shall be pushed further than the Little River
turnpike, wliile skirmishers are thrown still fur
ther in order fully to ascertain whether the ene
my is making any movement toward Gcrmantown
and Fairfax Court-House. I do not wish any en
gagement brought on at present on that ground,
but when the information required shall have
been obtained by the brigade, withdraw it.
(Signed) JNO. POPE,
Major-General Commanding.
A true copy : T. C. H. SMITH,
Lieut.-Col. and A.D.C.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, )
WASHINGTON, D. C., Sept. 1, 1S62. \
Gen. POPE : Yours of last evening was received
at four A.M. this morning. I want to issue a com
plimentary order, but as you are daily fighting, it
could hardly be distributed. I will do so very
soon.
Look out well for your right, and don t let the
enemy get between you and the forts. We are
strengthening the line of defence as rapidly as
possible. Horses will be sent to you to-day.
Send despatches to me as often as possible. I
hope for an arrival of cavalry to-day.
Yours truly, H. W. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief.
P. S. Acknowledge hour of receipt of this.
A true copy : T. C. H. SMITH,
Lieut.-Col. and A.D.C.
CENTREVILLE, Sept. 1, 8.50 A.M.
Major-General HALLECK, General-in-Chief: All
was quiet yesterday and so far this morning.
My men all resting they need it much. Forage
for our horses is being brought up. Our cavalry
is compl-etely broken down, so that there are not
five horses to a company that can raise a trot.
The consequence is, that I am forced to keep
considerable infantry along the roads in my rear
to make them secure, and even then it is difficult
to keep the enemy s cavalry off the roads. I shall
attack again to-morrow if I can, the next day cer
tainly. I think it my duty to call your attention
to the unsoldierly and dangerous conduct of many
brigade and some division commanders of the
forces sent here from the Peninsula. Ever} word
and act and intention is discouraging and calcu
lated to break down the spirits of the men and
produce disaster. One commander of a corps
who was ordered to march from Manassas June-
tion to join me near Groveton, although he was
only five miles distant, failed to get up at all, and
w r orse still, fell back to Manassas without a fight,
and in plain hearing, at less than three miles dis
tance, of a furious battle, w r hich raged nil day.
It was only in consequence of peremptory orders
that he joined me next day.
One of his brigades, the Brigadier-General of
which professed to be looking for his division, ab
solutely remained all day at Centreville, in plain
view of the battle, and made no attempt to join.
What renders the w r hole matter worse, these are
both officers of the regular army, who do not hold
3ack from ignorance or fear. Their constant
;alk, indulged in publicly and in proihiscuous
company, is that " the army of the Potomac will
378
REBELLION RECORD, 1832.
not fight," that they are demoralized by with
drawal from the Peninsula, etc. When such ex
ample" is set by officers of high rank the influence
is very bad among those in subordinate stations.
You have hardly an idea of the demoralization
among officers of high rank in the Potomac army,
arising in all instances from personal feeling in
relation to changes of Commander-in-Chief and
others. These men are mere tools or parasites,
but their example is producing, and must neces
sarily produce, very disastrous results. You
should know these things, as you alone can stop
it. Its source is beyond my reach, though its
effects are very perceptible, and very dangerous.
I am endeavoring to do all I can, and will most
assuredly put them where they shall fight or run
away. My advice to you (I give with freedom,
as I know you will not misunderstand it) is, that
in view of any satisfactory results, you draw back
this army to the intrenchments in front of Wash
ington, and set to work in that secure place to
reorganize and rearrange it. You may avoid
great disaster by doing so. I do not consider the
matter except in a purely military light, and it is
bad enough and great enough to make some ac
tion very necessary. Where there is no heart in
their leaders, and every disposition to hang back,
much cannot be expected from the men.
Please bring forward cavalry horses to me un
der strong escort. I need them badty, worse
than I can tell you.
(Signed) JOHN POPE,
Major-General.
A true copy : T. C. H. SMITH,
Lieut-Col, and A.D.C.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, )
NEAR CENTREVILLE, September 1, 1862. j
Major-Gen. FRANKLIN General : General Pope
directs you to establish your grand guards on the
pike from Centreville to Warrenton. An outpost
of one regiment of infantry and two pieces of ar
tillery, of Reynolds s division, has been ordered
to take post on the same road.
I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient
servant.
(Signed) GEO. D. RUGGLES,
Colonel and Chief of Staff.
