Darius N. Couch to TyxER, Harper's Ferry, June 15, 1863

(Received, War Department, 4.20 p. m.) General TyxER, Harper’s Ferry: Instead of 4,000, you must have on Maryland Heights 9,000 men, I think, including Kenly’s brigade and the troops from Martinsburg. ROBT. C. SCHENCK, Moyjor-General.

* Eleventh New York Cavalry.

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

BALTIMORE, M. D., June 15, 1863—4.40 p. m. Surg. R. F. Weir, Frederick, Md. :

The railroad people report that.plenty of Psat eeu a has gone to Frederick, to enable everything to be removed. Let them ioad quick’) and be very sure that nothing is unnecessarily left behind or

By cre of Major-General Schenck:

W. M. H. CHESEBROUGH, Lieutenant-Colonel, and Assistant Adjutant-General.

HARPER’S FERRY, W. V. A., June 15, 1863. (Copy received, War Department, 5.20 p. m.) Major-General ScHENCK, Baltimore, Md. :

Captain [Walker V.] Personius telegraphs at 8 o’clock this morning from Falling Waters as follows:

The Confederate baggage train is now passing on the other side of the river. I am going down on the Maryland side. I learned from a refugee that they have been passing two hours. Within twenty minutes I have counted 300 cavalry and

(Received 5.35 p. m.) General HALLECK :

General Milroy has cut his way through, and arrived at Harper’s the enemy. He will telegraph soon. Tyler brought troops from Martinsburg to Maryland Heights, and is in command there. Have sent Kelley around to New Creek, to concentrate troops on western portion of railroad. Ordered Averell to concentrate at Grafton, with a view to covering approaches to Wheeling, and to come eastward, perhaps also to New Creek, to hold as much as possible of the railroad eastward toward Martinsburg.

ROBT. C. SCHENCK, Major-General.

HARPER’S Ferry, W. V. A., June 15, 1863.

(Received 7 p. m.) Maj. T. T. Eckert:

_ Generals Milroy and Elliott are now here. The troops are comin in by regiments and squads. Milroy thinks his killed, wounded, anil missing will not exceed one-third of his force. I am sending everybody over to Maryland Heights. Demoralized troops, such as those from Winchester, are not the troops to defend important positions with. We shall do what we can. Our effective force here, independent of General Milroy’s men, is not over 4,000. DAN. TYLER, Brigadier-General,

BALTIMORE, Mp., ; June 15, 1863—8.30 p. m. Major-General HaLLEck, General-in-Chief :

Thaveno detachments out now from the Relay House to the mountains; all are at Harper’s Ferry and Maryland Heights. At the Relay House, Washington Junction, I have now General [Henry 8.] Briggs, with one full regiment and two parts of regiments and a battery. Besides the company of artillery in Fort Dix, I have also one regiment of infantry in this city. I have not thought it best to send them to Harper’s Ferry.

I have just received by telegraph from Frederick tne assurance that, up to about 1 p. m. to-day, not a Confederate soldier had appeared at Ue pases eek or Shepherdstown, on this side of the Potomac. I sent Colonel McReynolds to Harper’s Ferry this afternoon.

ROBT. C. SCHENCK, Major-General.

June 15, 1863—8.45 p. m. Lieut. Col. Donn Piatt, Chief of Staff, Baltumore, Md.:

On General Kelley’s order to concentrate all my forces east of Grafton at that point, I ordered the troops from Youghiogheny Bridge and Rowlesburg to Grafton. This endangers the railroad communication with New Creek and abandons the completion of blockhouses on main stem. Four hundred and eighty men and twentysix officers of the Sixth [West] Virginia are on block-house detail.

N. WILKINSON, Colonel, Commanding Siath Brigade.

BALTIMORE, M. D., June 15, 1863. (Copy received, War Department, 9.40 p. m.) Major-General MILRoy, Harper’s Ferry: You will turn over your command for the present to BrigadierGeneral Tyler, and report in person at these headquarters.

By order : DONN PIATT, Chief of Staff.

BALTIMORE, June 15, 1863. Brigadier-General TYLER, Harper’s Ferry, W. Va.:

Colonel McReynolds on his way to you. General Milroy has been ordered to turn over his command to you. You will organize and bring it into the best condition you can as soon as possible, and report your force, or whole probable force, at the earliest moment you can. The place must be held. General Halleck says, if you are besieged you will soon be relieved. ROBT. C. SCHENCK, Major-General, Commanding.

