Edwin M. Stanton, June 16, 1862

A portion of the Sixth Ohio Cavalry, under command of Captain Barrett, sent out this afternoon to recover a small foraging party of cavalry, but repulsed them and drove them in upon their pickets, 7 miles from this place. We lost 1 man killed. Enemy left 2 dead on field and 4 prisoners, with a number of horses. Sabers, carbines, and revolvers were taken. Sergeants Austin and Wood distinguished for bravery. Harrisonburg is reported occupied by a large body of enemy’s cavalry, and Jackson’s main body reported crossing Shenandoah to this side at Port Republic yesterday morning. ‘Lieutenant-Colonel Harris, commanding at Buckhannon, reports that he has captured 3 leading guerrillas—Haymond, Coal, and Goff—killed 3, woun’led 5, and taken Major-General, Oommanding. Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War. Washington, June 16, 1862. Major-General FREMONT, Mount Jackson, Va. : Your dispatch of yesterday, reminding me of a supposed understand ing that I would furnish you a corps of 35,000 men, and_asking of me the ” fulfillment of this understanding,” is received. I am ready to come to a fair settlement of accounts with you on the fulfillment of understandings. Early in March last, when I assigned you to the command of the Mountain Department, I did tell you I would give you all the force I could, and that I hoped to make it reach 35,000. You at the same time told me that within a reasonable time you would seize the railroad at or east of Knoxville, Tenn., if you could. There was then in the department a force supposed to be 25,000, the exact number as well known to you as tome. After looking about two or three days, you called and distinctly told me that if I would add the Blenker division to the force already in the department you would undertake the job. The Blenker division contained 10,000, and at the expense of great dissatisfaction to General McClellan I took it from his army and gave it to you. My promise was literally fulfilled. I have given you all I could, and I have given you very nearly, if not quite,-35,000. Now for yours: On the 23d of May, largely over two months afterward, you were at Franklin, Va., not within 300 miles of Knoxville nor within 80 miles of any part of the railroad east of it, and not moving forward, but telegraphing here that you could not move for lack of everything. Now, do not misunderstand me. I do not say you have not done all you could. I presume you met unexpected difficulties ; and I beg you to believe that as surely as you have done your best, so havelI. I have not the power now to fill up your corps to 35,000. I am not demanding of you to do the work of 35,000. I am only asking of you to stand cautiously on the defensive; get your force in order, and give such protection as you can to the valley of the Shenandoah and to Western Virginia. Have you received the orders and will you act upon them ? MOUNT JACKSON, June 16, 1862, (Received 5.30 p. m.) Your dispatch of to-day is received. In reply to that part of it which concerns the orders sent to me I have to say that they have been reeee and that as a matter of course I will act upon them, as I am now oing. J. C. FREMONT, Major-General. The PRESIDENT. Washington, June 17, 1862. Major-General FREMONT, Mount Jackson : It is reported here that you understand the President’s order to you ‘as requiring you to remain at Mount Jackson. The President directs me to say that he does wish you to hold your position at Mount Jackson if you can safely do so; but if pressed beyond your strength that you will then fall back toward Strasburg for support from General upon his return to his command. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. Washington, June 17, 1862. Ordered, That the military protection and defense of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad east of Cumberland to the city of Baltimore, and of the railroad between Harper’s Ferry and Winchester, is especially assigned to the command of Maj. Gen. John E. Wool. Officers on the line of that road will 1eport to him. 2d. That the Winchester and Potomac Railroad being the line of supply for General Banks, operating the road will remain under his direction.

EDWIN M. STANTON,