K. D. Keyes to D. T. Van Buren, June 17, 1863
Col. D. T. Van BuREN, Assistant Adjutant-General: Two regiments of General Wistar’s brigade will leave this evening; two others, now out on reconnaissance, will leave as soon as they return, probably early to-morrow morning. They left Franklin this
morning, coming in. MICHAEL CORCORAN, Brigadier-General, Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS FourtTH Corps, Camp near Williamsburg, Va., June 17, 1863.
Sir: There being no supplies up this Peninsula, if we advance farther we must establish depots, and guard them. This we could not do with my present force, and our means of transportation are very limited.
it Lee has crossed to Pennsylvania with 90,000 men, there is but one impediment to his going to Eastport, if he desires to go there ; that is, the lack of ammunition, which possibly we may keep from him. How far he will elect to advance remains to be seen.
Under such circumstances, it appears to me all our spare troops
190 N. 6., V. A. W. V. A. M. D., P. A., ETC. [Cuar, XXXIX.
here should be sent north upon the track of the enemy, or to build forts and hold points, &c., with as little delay as practicable. With that view, I would respectfully recommend the withdrawal of all the force in advance of Williamsburg to the line of Fort Magruder, to be ready to move at a moment’s notice. I have ie honor to be, sir,
respectfully,:your obedient servant,
Major-General, Commanding Fourth Army Corps.
SPECIAL ORDERS, ) Hp@rs. Mip. Drept., EIGHTH ARMY CORPS,
No. 162. j Baltimore, Md., June 17, 1863.
I. V. Major-General Milroy will proceed without delay, via Harrisburg and Bedford, or such other route as he may find expedient or
necessary from Harrisburg, to put himself in communication with
that body of cavalry and infantry of his division, who, under command of Colonel Galligher, were yesterday at Hancock, and are understood to have proceeded thence northward into Pennsylvania. He