as far forward as practicable without endangering its safety, and push your outposts well to the front, ordering the most advanced ones to ambush and capture all scouts from the rebels. Bring everything into the most perfect order, and have daily drills until we can get our ammunition and provision trains up, when we will cross over also. Keep up daily line of couriers to end of telegraph and to Gauley. As soon as Tyler gets down call up all your available force, and order Tyler to prepare for the construction of Gauley Bridge for the crossing of our trains. W. S. ROSECRANS, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army. HDQRS. ARMY OF OCCUPATION, WESTERN VIRGINIA, Brig. Gen. J. J. REYNOLDS, Elk Water: A pressure of occupations prevented me from announcing to you, as I should have done, that after a march of 18 miles on the 10th we attacked Floyd's intrenched camp at 3 o'clock p. m., but were prevented from carrying the intrenchments by coming on of night and the exhaustion of our troops. We withdrew from the woods which covered his front into the fields, three-fourths of a mile distant, where we lay overnight in order of battle. The next morning we took possession of his camp, which he had evacuated during the night. Having destroyed the ferry and all means of passing, we were unable to pursue. The rebels had five or six regiments, at least eight pieces of artillery, and three companies of cavalry. Wise's force consisted of three or four regiments, and they were met by one from Carolina and one from Georgia, 15 miles from here, on the Lewisburg pike, making from ten to twelve regi ments. As soon as we could send word General Cox advanced. We have added a brigade to him. Both forees are now on the Lewisburg road. We are preparing to join them. The rebels have retreated over Big Sewell, if not to Meadow Mountain. They may join forces and try to crush us with their augmented strength. They cannot crush you. I will dispatch you again this evening. W. S. ROSECRANS, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army. HDQRS. ARMY OF OCCUPATION, Western VIRGINIA, Brig. Gen. J. J. REYNOLDS, Elk Water, Va.: In my dispatch of this evening you have the result of our first battle at Carnifix Ferry. The information of following up the movement; the importance of the Kanawha Valley to the rebels; the immense length and dangerous direction of our line of communication with the depots; taking immense trains over bad roads, and requiring guards at so many points; the necessity of adding a portion of the moving column to Cox's brigade, and the fact that it takes six days to reach you, and other cousiderations, have induced me to throw this column on the Lewisburg and Kanawha pike, adding to it the Kanawha Brigade, confiding in your ability to hold the forces in your front. Watch them, therefore, with all care; open well the road to your front; keep it clear; hold your position securely, and the moment you see any signs of an opportunity, fall on them, and worry and harass them, if you can do no more. If your troops move lightly, carrying the necessary provisions to go and return, you can so harass them that you may prevent their leaving their position and stop any force they can bring against you. Hasten up your troops, and when your column is re-enforced we may have the opportunity to strike a decisive blow. Keep well advised. If GENERAL: There are several companies in Caroline, Queen Anne, and Carroll Counties under arms once or twice a week drilling. They are composed exclusively of secessionists, and are armed with rifled muskets. I have not been able to ascertain whether they are organized in every instance under the laws of this State, but it makes no difference. If they are, they are acting in violation of the order of the gov ernor, who called on them some months ago to give up their arms. they are unauthorized organizations, they ought to be broken up. If you approve of the suggestion, I will send a few policemen, with a competent military force, from 50 to 100 men in each case, and take their arms from them. I know the governor approves the measure, and I propose to consult him in each case before I act. We can get a few hundred arms of the best quality, and take them out of the hands of men of the worst character. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN A. DIX, Major-General, Commanding. GENERAL ORders, WAR DEPT., Adj't Gen.'s OFFICE, I. The Military Department of Ohio will in future consist of the State of that name, Indiana, and so much of Kentucky as lies with in 15 miles of Cincinnati, under the command of Brigadier-General Mitchel, of the U. S. Volunteers; headquarters, Cincinnati. So much of Virginia as lies west of the Blue Ridge Mountains will constitute in future a separate command, to be called the Department of Western Virginia, under Brigadier General Rosecrans. Headquarters in the field. The latter will continue to draw re-enforcements by requisitions upon the governor of Ohio as heretofore, or by order addressed direct to the U. S. commander in that State, as often as may be neces sary. By order: L. THOMAS, Brig. Gen. JOSEPH HOOKER, Commanding Hooker's Brigade: GENERAL: Your communications of the 18th and 19th are received.