128 N. ©., V. A. W. V. A. M. D., P. A., ETC. (Cuar, XXXIX.

BALTIMORE, June 15, 1863. Major-General HALLECK, General-in-Chief, Washington, D. C.:

Have not yet received report from Milroy. General Kelley, here on his way,via Harrisburg, to New Creek, says before he left Harper’s Ferry, at 1 o’clock this p. m., about 2,000 of Milroy’s men had arrived. The rebels appeared before Winchester in four divisions, commanded by Ewell, Evans {il Early, and Rodes, numbering 40,000. Milroy fought until 2 o’clock thismorning, when he determined to evacuate and cut his way out. Spiking his guns and destroying stores, he marched some distance before his movement was discovered. He was then pursued, and attacked 6 miles from Winchester, and was shelled for several miles. His loss is probably 2,000 men, but that may be exaggeration. Will send, as soon as received, fuller and

more exact report. ROBT. C. SCHENCK, Major-General, Commanding.

BALTIMORE, June 15, 1863. Major-General HALLECK, General-in-Chief, Washington, D. C.:

An intercepted letter, written by a banker in Richmond tohis wife in Baltimore, states that Lee has large re-enforcements from Charleston; has seized every horse, wagon, and mule in and around Richmond, and has three divisions of 30,000 each; that the attack on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad is a mere diversion; that he intends to cut a-point in the Baltimore and Washington road, and that he also intends to go to Bush River, to get into Pennsylvania. The beazer of the letter also stated that Lee would move on Aquia Creek.

ROBT. C. SCHENCK, Major-General, Commanding.

BALTIMORE, June 15, 1863. Brigadier-General TYLER, Harper’s Ferry, W. Va.: Orders were given last night for removal of hospital stores from Frederick. There is a panic there. Briggs, with his two or three remaining regiments, was drawn down to the Relay House this

morning. ROBT. C. SCHENCK, Major-General, Commanding.

“Gree BALTIMORE, June 15, 1863. Brigadier-General TYLER,

You will have to detail officers for the present for your staff. We have none to spare. Has General Kelley gone westward, as ordered this morning? The general commanding thinks that very important.

; DONN PIATT, Lneutenant-Colonel, and Chief of Staff.

BALTIMORE, Jwne 15, 1863. R. F. WEIR,

Get away all the stores that youcan. Avoid panic. What you cannot get away, prepare for destruction, and, when perfectly sure that the enemy is at hand, destroy them. We have no clear evidence yet that any of the enemy has reached Hagerstown or is moving toward Frederick. We will send assistance, if possible.

By order: ; DONN PIATT, Chief of Staff.

HARRISBURG, June 15, 1863—9.12 a. m.

All is being done that is in our power to resist the invasion, but, as matters look now, all south of the Susquehanna will be swept.

Orders are being sent north to run out all horses, &c. D. N. COUCH, Major-General.

BALTIMORE AND Ohio RAILROAD DEPOT, Washington, June 15, 1863. (Received 10.20 a. m.) Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War:

If you could send to Harrisburg four or five organized and equipped batteries for General Couch, they would be o great service, and give much confidence to new men coming in. Please see if they cannot be spared and forwarded at once.

BALTIMORE, Mp., June 15, 1863. (Copy received, War Department, 11 a. m.) Major-General Coucn, Harrisburg:

We have evacuated Martinsburg, and withdrawn troops to Maryland Heights. General Milroy holds out yet at Winchester. We also hold the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad west of Martinsburg. Enemy occupied Martinsburg this morning. You should look out

in that direction. ROBT. C. SCHENCK, Major-General.

WaR DEPARTMENT, June 15, 1863—12.15 p. m. Major-General Coucn, Harrisburg :

One battery will be sent to-day from Washington to Harrisburg. Three others will go to-morrow. Another will be forwarded from Governor’s Island. Where will you have them sent ?

EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.

