Nathaniel P. Banks to George B. McClellan, October 22, 1861

SIR:

I received the order of the commanding general to send General Hamilton’s brigade to Poolesville at 4 o’elock yesterday evening, and at 5.30 an order to march tó Seneca Mills with the remaining brigades of my division. At 8 o’clock all the troops were in motion except the sick and those left in charge of the camps. General Hamilton reached Poolesville at 10 o’elock, and was placed in position to cover Harrison’s Island by General Stone, which position he still holds with his brigade. Harrison’s Island is nearly opposite Poolesville, and isimportant chiefly as it facilitates the passage of the river from either side. The Virginia

shore opposite the island is abrupt and rocky, in possession of the enemy,

who seem to possess it in some force. The deficiency of materials for forcing a passage has rendered it impossible to do more than protect the troops who occupied it, and who brought to the island the wounded and dead of yesterday. It is, however, less tenable than I represented in my dispatch of this morning. The enemy can shell it from the prominent shore they occupy, and dislodge our men, unless it be strongly fortified and defended. This may be done.

The two brigades en route for Seneca Mills reached their destination

at 10 o’elock. At 12 o’clock midnight they received an order from the

commanding general to march: at once to Poolesville, and taking the river road the head of the column reached Edwards Ferry between 3 and 4 o’clock, marching during the night about 18 miles. The exigency

which first required their presence here was probably over before they .

had received the order to march. The morning presented a different

Char. xmj– BALL’S BLUFF AND EDWARDS FERRY, VA.

state of affairs. The point of land made by the intersection of Goose Creek with the Potomac was occupied by some 2,000 of our troops, no

demonstration having been made by either side during the night or thus

far in the day to disturb the quiet which existed, except to threaten by

. the enemy the possession of Harrison’s Island. It was impossible to execute our order by immediately crossing the river. There were but three boats—one canal-boat and two flats. It would have occupied more than the entire day to have set one division over. General Abercrombie commenced moving his brigade over, and completed it by 12 o’clock. General Williams will follow, but it may be deferred on account of an order received to-day. There are now 4,400 troops on the Virginia shore, a

statement of which in detail I inclose.

The suggestion by the commanding general as to the occupation of the ground I think the best that could be made. We can obtain in a day or two boats enough to make the passage of the river perfectly secure and to bridge Goose Creek also. Strong intrenchments can be made, and the occupied point can be defended from the Maryland side as well as on the ground itself. We havé about twenty pieces of artillery, and shall have a force of nearly 16,000 men.

Everything is in perfect quiet across the river up to this hour.

I am unable to give an aecount of the affair of yesterday or its results, whieh I suppose you have already learned.

With great respect, I am, your obedient servant,