Hugh Stirling, July 16, 1864

Sr: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of this command since the 9th instant: In obedience to instructions received from the headquarters of the Middle Department, and from the Third Separate Brigade, a detachment of 100 convalescents and men of the Veteran Reserve Corps in ‘Cusp. XLIX.] OPERATIONS IN Shenandoah VALLEY, ETC. the general hospital at this place was at once organized by Capt. David G. Swaim, assistant adjutant-general, my assistant mustering officer, and sent at the earliest moment to Havre de Grace, under command of Lieut. James Lewis, Veteran Reserve Corps, to protect the steam ferry-boat and railroad property at that point. Lieutenant Lewis was instructed to take post on the boat with a portion of his men to defend it from any attempt to seize it at all hazards, and if necessary to run the boat down the river to a place of safety. I caused notices to be read in all the churches whose congregations had assembled for public worship, and the city crier to repeat the same in the streets, calling upon the citizens to enroll their names and organize themselves into companies for the defense of the State against an invading foe. I also requested the mayor of the city to have the bell of the City Hall sounded to assemble the citizens for the purpose of adopting some speedy and definite action in furtherance of the object desired. To this meeting I caused to be read an appeal urging the necessity of immediately responding to the call for troops, and the great importance of forwarding them for the protection of our railroad communications with Baltimore. Finding it impossible to raise men for 100 days, I was constrained to offer to accept them for thirty, and as soon as fifty men had offered themselves I caused them to be mustered with a first lieutenant, equipped, and sent as rapidly as possible to Gunpowder bridge, which they reached just before daylight on the morning of the 10th. Here they were attacked by the enemy’s cavalry. I append herewith the officer’s brief statement, As fast as a sufficient number of men could be enrolled to form a minimum company they were mustered in, armed, clothed, equipped, and sent forward by trains until the defense of Havre de Grace was thought secure. Finding the telegraph wires were cut.at Magnolia Station this side of Gunpowder, and all communication with Baltimore severed, I assumed command of the troops sent by me to Havre de Grace and of a detachment of marines and sailors, under Captain Harris, U.S. Navy, whom I directed to take post there with a battery of ship’s howitzers and rifled guns. Desirous of learning the situation of affairs’at Conowingo bridge, which crosses the Susquehanna, within a day’s ride of this place, and is on the main thoroughfare from Harford County, Md., to Chester County, Pa., I sent a party of scouts in that direction. They reported by telegraph that there were no Union forces there or at the Peach Bottom above; that refugees were coming in with their horses and cattle to this side, and the rebels reported at Bel Air. I immediately ordered the bridge planks to be taken up and if necessary the bridge to be fired, and sent two large infantry companies there. Being very much in need of a few cavalrymen for scouting pur poses, I caused a company ‘to be raised for thirty days, the men furnishing their own horses. This company, commanded by Captain Robert Milligan, I have now ordered to report to your headquarters. Brigadier-General Schoepf was kind enough to offer the services of a section of field artillery, under Captain Mlotkowski, of an independent Pennsylvania battery, which I accepted. These arrangements being made to defend the most exposed points along the line of the Susquehanna, I commenced to post what troops could be raised for the protection of this city from any sudden dash of cavalry. 15 R R—VOL XXXVII, PTI Maj. W. M. Este, aide-de-camp, reached Havre de Grace on the 12th, and Lieutenant-Colonel (late sg Cae neg French, was soon after ordered there by Major-General Halleck. ; The regiment of 30-days’ men having been filled up to nearly its maximum by adhering strictly to the regulations and orders prescribed by the War Department for mustering troops, another regiment was commenced, but before entering upon its organization the immediate danger seemed to have passed away and the enrollment of men was discontinued. In obedience to a verbal message sent me through one of General Wallace’s staff officers, I caused all the vessels at this place capable of passing through the Delaware and Chesapeake Canal to_be seized and sent to Perryville for the transportation of troops to Baltimore. Being very much in need of efficient officers to assist in mustering and organizing the volunteers, I availed myself of the presence of Paymaster F. B. Warner, U. S. Army, and Capt. H. C. Robinett, First U. S. Infantry, both of whom happened to be here on special duty. Major Warner mustered the cavalry and appraised their horses. The emergency being so great and the communication with Baltimore for the time suspended, I was obliged to assume responsibilities and exercise powers not belonging to my rank or command, in doing which, I acted in perfect harmony with the authorities of the State, and with as much prudence and discretion as were consistent with the energy and efficiency required’by the occasion. In all these labors I was indebted, for their cordial co-operation and intelligent aid, to the Hon. Samuel M. Harrington, Secretary of State, Capt. D. G. Swaim, assistant adjutant-general, Capt. C. R. Tyler, assistant quartermaster, -Capt. E. Wilmer, provost-marshal, Maj. F. B. Warner, and Capt. H. C. Robinett, U.S. Army. I regret to be obliged to state that while the mass of the people were eager and willing to respond to the call made to them, and the civil and military authorities were laboring indefatigably night and day to organize a coherent force capable of defensive operations, a. few meddlesome busybodies, too cowardly, or too wedded to the comforts of their homes, to offer their personal services in the hour of trial, industriously occupied themselves in traducing, criticising, and impugning the character, measures, and motives of the officers engaged in this work, but especially the military commander and mustering officer, doing their utmost to weaken their authority and destroy their influence over the people, because these officers declined to set aside all system and rule to gratify the fears, the caprices, or the more unworthy emotions of these calumniators. Had these men belonged to that small class of the citizens of this place known as Copperheads, I should have been at no loss to determine their closer relation with my provost-guards, but they were unhappily among those who sicken brave men with their windy professions of loyalty without raising a finger to lighten the load which a crisis like that just passed devolves upon the military authorities. I have the honor to request that my action in the matters above detailed may be approved by the Secretary of War, in order that: the accounts of the officers concerned may be adjusted. HENRY B. JUDD, Major, U. 8. Army, Military Commander.. Lieut. Col. SamugL B. LAWRENCE, Assistant Adjutant-General, Middle Department. [Inclosure.] Maj. H. B. Jupp: _The enemy’s cavalry attacked us yesterday while the men were pitching tents, wounding one man, and afterward sent in a flag of truce demanding our surrender, which was refused. We formed line to defend the bridge, when they sent a whole train of cars on fire at full speed onto the bridge, which set the draw on fire. My communication cut off north and south, I brought off my command to this place, with some loss, .

HUGH STIRLING,