Official Records of the Rebellion

[p.93]

On that evening I sailed with my staff for Aquia Creek, where I arrived at daylight on the following morning, reporting as follows:

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Aquia Creek, August 24, 1862—[6 a. m.].

I have reached here, and respectfully report for orders.

GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major-General.

Major-General HALLECK,
Commanding U. S. Army.

I also telegraphed as follows:

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Aquia Creek, August 24, 1862—2 p. m.

Your telegram received. Morell’s scouts report Rappahannock Station burned and abandoned by Pope, without any notice to Morell or Sykes. This was telegraphed you some hours ago. Reynolds, Reno, and Stevens are supposed to be with Pope, as nothing can be heard of them to-day. Morell and Sykes are near Morrisville Post- Office, watching the lower fords of the Rappahannock, with no troops between them and Rappahannock Station, which is reported abandoned by Pope.

Please inform me immediately exactly where Pope is and what doing; until I know that I cannot regulate Porter’s movements. He is much exposed now, and decided measures should be taken at once. Until I know what my command and position are to be, and whether you still intend to place me in the command indicated in your first letter to me and orally through General Burnside at the Chickahominy, I cannot [p.94] decide where I can be of most use. If your determination is unchanged I ought to go to Alexandria at once. Please define my position and duties.

GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major- General.

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

To which I received the following reply:

WASHINGTON, August 24, 1862—11.10 p. m.

You ask me for information which I cannot give. I do not know either where General Pope is or where the enemy in force is. These are matters which I have all day been most anxious to ascertain.

H. W. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief.

Major-General MCCLELLAN.

On the 26th I received the following:

WASHINGTON, August 26, 1862—11 a. m.

There is reason to believe that the enemy is moving a large force into the Shenandoah Valley. Reconnaissances will soon determine. General Heintzelman’s corps was ordered to report to General Pope, and Kearny will probably be sent to-day against the enemy’s flank. Don’t draw any troops down the Rappahannock at present ; we shall probably want them all in the direction of the Shenandoah. Perhaps you had better leave General Burnside in charge at Aquia Creek and come to Alexandria, as very great irregularities are reported there. General Franklin’s corps will march as soon as it receives transportation.

H. W. HALLECK,
General-in- Chief.

Maj. Gen. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN.