Darius N. Couch to MuLuiaan, New Creek, W. Va, June 16, 1863

Colonel MuLuiaan, New Creek, W. Va.:

I don’t believe Captain Powell’s story. What he saw was probably a considerable number of our own cavalry who escaped from Winchester westward, and were this afternoon traveling on the National road toward Cumberland. ROBT. C. SCHENCK,

Major-General, Commanding.

BALTIMORE, Mp., June 16, 1863—3,20 p. m.

I have no Second Maryland Cavalry. I have only about 40 or 50 mounted men here of the First Connecticut Cavalry, and they are out as vedettes on all the roads. I will immediately send a steamer to Point Lookout, General Lockwood’s headquarters, with orders for all troops he can send; but they are scattered on the Peninsula and Western Shore, and it will take a day to get them. There is na telegraph line to Point Lookout. I will try to run two regiments I have at Relay House to Harper’s Ferry, and throw them to-night on Maryland Heights.

Tyler reports the enemy in his front, across the river, in line of battle at Halltown, which is 4 miles out on the railroad to Winchester. His cavalry is trying to flank Kenly’s line at Bolivar deights. Ihave sent ten good scouts to Frederick by rail; thence to ascertain if anything is in the rear of Maryland Heights and toward Hagerstown. General Couch telegraphs that he also has late information that the enemy were at Chambersburg last evening. If so, I suppose cavalry and light artillery.

ROBT. C. SCHENCK, Major-General.

BALTIMORE, Mp., June 16, 1863—4.40 p. m. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALuEck, General-in-Chief :

Could you probably get some militia regiments from New York for this city, or do you think it worth while to try ?. A good many of General Milroy’s cavalry and men escaped from Winchester across the country, got over into Maryland at Sir John’s Run, and were proceeding to-day by the National road to Cumberland. My orders

will meet them there, ROBT. C. SCHENCK, Major-General.

158 N. ©, V. A. W. V. A. M. D., P. A., ETC. [Cuar. XXXIX.

CLARKSBURG, June 16, 1863—6.30 p. m.

Major-General SCHENCK, Baltimore :

Your first order of 6.30 p. m., 14th, was not correctly deciphered. Your second from Colonel Piatt was received 3.30 p. m. yesterday.’ It found my command at Beverly, Buckhannon, and Weston, with

ickets far out. Four regiments and a battery will be at Grafton peters to-morrow morning—two mounted. The ag eerie which have this moment arrived, are being issued. I am keeping a line of cavalry pickets yet in front, and holding Beverly with the Tenth, Ewing’s battery, andsome cavalry. Nothing heard of the enemy in my front. Iam having the stores and transportation of my command sentto Grafton. Enemy reported by Colonel Mulligan, from a staff officer of General Milroy, 10 miles from Cumberland. Nothing heard from General Kelley since last night, when he ordered me to hold Beverly. What are your orders with reference to the depots of supplies west of Grafton and the troops guarding them? Have requested Colonel Mulligan to ascertain, if possible, the strength and intentions of the enemy near Cumberland, and advised Colonel Wilkinson to keep the necessary guards along the railroad to New Creek, to preserve communication, which he has done.

W. M. W. AVERELL, Brigadier-General.

BALTIMORE, M. D., June 16, 1863—7 p. m. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief :

Imboden, with his forces, may intend to push across through Uniontown, Pa., by the National road to Wheeling. I am looking to that. Among other contingencies there should be a gunboat at Wheeling and also at Parkersburg, and one in the Kanawha, while Averell keeps the nucleus of his command for concentration at Grafton. I have directed that he shall have cavalry watching the passes westward through the mountains at Beverly and elsewhere. have instructed Kelley, at New Creek, to look after Imboden.

ROBT. C. SCHENCK, Major-General.

BALTIMORE, M. D., June 16, 1863. (Received 9.25 p. m.) H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief :

I will intermit no possible preparations or exertions, but I still have some suspicion that it was my wagon train, sent from Martinsburg with some cavalry, via Williamsport, Hagerstown, and Chambersburg, that has alarmed all Pennsylvania and the country. I have been suggesting this since yesterday morning to General Couch, from whom I now hear that the advance of the train has reached Harrisburg, and that the remainder—some 200 wagons—is now between Carlisle and Harrisburg. Tyler begins to think there is no force of the enemy at Halltown, ‘

May not the body of them, having cleared the Valley and broken the railroad, have gone back to help fight General Hooker? I submit the suggestion for what it is worth.

