George B. McClellan to W. S. Rosecrans, U. S. A, August 16, 1861

Brig. Gen. W. S. ROSECRANS, U. S. A., Commanding Department of the Ohio, Clarksburg, Va. :

The reason of my communication was that I have learned from the most reliable authority that Cheat Mountain Pass was not fortified as I directed, but only in a temporary way. This is confirmed by date of August 15. Carry out my previous instructions to the fullest extent. Leave at the Red House the minimum force necessary to hold the works near there. Occupy Kanawha Valley with the minimum force necessary to hold the Gauley Pass. Secure Grafton and the railroad line thence to Benwood by the smallest possible force. Disregard, for the present, the interior of Western Virginia, or else hold it with your worst troops, who are not fit to take the field. Concentrate the remainder of your available force in the vicinity of Huttonsville, placing a strong reserve at that point, and occupying the works on the Cheat. Mountain and the Huntersville road with a force sufficient to hold them until support can arrive. Strengthen both of these fortifications as rapidly as possible, and take there all your available artillery. Make a strong reconnaissance in the direction of the enemy’s works towards Huntersville, and if possible drive them out before their works are completed and their force concentrated. Communicate this at once by telegraph to Reynolds.

GEO. B. McCLELLAN, Major-General, U. S. Army, Commanding.

GENERAL ORDERS, } HDQRS. DIVISION OF THE Potomac, No. 4. Washington, August 16, 1861.

All passes, safe-conducts, and permits, heretofore given, to enter or go beyond the lines of the U. S. Army on the Virginia side of the Potomac are to be deemed revoked, and all such papers will hereafter emanate only from the War Department, the headquarters of the U. S. Army, or of this division, or from the provost-marshal at Washington. Similar passes will be required to cross the river, by bridge or boat, into Virginia. :

Striet military surveillance will be exercised within the lines of the Army on the northern side of the Potomae, and upon all the avenues of every kind, by land and water, leading to and from the city of Washington, as well over persons holding passes as all others. Passes

will not be required at or within the lines of the Army north of the

. Cmar. XIV.) CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.—UNION.

Potomac, but disloyal or suspected persons will be liable to arrest and

detention until discharged by competent authority, and- contraband articles will be seized. i

Officers and soldiers of the Army will obtain passes as heretofore ordered.

All complaints of improper arrests, seizures, or searches, made or purporting to be made under military authority, will be received by the proper brigade commanders or provost-marshals, who will at once investigate the same, and in each instance make report to these head- ‘quarters. :

By command of Major-General McClellan: