R. Patterson to HAGERSTOWN, MD., June 21, 1861, June 20, 1861
Arlington, June 20, 1861.
Brigadier-General RuUNYON [and others]:
General Tyler reports enemy concentrating in his front. Hold all your command in readiness to move at a moment’s warning. If you
have time, cook a day’s rations. IRVIN McDOWELL, Brigadier-General, Commanding.
P. S.—To Colonel HUNTER. Have the Sixty-ninth Regiment move forward to Ball’s Cross-Roads. By order General McDowell:
Captain, Third Infantry, Acting Inspector General.
WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, June 20, 1861. Hon. Joun SHERMAN, Hagerstown, Md.:
DEAR Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th instant, and regret to learn that any embarrassment to the successful movement of the forces under command of Major-General Patterson occurred in consequence of orders issued from here by the General-in-Chief.
It has been my aim and purpose to furnish General Patterson all the force and aid to enable him to accomplish a gloriously successful result, and to that end I ordered as many troops arriving at Harrisburg to follow in his train as I could, until the apparent change of circumstances at Harper’s Ferry and its neighborhood seemed to make it apparent that it was more important to increase our force here than there. It may be true that if the General-in-Chief had been on the spot and understood the condition of things there as they are now stated by you to have existed at the date of the order issued by him for the return of Burnside’s artillery to this place, he would not have issued it. Of that, of course, I cannot undertake to speak, and do not mean even to express an opinion. Certain it is, however, that this Department, and, indeed, the whole administration, has but one safe course before it in this emergency, and that is to be guided by the counsels of the GeneralCORRESPONDENCE, ETC.—UNION.
in-Chief in all that relates to the plans, movements, and commands of the campaign. He has superior military knowledge, experience, wisdom, and patrotism over any other member of the administration, and enjoys the unlimited confidence of the people, as well as the President and his advisers. * ig ie – ie ~ = [Here the copy ends, and no signature.]
WASHINGTON, June 21, 1861. Brigadier-General MCDOWELL, U.S. A.:
Sir: The General-in-Chief sends you the inclosed copy of instructions to Major-General Patterson,* and desires you to propose a column to co-operate from this end, according to the outline plan indicated.
Iam, &e., E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General.
HAGERSTOWN, MD., June 21, 1861. Col. E. D. TOWNSEND, Asst. Adjt. Gen., U. S. Army, Washingtan City:
CoLONEL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the telegram of the General-in-Chief calling for a plan of operations with a portion of my force to sweep the enemy from Leesburg, &c. Inclosed is a copy of my telegraphic reply. The following is my plan more in detail :
To carry out the views of the General-in-Chief I propose—
First. To occupy the Maryland Heights with a brigade (2,100 men) ; fortify and arm with Doubleday’s artillery, and provision for twenty days, to secure against investment.
Second. To move all supplies to Frederick, and immediately thereafter abandon this line of operations; threaten with a force to open a route through Harper’s Ferry, this force to be the sustaining one for the command on Maryland Heights.
Third. To send everything else available (horse, foot, and artillery) to cross the Potomac near Point of Rocks, and unite with Colonel Stone at Leesburg. From that point I can operate as circumstances shall demand and your orders require. If no blow is to be struck here, I think this change of position important to keep alive the ardor of our men as well as to force an enemy.
The reasons for’ this change of depot will be so apparent to the General-in-Chief that I need not refer to them. By the employment of the local transportation of the country [can soon make thenecessary changes, and will hasten to carry out your orders.
I have many reports in regard to the movements of the force opposite us in Virginia, and have reason to believe that when the regulars were withdrawn, General Johnston, with thirteen. thousand men and twenty-two pieces of artillery, was marching to the attack, and that night posted his force, expecting from us an attack the following morning. I regret we did not meet the enemy, so confident am I that, with this well-appointed force, the result would have been favorable to us, and that this portion of Virginia would now be peaceably occupied. —
Reports of the enemy having returned to Harper’s Ferry and had driven the occupants to this shore reached me yesterday. I immediately dispatched a strong force to take position in the vicinity of Sharpsburg and protect all parties on this side of the river, and drive back any force which may attempt to cross.
very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Major-General, Commanding.
[Inclosure.]
HAGERSTOWN, MD., June 21, 1861.
Col. E. D. TOWNSEND, Washington City:
The telegram of the General-in-Chief of yesterday was received at
midnight. ‘To carry out proposed plan I think involves a change of
depot to Frederick and evacuation of Williamsport and Hagerstown.