A true copy : T. C. H. SMITH,
Lieut-Col, and A.D.C.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, )
NEAR CE.NTREVILLE, September 1, 1862. j
To the Officer Commanding the forces around
Fairfax Court-House : Gen. Pope directs that you
furnish one regiment of infantry as an escort for
a wagon-train from Fairfax Court-House to Fair
fax station. Lieut. Devens, Ninth infantry, will
call for the escort as he proceeds through the
town.
I am, sir, very respectfully your obedient ser
vant. (Signed) GEO. D. RUGGLES,
Colonel and Chief of Staff.
A true copy : T. C. H. SMITH,
Lieut.-Col. and A.D.C.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, I
CBNTRKVILLE, September 1, 1SC2, 11 o clock A.M. )
Major-Gen. HALLECK : The enemy is deploying
his forces on the Little River pike, and preparing
to advance by that road on Fairfax Court-House.
This movement turns Centreville, and interposes
between us and Washington, and will force mo
to attack his advance, which I shall do as soon as
his movement is sufficiently developed. I have
nothing like the force you undoubtedly suppose,
and the fight will be necessarily desperate. I
hope you will make all preparations to make a
vigorous defence of the intrenchments around
Washington.
(Signed) JOHN POPE,
Major-Gea. Commanding.
A true copy : T. C. H. SMITH,
Lieut-Col, and A.D.C.
CBNTREVILLE, September 1, 1862, 12 M.
Major-Gen. MCDOWELL : You will march rapid
ly back to Fairfax C. H. with your whole di
vision, assuming command of the two brigades
now there, and immediately occupy Germantown
with your whole force, so as to cover the turn
pike from this place to Alexandria. Jackson is
reported advancing on Fairfax with twenty thou
sand men. Move quickly.
(Signed) JOHN POPE,
Major-Gen. Commanding
A true copy : T. C. II. SMITH,
Lieut.-Col. and A.D.C.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, }
CENTREVILLE, September 1, 1802, 1 P.M. f
Major-Gen. HOOKER : You will at once proceed
to Germantown, assume command of the troops
arriving at Fairfax Court-House, together with
the brigades now under command of Colonels
Torbert and Hincks.
By command of Major-Gen. POPE.
(Signed) GEO. D. RCGGLES,
Col. and Chief of Staff.
A true copy : T. C. H. SMITH,
Lieut.-Col. and A.D.C.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, )
CENTREVILLE, September 1, 1SG2, 12.30 P.M. f
Col. A. T. TopvBERT, commanding Brigade near
Fairfax Court-House : Move your brigade at once
to Germantown, and join it to the one under Col.
Hincks at that place. Major-General Hooker is
assigned to the command of the forces arriving at
Fairfax Court-House, from Washington, together
with those stationed at Germantown.
By command of Major-Gen. POPE.
(Signed) GEO. D. RUGGLES,
Col. and Chief of Staff.
A true copy : T. C. H. SMITH,
Lieut. -Col. and A.D.C.
NEAR CENTREVILLE, September 21, 1S62, 4 P.M.
Major-Gen. MCDOWELL: If you hear a battle
raging to-night near Centreville, advance to tho
north, keeping your communications open with
Reno, and near to him ; also, by the right, with
Hooker, who will advance his left to your right.
By command of Major-Gen. POPE.
(Signed) GEO. D. RUGGLES,
Col. and Chief of Stall
A true copy : T. C. H. SMITH,
Lteut.-Col. and A.D.C.
DOCUMENTS.
379
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, }
FAIRFAX COURT-HOUSE, September 1, 1862. )
GENERAL OKDERS, No. : The army corps of
Heintzelman, Sigcl, Sumner, Porter, and Reno, as
soon after daylight as possible, will begin to draw
slowly to their right in the direction of Fairfax
Court-House, until they come closely in contact
with each other. Major-Gen. Reno will follow
as closely as possible the line of the old railroad
now occupied by him, the others along the pike.
He will notify those in his rear of his exact posi
tion, and every step of his movements, and will
ask support if he needs it. They will not be
more than half a rnile in rear of him. If any se
vere engagement should occur at any point of the
line, the army corps commanders nearest on the
right and left will immediately send forward a
staff officer to report to the General commanding
the troops of the attack, and to notify him that
they stand ready to support him if he needs it.
For the present, the general headquarters will be
established at Fairfax Court-House.
By command of Major-Gen. POPE.
(Signed) GEO. D. RUGGLES,
Col. and Chief of Staff.
A true copy : T. C. II. SMITH,
Lieut.-Col. and A.D.C.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, }
CEXTREVILLE, September 1, 1862, 2 P.M. f
Col. TORBERT : Send back word immediately to
Alexandria to hurry up Couch s division, and all
their troops coming from Washington to German-
town. They must be at Germantown as early
this afternoon as possible certainly to-night.
They must take up strong position there. There
is no doubt the enemy is approaching you. Hold
on to your position to the last. The whole army
is on the move to join you.
By command of Major-Gen. POPE.
(Signed) GEO. D. RUGGLES,
Col. and Chief of Staff.
A true copy : T. C. H. SMITH,
Lieut.-Col. and A.D.C.
FAIRFAX COCRT-HOCSE, September 2, 1862.
Major-Gen. HALLECK, .Washington : As I ex
pected, the enemy last evening attacked my right
furiously in the direction of Fairfax Court-House,
but were repulsed with heavy loss. Our loss was
also severe, Generals Stevens being killed and
Kearny missing. The enemy has not renewed
the attack this morning, but is undoubtedly
again beating around to the north-east. Your
telegram of this date is just received, and its pro
visions will be carried out at once.
(Signed) JOHN POPE,
Major-Gen. Commanding.
A true copy : T. C. H. SMITH,
Lieut.-Col. and A.D.C.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, )
FAIRFAX COURT-HOUSE, September 2, 1802. f
[Circular.]
The following movement of troops will at once
be made, in accordance with the instruction from
the War Department, namely:
1. Banks s corps will march by the Braddock
road and Annandale, and take post at or near
Fort North.
2. The corps of Franklin and Hooker will pur
sue the Little River pike toward Alexandria.
3. Heintzelman s corps, the Braddock road to
ward Fort Lyon.
4. McDowell s corps, the road by Fall s
Church, Little River, and Columbia pike toward
Fort Craig and Tillinghast. The corps of Por^
ter, Sumner, and Sigel, ma Vienna, toward the
Chain Bridge. These three latter corps will keep
well closed up, and within easy supporting dis
tance of each other.
The cavalry under Gen. Buford will follow and
cover the march of the three corps of Porter,
Sumner, and Sigel; and Bayard the troops march
ing on the road south of it. Sumner will bring
up the rear on the route he is ordered to pursue.
Hooker will cover the rear on the Little River
pike, and Banks the rear on the Braddock road.
Gen. Banks will call in the forces from Sangster s
and Fairfax stations, and will break up the depot
at the latter place, shipping all stores by rail to
Alexandria. The wagon-trains, except such as
are in immediate use by the corps, will pursue
the Little River pike to Alexandria. The com
manding officers of corps will send forward a ca
pable officer to Alexandria to take charge of their
respective trains, and will conduct them to the
headquarters of their respective corps. The
Medical Director will take immediate steps to
have all the sick and wounded carried back to
Alexandria. Gen. Reno will take up the line of
march immediately, by the Little River turnpike
to Alexandria. The commanders of these various
army corps will send forward, several hours in
advance, staff-officers to notify Gen. McClellan of
their approach to the points which they are to
occupy.
By order of Major-Gen. POPE.
GEO. D. RUGGLES,
Col. and Chief of Staffi
A true copy : T. C. H. SMITH,
Lieut.-Col. and A.D.C.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, >
FAIRFAX, Sept. 2, 1SG2. j
Major-General HALLECK : The whole army is re
turning in good order, without confusion or the
slightest loss of property. The enemy has made
no advances this morning, owing no doubt to his
severe loss last evening. Three army corps pur
sue the route via Vienna to Chain Bridge, cov
ered by all the effective cavalry. Ten corps
by the Braddock road. These last corps are
ordered to break up the depot at Fairfax station,
call in the troops from Sangster s and elsewhere
on the railroad, and to move back to Alexandria.
Our whole wagon-train is far in advance of us to
ward the same place. Our whole force is less
than sixty thousand men. Every thing is being
safely moved back to the intrcnchments. When
the stragglers can be assembled our force will be
largely increased. I shall leave here with tho
last and encamp to-night near Ball s Cross-Roads.
(Signed) JOHN POPE,
Major-General Conunandinjj
A true copy : T. C. H. SMITH,
Lieut.-Col. and A.D.C.
380
REBELLION RECORD, 1862.
NEW-YORK, Jan. 2T, 1863.
A despatch was received from Major-General
Banks on the second of September, stating that
the wagon-trains in his charge had all been
brought in safely. Nothing lost. This despatch
has been mislaid. T. C. H. SMITH,
Lieut. -Col. and A.D.C.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, )
BALL S CROSS-ROADS, Sept. 2, 18627.10 P.M. j
Major - General HALLECK, General - in - Chief,
Washington: I arrived here safely. Command
coming in on the road without much molestation.