ROBT. C. SCHENCK, Major-General.

HARPER’S Ferry, W. Va., June 16, 1863. (Received 9.40 p. m.)

H. W. HALLEcK, General-in-Chief :

We have not been attacked at Harper’s Ferry. We are threatened from the direction of Charlestown, but no rebel column had advanced nearer than Charlestown at 3 p.m. We hold Maryland Heights strongly ; Bolivar Heights with a less force.

DAN. TYLER, Brigadier-General.

HARPER’S FERRY, W. V. A., June 16, 1863. (Copy received, War Department, 11.45 p. m.) W. P. Situ, Master of Transportation, B. and O. R. R., Baltimore: Fifteen hundred men, if they will fight, can whip any force between here and Baltimore. I would not havethem arriveat Harper’s Ferry before daybreak; and if there is no attack, land below the bridge, take the tow-path, and move on to Maryland Heights. If there is a fight going on, land at Sandy Hook, and march up-the east face of Maryland Heights from Monocacy. By all means send an engine ahead to see that the track is safe. I have had scouts to Monocacy to-day, and no difficulty. DAN. TYLER,

BALTIMORE, June 16, 1863—6 a. m.

Major-General Coucu, Harrisburg, Pa.:

The reports from Philadelphiain sai this morning astonish us here. I think there isa sad panic. Please tell meif you have really reliable information of the enemy being at either Chambersburg, Mercersburg, or even at Hagerstown. I have not. We run our cars constantly to Harper’s Ferry and Frederick.

ROBT. C. SCHENCK, Muayjor-General.

BALTIMORE, June 16, 1868—8 a. m.

Major-Gereral Coucu, Harrisburg, Pa. :

A part of a battery at Martinsburg, in the retreat from that. place Sunday night, was cut off, and is reported to have taken the Williamsport road, and followed on after the wagon trains and some cavalry which were sent, via Greencastle, to Chambersburg. I mention this that you may look out for those field guns and take possession

160 N. C., V. A. W. VA, M. D., P. A., ETC. [Cuar, XXXIX,

of them, and also as it may, perhaps, account for the enemy’s column supposed to have been seen yesterday morning approaching Chambersburg. I directed that the trains should be turned over to the quartermaster at Chambersburg. Can you ascertain for me what

has become of them ? — ROBT. C. SCHENCK, Major-General, Commanding.

HARRISBURG, June 16, 1863—3.45 a. m. (Received 8.30 a. m.)

Dispatch received. No later news of the enemy than 10 last evening, when they were at Chambersburg. No State troops at

this point. D. N. COUCH, Major-General.

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 16, 1863—9 a, m. Major-General SCHENCK :

Your dispatch received. I telegraph, the same as twice previously, that the enemy, according to the best of my belief, held Chambersburg last night. Dy COU wi, Major-General.

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jwne 16, 1863. (Received 10 a. m.) Hon. E. M. Stanton : Has the artillery been sent ? If so, by what route, and when? It will be needed here to-night to defend the passing of the Susquehanna bythe enemy. No time should be lost in sending artillery and

some organized forces.

SPECIAL rece s Hpgrs. DEPT. OF THE SUSQUEHANNA, No. 4. June 16, 1863. * * * * * * *

III. Col. Emlen Franklin is placed in charge of the defense of the fords and bridges below Columbia, Pa., on the Susquehanna River. He will cause all canal-boats which can be used by the enemy to be brought to the north side of the river, and other directions that he may give for the defense of the State, and the public security of its citizens, will be obeyed. °

I. V. Lieutenant-Colonel eae F.] Ruff, U. 8. Army, is hereb directed to take charge of the organization and disposition of all troops raised in Philadelphia, under the proclamation of the President and of His Excellency Governor A. G. Curtin.

By command of Maj. Gen. D. N. Couch :