R. Patterson to George B. McClellan, June 16, 1861
Washington, June 16, 1861.
General MCCLELLAN, Cincinnati :
We have nothing later from Patterson than his arrival last night at Hagerstown. The report that he is checked at Harper’s Ferry to-day therefore can’t be true. The enemy has evacuated Harper’s Ferry. Do not send a regiment across the mountains. There is no need of it.
WASHINGTON, June 16, 1861. Major-General PATTERSON, Commanding: You tell me you arrived last night at Hagerstown, and McClellan
writes you are checked at Harper’s Ferry. Where are you? WINFIELD SCOTT.
HAGERSTOWN, June 16, 1861. Col. E. D. TOWNSEND :
Am here, checked by no enemy. Cadwalader waded the ford at Williamsport to-day. Rhode Island regiment gone to Cumberland. Asked McClellan to send one or two regiments in rear of rebels from
Romney after Wallace. He has sent one. Wallace holds his own. R. PATTERSON, Major-General, Commanding.
JUNE 16, 1861—11 a. m. Major-General PATTERSON, Hagerstown, Md. :
What movement, if any, in pursuit of the enemy, do you propose to make consequent on the evacuation of Harper’s Ferry? If no pursuit, and I recommend none specially, send to me at once all the regular troops, horse and foot, with you, and also the Rhode Island regiment.
HAGERSTOWN, June 16, 1861. Col. E. D. TOWNSEND : Design no pursuit; cannot make it. The enemy is routed by fear. Cross the river to-day. If approved wish to make Harper’s Ferry my depot, and can establish line of communication east and west and adBe ad ii 2 0
vance on Winchester. Have sent squadron of cavalry, section of artillery, and Rhode Island regiment towards Cumberland to sustain Colonel Wallace, threatened by a large force and demanding aid, and who may be forced to Hancock. Sustain this by another regiment. Wish to retain regulars for the present, if the General-in-Chief is not urgent. I write by Colonel Sherman to-night. R. PATTERSON, Major-General, Commanding.
HAGERSTOWN, MD., June 16, 1861. Col. E. D. TOWNSEND, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Hdqrs. of the Army:
COLONEL: I have the honor to report, for the information of the General-in-Chief, my arrival last evening in this place.
From time to time I have notified you of the condition of the command to move, and my intention soon to advance to this place with a force which could maintain any position it might take. With our own transportation, aided by every wagon and team which could be hired contiguous to our camps, in Pennsylvania and in this place, I advanced yesterday (the earliest moment) General Cadwalader’s division, and sent the largest portion of General Keim’s by rail. The remainder, with the supplies, are now rapidly coming in. General Cadwalader encamped last evening near Williamsport; to-day, under my instructions, he will cross the river and occupy the bend to Falling Waters, and will be prepared to push on to Martinsburg, to which place he sends an exploring force. He will be sustained by Generals Wynkoop and Negley, whose brigades are posted for the purpose.
Karly yesterday morning I received simultaneously reliable information of the evacuation of Harper’s Ferry, and a threatened attack upon Colonel Wallace at Cumberland, with a call for aid, which General Morris, in rear, had refused. I directed Colonel Wallace to hire transportation, maintain a bold front to the last moment, and, if hard pressed, to move towards Hancock, in which direction horse, foot, and artillery would be sent, with orders to push on to him; or, at his discretion, to fall back upon Bedford, communicating the fact to the column on this side. With the spirit of a true soldier he has prudently determined to stand, and retire contesting the ground, unless he will have to sacrifice his men.
Confident the enemy had retired and was in rapid retreat from Harper’s Ferry, I ordered a force to be detached to Cumberland. Owing, as will be seen by the accompanying letters, to the want of the means of transportation and the fagged condition of the command, the march being long and the day oppressively hot, the command could not be put in motion.
Major Porter late at midnight visited General Cadwalader at Will- . iamsport, and arranged to send to-day a section of artillery, a squadron of cavalry, and the Rhode Island regiment, Colonel Burnside—a gallant soldier and a gallant command—to support the noble Indiana regiment, similarly commanded. The transportation for that command exhausted all available wagons and checked, had I been able and it been prudent, further advance to push on a fleeing enemy. On the approach, suddenly on their rear of this well-organized force, and the steadily advaneing column under Colonel Stone, the enemy appear to have hastily decided to evacuate the position they had openly declared should be held — at all hazards. They have fled, and in confusion. Their retreat is as Guar. IX] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.—UNION. 693
demoralizing as a defeat; and as the leaders will never be caught, more beneficial to our cause. Harper’s Ferry has been retaken without firing a gun. The moral force of a just cause, sustained by a strong and equable Government, has conquered.
Iam prevented from advancing rapidly by want of transportation. The interests of the Government are too momentous to risk a defeat or even a check, and hence I send out no inferior force. To-day and to-morrow ‘about nine thousand men cross to Virginia, there to await transportation, and to be sent forward in detachments well sustained. In the mean time I propose and submit for the consideration of the General-in-Chief—
First. To transfer to Harper’s Ferry my base of operations, depot, headquarters, &c.
Second. To open and maintain free communication east and west . along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
Third. To hold at Harper’s Ferry, Martinsburg, Charlestown, &c., a strong force, gradually and securely advancing as they are prepared, portions towards Winchester, Strasburg, &c.
Fourth. To re-enforce Cumberland and move south to Romney, Morehead Moorefield], &c., and operate with the column in the third proposition towards Woodstock, and cut off communications with the west.
We will thus force the enemy to retire, and recover, without a strug- ° gle, a conquered country.
To carry out this plan time is required, and that, with a strong, firm hand, will restore peace and unity to our distracted country.
To effect what I propose requires the co-operation of General McClellan, and the force from him to be under my control at Cumberland, both to secure the road as far as Grafton and to advance to Romney, &c.
With Harper’s Ferry in possession, Baltimore falls. Maryland will be a quiet spectator, awaiting the result of the campaign, with her interests developing a feeling in favor of a permanent Federal Government.
If this proposition be adopted I shall continue my present operations, which have been directed to this end, and shall, as soon as I am prepared, occupy Harper’s Ferry and Martinsburg; secure the railroad, &c., thence, and canal to Cumberland; use the railroad thence to Harrisburg, as accessory only.
In connection with this I respectfully request (presuming Baltimore to be so far peaceable that the safety of the railroad can be relied upon) permission to take from the Philadelphia and Baltimore Railroad and the Northern Central road the regiments now guarding them. The latter I should at once transfer to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad; the former to the line of operations.
If I am permitted to carry out this plan, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the canal will be in operation in a week, and a free line of communication to Saint Louis established.
I shall continue to carry out these views until checked; but if my course be approved, I wish to be informed. I am advancing into another department, but so essential is it, that for the instant I do not consider the sanction of the General-in-Chief requisite.
The telegram of the General-in-Chief recalling regulars is at hand.
My reply is the substance of this communication, with the request that the regulars be permitted to remain for the present. Until Harper’s Ferry is occupied and fortified I should fear the return of the rebels. This force is a good one, but the General-in-Chief has, by the regular
troops and commanders he has given me, made it a reliable one, and caused Harper’s Ferry to fall. I am, sir,
very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Major-General, Commanding.