130 N. ©. V. A. W. V. A., M. D., P. A., ETC. (Cuar. XXXIX.

HARRISBURG, June 15, 1863—4.30 Pp m. (Received 6 p. m.) Secretary STANTON:

It is absolutely necessary for the ordnance general [Chief of Ordnance] to give me authority to draw, as I want, arms and equipments for infantry, cavalry, and artillery.

BALTIMORE, June 15, 1863—7.30 p. m. General CoucH:

I have not troops at Conewago Bridge, and have not thought of destroying it. hat proof is there that the enemy has appeared at Hagerstown? I wonder if a panic was not created by a detachment of the First New York Cavalry I had there at 9. They were escorting and following wagon trains from Martinsburg, which I ordered them to take through Greencastle to Chambersburg, and turn over to the quartermaster at latter place. I have just been assured by telegraph from Frederick that until afternoon to-day not a single Confederate soldier had appeared at either Shepherdstown or Williamsport this side of the enemy. I think your people are in a panic, that thus far is ina good measure causeless. Milroy, from Winchester, has cut his way through to Harper’s Ferry.

June 15, 1863. Major-General SCHENCK, Baltimore :

Your ean is received. The enemy were at Hagerstown at last advices. e have advised people south of the Susquehanna to run

off their stock. D:..N:- COUCH; Major-General.

Wark DEPARTMENT,

; June 15, 1863—7.35 p. m. Major-General Coucn,

A dispatch from Governor Seymour, just received, states that he will order the New York and Brooklyn regiments immediately to Philadelphia. If telegraphic communication with Washington should be interrupted, you are hereby authorized to make requisitions for arms and supplies upon all officers of the United States in New York, Boston, and wherever they can be had. But this authority is to be exercised only in the contingency mentioned. Regard should be had for the necessities of the service elsewhere, and nothing be called for

but what is necessary.

Wak DEPARTMENT, : Jume 15, 1863—7.50 p. m. Major-General Coucn, Harrisburg:

Your telegram of 4.30 just received. I had sent you authority to make requisitions directly in case of telegraphic communication being interrupted between youand Washington. Directions will be given to the arsenal at Frankfort to fill your requisitions. Governor Seymour has been requested to forward his troops directly to Harrisburg. You are authorized to take military possession of all railroads for the use of troops and supplies in preference to anything else. Arrangements should be made at Philadelphia to forward without delay the troops there. Please mark the hour your dispatches are

sent here. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.

WaAR DEPARTMENT, Jume 15, 1863—8 p. m. Major-General Coucu, Harrisburg :

The New York Seventh Regiment will be accepted. It will probably be forwarded by Governor Seymour, who has been asked to send on all the New York militia, and will probably forward several thousand. He promises to spare no effort.

Calls have also been made upon all the loyal States to throw forward immediately all the force they can raise. Answers are expected

to-night from all of them.

BALTIMORE, June 15, 1863—9.30 p. 1. Major-General Coucn, Harrisburg, Pa.:

General Kelley, from Harper’s Ferry, has just left here, by the Northern Central Railroad, to go by Harrisburg to get to New Creek. It is important in the highest degree that he should not miss connection at-Harrisburg. Please have the train on the Pennsylvania road detained to-night until this train arrives.

ROBT. C. SCHENCK, Major-General, Commanding.

HARRISBURG, June 15, 1863. (Received 10.50 p. m.) The enemy are following my pickets 9 miles south of Chambersburg, and apparently moving north in three columns ; one to Chambersburg, one to Gettysburg, and the other in the direction of the coal mines. Infantry reported with them. I shall have but little to

resist them, I fear. D. N. COUCH, Major-General.

HARRISBURG, June 15, 1863—10 p. m. (Received 11.40 p. m.)

Your dispatches received. I request authority to draw from Philadelphia camp and garrison equipage, perhaps shelter tents instead of common ones, for 10,000 men; also 10,000 rifies, with full equipments for same; also 2,000,000 rounds small-arms ammunition. You may be well assured that I only ask for and call for what I want. I will endeavor to meet any exigency that may arise.

D. N. COUCH, Major-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS, Hpers. DEPT. OF THE SUSQUEHANNA, No. 3. June 15, 1863.

V. Capt. C. C. Haldeman, of Columbia County, Pa., is hereby authorized to raise troops, and assume command of the same, for the defense of Columbia, and the bridges, dams, and fords on the Susquehanna River in the vicinity.

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