Some artillery firing on the roads through Vienna,
to Chain Bridge, but nothing of a serious character
so far as I can learn. Within an hour all the com
mands on the other roads will be in camp within
the intrenchments. The three corps on the Vi
enna and Chain Bridge roads by to-morrow morn
ing. I await your orders. The enemy still con
tinue to beat around to the north. I do not my
self believe that any attack here is contemplated.
The troops are very weary, but otherwise in good
condition. (Signed) JOHN POPE,
Major-General Commanding.
A true copy : T. C . II. SMITH,
Lieut.-Col. and A.D.C.
GENERAL SIGEL S REPORT.
HEADQUARTERS FIRST CORPS,
ARMY OF VIRGINIA, September, 1862.
OPERATIONS PREVIOUS TO THE BATTLES OF THE
29TH AND 30TH OF AUGUST.
After the battle of Cedar Mountain, the retreat
of the First corps from the Rapidan behind the
llappahannock, and the engagements of that,
corps near the Rappahannock station, Freeman s
Ford, and Sulphur Springs, we advanced to Wa
terloo Bridge on the same day we had taken pos
session of Sulphur Springs. The brigade of Gen.
Milroy occupied a position on the north side of
the bridge, extending his line of sharp-shooters
along the shore of the river. The main body of
the corps was encamped between the bridge and
Sulphur Springs, and behind it the corps of
Major-General Banks and General Reno s division.
The enemy had advanced from Rappahannock
station, along the south side of the river in a line
parallel with the route taken by our troops, and
was trying to cross at the above-named ford,
(Freeman s,) and the bridges at Sulphur Springs
and Waterloo. In the night of the twenty-fourth
of August, his camp-fires extended from Waterloo
Bridge to Jefferson Village, a distance of four or
five miles, his main force of about thirty thousand
men occupying the latter point.
Early in the morning of the twenty -fifth, a
sharp skirmish commenced at the Waterloo
Bridge, which was reported to me by Gen. Pope
to have been destroyed by Gen. Buford, but which
we found on our arrival to be in good order, and
strongly defended by the enemy. While we were
taking position on the north side, the enemy be
gan to break up his camp at Jefferson, and to
mass his troops on the south side of the bridge.
By noon, twenty-eight regiments of infantry, six
batteries, and several regiments of cavalry of the
enemy had arrived and taken their position. I
had the night before given notice of the enemy s
strength and movements to Major-General Pope,
and now again informed him of the position of
affairs, as the disposition he had made of our
forces was evidently based on the supposition
that the enemy would force the passage of the
river between Bealton and Waterloo Bridge.
In the mean time, I had been directed to march
to Fayetteville, and form part of the centre of the
army, to be arranged in a line extending from
Waterloo Bridge to Bealton station. In accord
ance with this order, Gen. Milroy should have
been relieved in the morning by a brigade of Gen.
McDowell ; another brigade of the Third corps
(McDowell s) had to march to Sulphur Springs.
In the forenoon of the same day, Gen. Roberts,
of Major-Gen. Pope s staff, delivered to me a ver
bal order to hold my position at Waterloo Bridge
under all circumstances, and to meet the enemy
if he should try to force the passage of the river,
and that Gen. McDowell would be on my right
with the cavalry brigade of Gen. Buford, and
Gen. Banks on my left.
Soon afterward I received intelligence that a
large force of the enemy s cavalry had crossed on
my right and. was moving toward Orleans, and
that another force had crossed on my left at Sul
phur Springs, and taken possession of that place.
I immediately ordered Gen. Beardsley, with the
Ninth New- York cavalry and four mountain how
itzers, to Sulphur Springs to shell the enemy out
of the place, which he did. The rest of my cav
alry, consisting of three companies of the First
Virginia and two of the First Maryland, I ordered
toward Orleans for the purpose of protecting my
right flank. Meanwhile cannonading was kept
up near the bridge, and from all indications I
supposed that the enemy would avail himself of
the opportunity to make a combined attack
against my position. I therefore sent to the left
to find Gens. Banks and Reno, and to the right
to look after Gen. McDowell s troops, especially
the cavalry brigade, and was not a little aston
ished to learn that Gens. Banks and Reno were,
by order of Gen. Pope, on their march to Beal
ton, and that no troops could be found on my
right except the cavalry brigade of Gen. Buford,
which was encamped four miles behind us, on
the Warrenton Road.
To confuse matters still more, I received a de
spatch from General .McDowell, one section of it
directed to Major-Gen. Banks, asking for news
from his corps, and the other directed to myself,
informing me that I would join my pontoon-train
at Fayetteville. I sent this to Gen. Banks, and
requested him to furnish me with what informa
tion he could, so that, in the absence of instruc
tions, I might be enabled to direct my movements
properly. I also sent to Generals Pope and Mc
Dowell, at Warrenton, for an explanation and for
orders, but Gen. Pope had left for Warrenton
station, and Gen. McDowell did not furnish me
with any instructions. It Avas now nearly sun
set and my situation exceedingly critical. Threat
ened on my right and left flanks, an army of
DOCUMENTS.
