’ Point is abandoned. The whole of McCall’s division, with its artillery, is now en route for Burnside. We have not yet transportation sufficient for our sick. I hope we will get it to-morrow.

Porter is across the Chickahominy, near its month, with his wagons and reserve artillery. Heintzelman at Jones’ Bridge with a portion of his corps. They will all be up by morning. Averell’s cavalry on the other side. All quiet thus far. I cannot get the last of the wagons as far as Charles City Court-House before some time tomorrow afternoon.

I am hurrying matters with the utmost rapidity possible. Wagons will move all night.

GEO. B. MCCLELLAN.
Major- General.

Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Washington, D. C.

After the commencement of the movement it was continued with the utmost rapidity until all the troops and material were en route both by land and water on the morning of the 16th. Late in the afternoon of that day, when the last man had disappeared from the deserted camps, I followed with my personal staff in the track of the Grand Army of the Potomac, bidding farewell to the scenes still covered with the marks of its presence, and to be forever memorable in history as the vicinity of its most brilliant exploits. Previous to the departure of the troops I had directed Captain Duane, of the Engineer Corps, to proceed to Barrett’s Ferry, near the mouth of the Chickahominy, and throw across the river at that point a pontoon bridge. This was executed promptly and satisfactorily under the cover of gunboats, and an excellent bridge of about 2,000 feet in length was ready for the first arrival of troops. The greater part of the army, with its artillery, wagon trains, &c., crossed it rapidly and in perfect order and safety, so that on the night of the 17th everything was across the Chickahominy except the rear guard, which crossed early on the morning of the 18th, when the pontoon bridge was immediately removed.

General Porter’s corps, which was the first to march from Harrison’s Landing, had been pushed forward rapidly, and on the 16th reached Williamsburg, where I had directed him to halt until the entire army was across the Chickahominy. On his arrival at Williamsburg, however, he received an intercepted letter, which led to the belief that General Pope would have to contend against a very heavy force then in his front. General Porter therefore very properly took the responsibility of continuing his march directly on to Newport News, which place he reached on the morning of the 18th of August, having marched his corps 60 miles in the short period of three days and one night, halting one day at the crossing of the Chickahominy.

[p.91]

The embarkation of this corps commenced as soon as transports were ready, and on the 20th it had all sailed for Aquia Creek. I made the following report from Barrett’s Ferry:

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Barrett’s Ferry, Chickahominy, August 17, 1862—11 a. m.

Everything is removed from our camp at Harrison’s Bar. No property or men left behind. The Fifth Corps is at Williamsburg, with all its wagons and the reserve artillery. The Third Corps is on the march from Jones’ Bridge to Williamsburg via Diascund Bridge, and has probably passed the latter before this hour. Averell’s cavalry watches everything in that direction. The mass of the wagons have passed the pontoon bridge here and are parked on the other side. Peck’s wagons are now crossing; his division will soon be over. Headquarters wagons follow Peck’s. I hope to have everything over to-night and the bridge removed by daylight. May be delayed beyond that time. Came here to see Burnside, otherwise should have remained with rear guard. Thus far all is quiet, and not a shot that I know of since we began the march. I shall not feel entirely secure until I have the whole army beyond the Chickahominy. I will then begin to forward troops by water as fast as transportation permits.

GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major- General, Commanding.

Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, comdg. U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.