Official Records of the Rebellion

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On receipt of this I immediately sailed for Alexandria, and reported as follows:

ALEXANDRIA, August 27, 1862—8 a. m.

I arrived here last night, and have taken measures to ascertain the state of affairs here, and that proper remedies may be applied. Just received a rumor that railway bridge over Bull Run was burned last night.

GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major- General.

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

ALEXANDRIA, August 27, 1862—9.40 a. m.

The town is quiet, although quite full of soldiers, who are said to be chiefly convalescents. The affairs of the quartermaster’s department are reported as going on well. It is said that the Bull Run Bridge will be repaired to-morrow. The disembarkation of Sumner’s corps commenced at Aquia yesterday afternoon. I found that he could reach Rappahannock Station earlier that way than from here.

GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major- General.

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

On the same day I received the following:

WASHINGTON, August 27, 1862.

Telegrams from General Porter to General Burnside, just received, say that Banks is at Fayetteville; McDowell, Sigel, and Ricketts near Warrenton; Reno on his right. Porter is marching on Warrenton Junction to re-enforce Pope. Nothing said of Heintzelman. Porter reports a general battle imminent. Franklin’s corps should move out by forced marches, carrying three or four days’ provisions, and to be supplied as far as possible by railroad. Perhaps you may prefer some other road than to Centreville. Colonel Haupt has just telegraphed about sending out troops. Please see him, and give him your directions. There has been some serious neglect to guard the railroad, which should be immediately remedied.

H. W. HALLECK,
General-in- Chief

Major-General MCCLELLAN.

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I replied as follows:

ALEXANDRIA, August 27, 1862—10 a. m.

Telegram this moment received. I have sent orders to Franklin to prepare to march with his corps at once, and to repair here in person to inform me as to his means of transportation.

Kearny was yesterday at Rappahannock Station, Porter at Bealeton, Kelly’s, Barnett’s, &c. Sumner will commence reaching Falmouth to-day. Williams’ Massachusetts cavalry will be mostly at Falmouth to-day.

I loaned Burnside my personal escort (one squadron Fourth Regulars) to scout down Rappahannock.

I have sent for Couch’s division to come at once. As fast as I gain any informationI will forward it, although you may already have it.

GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major- General.

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

I also received the following telegrams:

WASHINGTON August 27, 1862.

Direct General Casey to furnish you about 5,000 of the now troops under his command

Take entire direction of the sending out of the troops from Alexandria.

Determine questions of priority in transportation, and the places they shall occupy. Pope’s headquarters are near Warrenton Junction, but I cannot ascertain the present position of his troops.

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

Major-General McCLELLAN.

WASHINGTON, August 27, 1862.

I can get no satisfactory information from the front, either of the enemy or of our troops. There seems to have been great neglect and carelessness about Manassas. Franklin’s corps should march in that direction as soon as possible. A competent officer should be sent out to take direction of affairs in that vicinity.

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

Major-General MCCLELLAN.

Upon the receipt of these I immediately sent the following telegram to Generals Heintzelman and Porter:

ALEXANDRIA, August 27, 1862—10.30 a. m.

Where are you and what is state of affairs—what troops in your front, right, and left? Sumner is now landing at Aquia. Where is Pope’s left, and what of enemy? Enemy burned Bull Run Bridge last night with cavalry force.

GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major-General.

Major-General HEINTZELMAN, Warrenton.
Major-General PORTER, Bealeton.

P. S—If these general officers are not at the places named, nearest operator will please have message forwarded.

I also telegraphed to the General-in-Chief as follows:

ALEXANDRIA, August 27, 1862—10.50 a. m.

I have sent all the information I possess to Burnside, instructing him to look out well for his right flank between the Rappahannock and Potomac, and to send no trains to Porter without an escort. I fear the cavalry who dashed at Bull Run last night may trouble Burnside a little. I have sent to communicate with Porter and Heintzelman via Falmouth, and hope to give you some definite information in a few hours. I shall land the next cavalry I get hold of here, and send it out to keep open the communication between Pope and Porter, also to watch vicinity of Manassas. Please send me a number of copies of the best maps of present field of operations. I can use fifty to advantage.

GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major- General.

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

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ALEXANDRIA, August 27, 1862—11.20 a. m.

In view of Burnside’s dispatch, just received, would it not be advisable to throw the mass of Sumner’s corps here to move out with Franklin to Centreville or vicinity? If a decisive battle is fought at Warrenton, a disaster would leave any troops on Lower Rappahannock in a dangerous position. They would do better service in front of Washington.

GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major- General.

Major-General HALLECK, Washington, D. C.

ALEXANDRIA, August 27, 1862—12.05 p. m.

My aide has just returned from General Franklin’s camp; reports that Generals Franklin, Smith, and Slocum are all in Washington. He gave the order to the next in rank to place the corps in readiness to move at once. I learn that heavy firing has been heard this morning at Centreville, and have sent to ascertain the truth. I can find no cavalry to send out on the roads. Are the works garrisoned and ready for defense?

GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major- General.

Major-General HALLECK, Washington.

ALEXANDRIA, August 27, 1862—12.20 p. m.

‘What bridges exist over Bull Run? Have steps been taken to construct bridges for the advance of troops to re-enforce Pope or to enable him to retreat if in trouble?

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.

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 mc, 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 Barnard.

GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major- General.

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

ALEXANDRIA, August 27, 1862—1.15 p. m.

Franklin’s artillery have no horses except for 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 defense? 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 all back in that direction?

I do not see that we have force enough in hand to form a connection with Pope, whose exact position we do not know. Are we safe in the direction of the valley?

GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major-General.

Major General HALLECK, Washington.

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; that the force against them had many guns and about 5,000 infantry, receiving re-enforcements every minute; also that Gainesville is in possession of the enemy. Please send some cavalry out toward Dranesville, via Chain Bridge, to watch Lewinsville and Dranesville, and go as far as they can. 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.

Is Fort Marcy securely held?

GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major- General.

General HALLECK.

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.

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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 defense of Washington on both sides of the Potomac.

I am not responsible for thepast, 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.

GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major-General

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

ALEXANDRIA, August 27, 1862—6 p. m.

I have just received the copy of a dispatch 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 men of Franklin’s corps. about 2,800 of General Tyler’s brigade, and Colonel Tyler’s First Connecticut Artillery, which I recommend should be held in hand for the defense 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. 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.

GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major- General.

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