381
thirty thousand menacing my front, and separat
ed from me only by a shallow river, fordable at
many points for infontry as well as cavalry and
artillery no supporting force within eight or ten
miles I supposed that it was not really the in
tention of the Commanding General to leave me
in this position. I was confirmed in my opinion
by the answer of Gen. Banks, who advised me to
march to Fayetteville, and by the fragmentary
paper saying that I would find my pontoon-train
at that point.
Considering all this, I resolved to march to
Fayetteville at night, and made my preparations
accordingly, though I did not believe in the cor
rectness of the whole plan.
Just at the moment when my troops were
about to move, one of my officers returned with
an order of Gen. Pope, directing me to march to
Warrenton and to encamp there. I put my
troops in motion in compliance with this order,
and cautiously withdrew from Waterloo Bridge,
as I had not a single company of cavalry to cover
my retreat. Before withdrawing, however, I or
dered the destruction of the bridge, which was
accomplished under the direction of Gen. Milroy,
after much exertion and some loss of life. At
two o clock next morning, (August twenty-sixth,)
as I was entering Warren ton with my rear-guard,
I received another order from Gen. Pope, through
Gen. McDowell, directing me to " force the pas
sage of Waterloo Bridge at daylight."
As this was an impossibility, the troops having
marched the whole night on a very inconvenient
road, I reported to Major-General Pope this fact,
and received orders to stay at Warrenton. Dur
ing the day I ascertained that the enemy was
marching by Thoroughfare Gap to Manassas, and
on the following night that his main army was
encamped at White Plains, the advanced guard
east of Thoroughfare Gap, and the rear at Or
leans.
This news was brought in by all the scouts
sent out by me, and some cavalry, to Sperryville,
Salem, and Gainesville, and immediately com
municated by telegraph to Major-General Pope.
It was also reported to me that the enemy was
moving during the night, that Jackson would be
in Manassas next day, and that Long-street had
not yet joined him, but was two miles from Sa
lem at noon on Wednesday, the twenty-seventh.
In view of these facts, I proposed to General Mc
Dowell, to whose command the First corps had
been attached since its arrival at Waterloo Bridge,
to concentrate our troops at Gainesville, and there
by separate Longstreet s troops from those of
Jackson, taking the enemy at Manassas in the
rear, and, by forcing him to evacuate Manassas,
effect a junction with the army of General Mc-
Clellan. This movement was executed.
On the morning of the twenty-seventh, the
First corps left Warrenton for Buckland Bridge,
on the road to Gainesville, with directions to take
possession of the road, and thereby open the road
to Gainesville. The brigade of Brig. -General
Milroy advanced rapidly toward the bridge, and
drove the enemy who was stationed there with
some artillery and cavalry back to Gainesville,
while the pioneers repaired the bridge, which had
been set on fire and partially destroyed by the
enemy. In a short time the whole of General
Milroy s brigade had passed the river and pressed
forward against Gainesville, taking on their way
about one hundred and fifty prisoners. I now
ordered General Schurz to pass the river, and
follow General Milroy, and take position behind
him. The division of General Schenck also cross-
ed the river, and the infantry brigade of General
Steinwehr remained in reserve at the bridge.
Such was the position of the First corps on the
evening of the twenty-seventh.
During the night General McDowell s corps
arrived at Buckland Mills, and I received orders
at three o clock in the morning to march to Ma
nassas and to take a position with my right
resting on the railroad leading from Warrenton
Junction to Manassas Junction so, at least, I
understood the order. On this march our cavalry
sent out to the left in the direction of Groveton,
was shelled by the enemy about one and a half
miles distant from the road on which we march
ed; and besides this, an artillery engagement be
gan between General McDowell s corps and the
enemy. I immediately halted, ordered the whole
corps to countermarch, and formed in order of
battle on the heights parallel with the Centre-
ville-Gainesville road. The enemy s infantry and
cavalry pickets were about three hundred yards
from our lines, and our skirmishers had already
advanced against them, when, on a report made
to General McDowell, I received orders to march
forthwith to Manassas Junction.
I reluctantly obeyed this order, marched off
from the right, and was within two and a half miles
from Manassas when our cavalry reported that
Manassas was evacuated by the enemy, and that
General Kearny was in possession of that point.
As I was sure that the enemy must be somewhere