ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Hon. GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy : SIR: I am directed by the Secretary of War to say that he places at your disposal any transports or coal vessels at Fort Monroe for the purpose of closing the channel of the Elizabeth River to prevent the Merrimac again coming out. I have the honor, &c., L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General. Adjutant-General THOMAS: FAIRFAX COURT-HOUSE, March 13, 1862. (Received 8.30 p. m.) In doubtful uncertainty as to General Burnside's position and how far he may now be engaged in his final operation, it is difficult to give him very precise orders at present. I think it would be well that he should not engage himself further inland than at New Berne and should at once reduce Beaufort, leaving there a sufficient garrison in Fort Macon. He should at once return to Roanoke Island, ready to co-operate with all his available force, either by way of Winton or by way of Fort Monroe, as circumstances may render necessary. I advise this on the supposition that Captain Fox is correct in his opinion that Burnside will have New Berne this week. If he has become fairly engaged in the movement, I would not stop him. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, March 13, 1862. FAIRFAX COURT-HOUSE, Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: Your dispatch of 7.40 just received and will be at once carried into execution. I returned only a short time since from reviewing Smith's division, and found it in admirable condition and spirits. Contrabands just in report enemy on Rappahannock and Gordonsville in force. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Major-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Fairfax Court-House, March 13, 1862. (Received 9.40 p. m.) Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: I would respectfully suggest that the Secretary of the Navy be requested to order to Fort Monroe whatever force Du Pont can now spare, as well as any available force that Goldsborough can send up, as soon as his present operations are completed. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, FAIRFAX COURT-HOUSE, March 13, 1862, 10.50 p. m. (Received 11.15 p. m.) JOHN TUCKER, Esq., Assistant Secretary of War: Has the additional rolling stock for the Orange and Alexandria Railroad and the Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad arrived? If so, how much of it? What transports are certainly on hand at Alexandria and Washington for troops, horses, and guns, and for how many of each kind? I cannot make my arrangements for details of movements until I know exactly what is on hand. It is absolutely necessary that I should be kept constantly informed. I wish to move, so that the men, &c., can be moved direct on board ship. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Major-General. FAIRFAX COURT-HOUSE, March 13, 1862-11 p. m. Hon. JOHN TUCKER, Assistant Secretary of War: I have made it Colonel Astor's duty to remain and keep recorded all information in regard to transports, so that I may always know the exact condition of the transports and their locality. Will you please send him by express as early to-morrow as practicable a complete list of the transports hired, the capacity of each for the particular purpose for which hired; name of captain; amount of stores on board, including water; whether it has cooking arrangements, &c.; in short, all the information you possess in regard to them, including draught of water? In addition, please keep him constantly informed by telegraph of arrival of vessels. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, NAVY DEPARTMENT, March 13, 1862. Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: SIR: I have the honor to suggest that this Department can easily obstruct the channel to Norfolk so as to prevent the exit of the Merrimac, provided the Army will carry the Sewell's Point batteries, in which duty the Navy will give great assistance. Very respectfully, GIDEON WELLES. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, March 13, 1862. Maj. Gen. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN: General Patrick was nominated upon your request several days ago. I took the nomination myself to the President, and saw it signed by him, and will go to the Senate to-morrow to urge the confirmation. Any others you may designate will receive the like attention. Nothing you can ask of me or this Department will be spared to aid you in every particular. EDWIN M. STANTON, NAVY DEPARTMENT, March 13, 1862. Maj. Gen. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, Fairfax Court-House: The Monitor is more than a match for the Merrimac, but she might be disabled in the next encounter. I cannot advise so great dependence upon her. Burnside and Goldsborough are very strong for the Chowan River route to Norfolk, and I brought up maps, explanations, &c., to show you. It turns everything, and is only 27 miles to Norfolk by two good roads. Burnside will have New Berne this week. The Monitor may, and I think will, destroy the Merrimac in the next fight, but this is hope, not certainty. The Merrimac must dock for repairs. G. V. FOX. FORT MONROE VA., March 13, 1862. Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: Major-General McClellan desires by telegraph to know if the channel between Sewell's Point and Craney Island could be blockaded. I reply that it would be impracticable without first taking the battery of thirty guns on Sewell's Point and then sink twenty boats loaded with stone, exposed, however, to a fire of thirty guns on Craney Island. FlagOfficer Goldsborough agrees with me in this opinion. To take the batteries it would require the Monitor. Neither of us think it would do to use the Monitor for that service, lest she should become crippled. She is our only hope against the Merrimac. JOHN E. WOOL, Major-General. MARCH 13, 1862. Brig. Gen. R. B. MARCY: General Sickles informs me this morning that the cars were running from Aquia last night. Captain Magaw states that he is informed that the rebels are fortifying Fredericksburg, and that they are evacuating Aquia. The Freeborn was off Aquia yesterday within easy range, and no shots fired. JOSEPH HOOKER, Brigadier General, Commanding Division. Brigadier-General MARCY: BUDD'S FERRY, March 13, 1862. Every appearance indicates that the rebels will not retire immediately from Aquia. The bridge across the Potomac is not essential in case a movement should be made on Fredericksburg. Without running stock the railroad would be of no use. In that event our boat landing will be near Fouke's. Of course the rebels will destroy bridges and everything else as they advance. 48 R R-VOL V JOSEPH HOOKER, BUDD'S FERRY, March 13, 1862. Brigadier-General MARCY: The bridges at Aquia Creek are still standing and guarded. Two Northern men have arrived at Liverpool Point from Fredericksburg yesterday. They represent large numbers of troops in the vicinity of Fredericksburg. They have been using the batteries at Aquia to-day. We can take possession of the bridges, if you desire, between this and morning, with the aid of the Stepping Stones. My negro spies are not in, but this information is reliable. JOSEPH HOOKER, WASHINGTON CITY, D. C., March 14, 1862–8.45 a. m. Maj. Gen. JOHN E. WOOL, Commanding at Fortress Monroe: The following dispatch from General McClellan has been received by this Department: FAIRFAX COURT-HOUSE, March 13-11.20 p. m. Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: I would be glad to have instructions given to General Wool that the troops and stores now being sent down to Fort Monroe are of my command and not to be appropriated by him. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Major-General. The request of General McClellan is approved, and you are instructed to act in accordance with it, and to acknowledge the receipt of this communication. EDWIN M. STANTON, FAIRFAX COURT-HOUSE, March 14, 1862. Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: (Received 11.45 a. m.) Have placed General Richardson in command of General Sumner's division instead of Kearny, who prefers remaining with his old brigade. Please inform the President. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Major-General. FAIRFAX COURT-HOUSE, March 14, 1862-1.30 p. m. General R. B. MARCY: Direct General Banks to leave General Shields' command at Winchester for the present, including all cavalry of the divisions of Banks and Shields-General Banks to come in person here as soon as possible, preceding his old division. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, FAIRFAX COURT-HOUSE, March 14, 1862. Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: For especial reasons, I have changed the organization of the army corps as follows: First Corps, McDowell; divisions, Franklin, McCall, and King. Second Corps, Sumner; divisions, Richardson, Blenker, Sedgwick. Third Corps, Heintzelman; divisions, Hooker, Hamilton, Smith. Fourth Corps, Keyes; divisions, Porter, Couch, Casey. Fifth Corps, Banks; divisions, Williams and Shields. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Major-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: As fast as transportation is ready we shall move to the new line of operations. It is important that the available force at Fort Monroe should be under the control of the commander of the army acting there, and I desire to form another division, under Mansfield, from the troops now in the vicinity of Fort Monroe, and to annex that division to the First Army Corps as soon as McDowell is confirmed as major-general. First Corps leads the movement. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Major-Gencral. No. 5.] FAIRFAX COURT-HOUSE, March 14, 1862. (Received 4.10 p. m.) Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: I would advise that no change be made now in the organization of divisions. It would be very pernicious at such a moment as this. The division is the real unit of force, and should be intact. The third word is omitted in your dispatch, and I do not know whether you mean Kearny or Richardson; but it makes no difference, as my opinion is based on general principles. I am hard at work. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, FAIRFAX COURT-HOUSE, March 14, 1862-5.30 p. m. (Received 6 p. m.) All goes well. Franklin, McCall, Keyes, and McDowell are en route; also the regulars. I will not disappoint you. Porter and Smith start in the morning. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Major-General. General S. WILLIAMS: BUDD'S FERRY, March 14, 1862–9 a. m. All of the rebel batteries extending from Cockpit Point to Aquia Creek are now utterly demolished. All the guns that were worth pre |