E.D. Townsend to George B. McClellan, August 22, 1861

Major-General MCCLELLAN, U. S. A., Commanding Department of the. Potomac : – SIR: The General-in-Chief directs me to say that, on information considered by the War Department as important and reliable, orders were given to Major-General Dix, commanding in Baltimore, to stop, until further orders, all boats between Baltimore and Saint Mary’s or the neighboring counties of Maryland and Virginia. This order was given the 15th instant. Permission was given the 18th, for a steamboat to make one trip to bring away families left behind. ` E The Hon. Reverdy Johnson, of Baltimore, proposes that the boats shall be permitted to renew their trips for the purpose of carrying freight only, without the privilege of taking passengers, under such

guard or regulations as may be necessary for the public safety. The

object of this arrangement would be to enable the loyal people of Maryland to send their produce to the Baltimore market, as they have been in the habit of doing. The General-in-Chief wishes you to -refer this proposition to Major-General Dix, and if he thinks well of it, to have it carried into effect. I am, sir,

very respectfully, your obedient servant,