* I took up my line of march at 6 o'clock last evening and arrived here this morning at 1 o'clock, after having visited, by detachments, among others, the following places: Plum Point, Huntingtown, Parker's Creek, Mackall's Ferry, Buzzard's Creek, Battle Creek, Saint Leonard's, Drum Point, Cove Point, Fishing Creek, Port Republic, Buena Vista, and Point Patience, which is at the extreme end of the Peninsula. There is no doubt that the march of the regiment through this part of the country has had a good effect, and has broken up or paralyzed all military organizations in this vicinity, and I am of the opinion that there will be no new organizations created, the leaders having fled and a large majority of the members having expressed their determination not to oppose the Government. In your communication of the 18th instant you say rumors have reached you of irregularities committed by my command. I am aware that such complaints have been made, but have no doubt that the accounts of them have been much exaggerated. All cases brought to my notice have been investigated and the parties punished. I believe that some of the cavalry, while on detached duty, have been chiefly the cause of these complaints, it being almost impossible to control them. Numbers of them have been intoxicated and unfit to perform their duty. I have hesitated to make this report, it having been my endeavor, since their connection with my command, to make them conduct themselves as soldiers. I have been unable to find any trace of contraband trade, and think that if it exists on this side of the Patuxent it must be on a very small scale. I am also of the opinion that the object of the expedition has been accomplished as far as lies in my power, and that there is no further necessity of a large body of troops remaining in this vicinity. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, ROBERT COWDIN, Colonel First Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers. HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, General ROSECRANS, U. S. A., Cross-Lanes, Va.: No blow has been struck at you. That phrase objectionable. Draw re-enforcements and supplies as before. According to your means, clear as much of Western Virginia of the enemy as practicable. No precise instruction can be safely given from this distance, either for attack, pursuit, or falling back. You are a soldier, a scientific general, and confidence is reposed in your judgment and discretion, as well as in your zeal and valor; consequently good results are expected from you. There are two Illinois regiments at Camp Dennison subject to your call, through the governor, or, preferably, Brigadier General Mitchel. Captain Gilbert's company is serving in the Western Department, and cannot be withdrawn. The captain was ordered to report to you for *Not found. The dispatch thus answered not found. such light duty as he could do, as judge-advocate, and while suffering from his wound. Your staff-McLean, Burns, Dickerson, and Dr. Wright-are not to be taken from your orders. WINFIELD SCOTT. CAMP TYNDALE, POINT OF ROCKS, General CHARLES P. STONE, Commanding Corps of Observation: DEAR GENERAL: I have reliable information, and such as should be believed, that there are about 27,000 men in the neighborhood of Leesburg, General Johnston commanding in person. Their intention is to attack my lines in several places and to make a crossing in the neighborhood of Noland's Ferry, or at Mason's Island, about one mile and a half above that point. My informant is Mr. Buxton, who is now here, and left Leesburg this morning. Now, if all this be true, it behooves us to be up and doing. With some more troops and a couple more pieces of artillery I feel very confident I can make a successful resistance. I hope therefore, that you will lend me your aid when the trying hour comes, for, without counting numbers, I will stoutly resist. Yours, truly, JNO. W. GEARY, Colonel. General STONE: DARNESTOWN, MD., September 28, 1861. SIR: I received your letter of this morning at 7 o'clock. We have sent the Twelfth Indiana, a good regiment, with a section of Captain Best's artillery, to the relief of Colonel Geary. They start at once, and will reach Noland's Ferry by nightfall. Very truly, yours, N. P. BANKS. WASHINGTON, September 28, 1861. Maj-Gen. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN: GENERAL: I have the honor to report that in compliance with your instructions I went down the Potomac yesterday as far as Mathias Point. In company with me were Lieutenant Wyman, U. S. Navy, of the Potomac flotilla, and Sherburne, late of the rebel army. Lieutenant Wyman's knowledge of the river was of great service in pointing out the different localities. The first point available to the enemy for the erection of batteries to obstruct navigation is Whitestone. The lower part of this point is a bluff about 100 feet high, the face of which may have an extent of five or six hundred yards. From this bluff batteries would rake the channel below as far as shot or shell would reach. It is thickly wooded up to its very edge, and through a portion of the extent the woods extend down the face of the bluff to the water's edge. The river opposite Whitestone Point is but slightly over a mile wide. The next location requiring notice is Hallowing Point. This point is mostly level and cleared; elevation only from 20 to 30 feet. Batteries on this point would be very effective, but it is so low and open to observation that we can prevent their con struction or make it very difficult to hold them if constructed. High Point comes next. The river is full 2 miles wide here. In the military sense of the term the channel could not be “obstructed” by a battery so distant. Commercial vessels would, however, be reluctant to pass under its fire. The point I should not judge to be more than 30 or 40 feet high. It is wooded, too, within a few yards of the crest of the bluff. The water is so shoal for a mile or more in front of it that our own vessels of war cannot efficiently shell it. I think we may soou look for a battery here. Freestone Point comes next, and a battery exists there, supposed to have five guns, one of which (perhaps two) is said to be a rifled 30 pounder. In passing down the ship channel I found it impossible to distinguish this battery-the weather was not clear-but I can readily judge of its position. Its elevation is probably 50 or 60 feet, the gun rising still higher behind it, and, though its front was concealed by a skirt of wood, a corn field extends behind it one or two hundred yards, and then woods again clothing the elevation behind. To the left and southward are open slopes extending down to the water. Probably, therefore, the rear of the battery would be quite accessible, so far as physical obstacles are concerned, to an attack. Why has a battery been placed here so far from the ship channel of the Potomac Not unlikely it is for defensive purposes, as I presumed those at Aquia Creek five weeks ago to be. Cockpit Point is 40 or 50 feet high, with a very low spit projecting a few hundred feet into the river. The height is wooded, if I recollect rightly. From this point to the Quantico the river bank rises in irreg. ular hills, partly wooded, partly open, offering numerous points where batteries could be established to bear by cross-fire on the channel. Even here, however, the narrowest part of the river after passing Hallowing Point until Mathias Point is reached, vessels can keep themselves from one and a half to two miles from the batteries. Shipping Point (Evansport) lies between the Quantico and Chopawamsic. A plateau, generally cleared, forms the termination of this peninsula, very near behind which the hills rise, and are generally wooded. The point next the Quantico is the most favorable for a battery, but it is level, open, and not more than 20 or 30 feet high, and easily accessible to our vessels. After passing the Chopawamsic the river widens, and the shores recede too much from the channel to offer favorable locations for batteries. The batteries of Aquia and Potomac Creeks need no special allusion in this brief communication. They are evidently defensive. Mathias Point is the one of the whole river (except perhaps Whitestone) where the navigation could be most effectually closed. The favorable location for batteries is the northern extremity, comprising an area of no great extent, and thickly covered with young pines. Why has not this point been before this occupied by hostile batteries? Simply, I believe, because it would require a good many guns and a good many men to protect those guns at a remote point, where the men and guns would be lost for any other purpose than this subordinate one of interrupting our navigation. The enemy would not risk a battery here without either a strong field work for 1,000 men or a large field force in the vicinity. Such a field work we are perfectly sure has not been built, and the evidence is in favor of the opinion that there are no batteries there. The best way to prevent their construction seems to me to cut or burn off the pine wood. A regiment, I think, would cut it off in a few hours if protected by our vessels. If the timber will burn standing, an operation on a smaller scale will do the business. In the same manner the construction of batteries on Whitestone Point may be prevented. |