Seth Williams to Grimshaw, September 13, 1863

Brig. Gen. B. F. KELLEY, Wheeling.

All of Patton’s forces at Lewisburg. Jackson at Huntersville with pickets at Marling’s Bottom. Jenkins and Imboden at Crab Bottom, with about 3,000, grazing horses and drilling. Colonel Oley, with flag of truce, has effected an exchange for Captain Ewing, who will arrive to-morrow. He is doing well; can walk a little. Major McNally had left arm amputated, also wounded in head; doing well and will live. Captain Parker found dead on field. Sent a supply of medicines to our wounded.

W. M. W. AVERELL, Brigadier-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE Potomac, September 14, 1863—10.30 a. m. (Received 11 a. m.) Maj. Gen. H. W. HALueEck, General-in-Chief :

Dispatches received from General Pleasonton subsequent to my telegram of 8 p. m. yesterday announce his having driven the enemy’s cavalry and artillery to within 2 miles of the Rapidan at Raccoon Ford and Rapidan Station. An examination of the prisoners

12 R R—VOL XXIX, PT II sent in shows that Ewell’s and A. P. Hill’s corps are still on the south side of the Rapidan near Orange Court-House and Raccoon Ford; that Lee has returned from Richmond, he having been seen on Saturday at Orange Court-House. It is believed and reported by the prisoners that Longstreet’s corps had gone south, designation said to ae Tennessee. McLaws’ division, they assert positively, has passed through Richmond. Pleasonton will this morning continue to press the enemy, and I will report any further authentic intelligence he aha in. GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE Potomac, September 14, 1863.

Commanding Officers Twelfth and other Corps:

As it is not yet known what may be the result of the movement now being made in the front, the commanding general directs that you hold your command in readiness to march at short notice.

S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General.

SEPTEMBER 14, 1863—9 a. m. General HERMANN Haupt, Washington:

Our troops now occupy Culpeper Court-House, and General Meade will be glad to have the road opened to that place. The road is believed to be in fair order, but it doubtless requires examination. None of the rails have been removed.

Assistant Adjutant-General.

SEPTEMBER 14, 1863—2 p. m.

The commanding general directs me to say, in answer to your dispatch of this morning, that it is not now expected that the result of the reconnaissance sent to the front will be to require a general movement of thearmy. Should, however, such a movement become necessary, its nature cannot at this time be anticipated,.and no instructions can be given as to the trains; such instructions must accompany an order for a move.

Assistant Adjutant-General.

(Received 2.20 p. m.) The following dispatch, just received, is forwarded for your information :

Major-General HUMPHREYS ,

Two intercepted letters, which Iam bringing to headquarters, say General Lee has gone to Charleston or Chattanooga. General Longstreet commands the rebel

Army of the Potomac. General Pleasonton, at 9 a. m., was at Raccoon Ford, on

the Rapidan. The enemy’s cavalry and a battery of artillery held the opposite bank.

Captain, of Pleasonton’s Staff.

GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General.

CIRCULAR. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE Potomac, September 14, 1863—9.45 p. m. Commanding Officer Eleventh Corps:

The commanding general desires me to make known to you the existing condition of affairs. General Pleasonton has driven the enémy’s cavalry and artillery across the Rapidan, but was unable, owing to finding infantry and artillery in position, to effect a crossing at Raccoon, Somerville, or Mitchell’s Fords (the railroad crossing). He now holds the north bank of the Rapidan, supported by the Second Corps at Culpeper Court-House. The rest of the army is in the positions formerly occupied. General Pleasonton has sent in 3 guns i 3-inch and 1 12-pounder howitzer) and 120 prisoners. From the latter it is believed Longstreet’s corps has gone south, but that Ewell and Hill are still behind the Rapidan prepared to dispute its passage.

he commanding general desires you to keep your command prepared to move at short notice, your trains supplied, and everything In readiness for an advance, which, from present appearances, will be the character of the movement, if any 1s made. This communication is confidential. S. WILLIAMS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

(To commanding officers First, Third, Fifth, Sixth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Corps.)

SEPTEMBER 14, 1863—9 p. m. (Received 10.30 p. m.) Major-General HALLECK :

General Pleasonton reports that he has driven the enemy’s cavalry and artillery across the Rapidan, and has to-day unsuccessfully attempted to force a passage at three points, Raccoon Ford, Somerville Ford, and Mitchell’s Ford (at the railroad crossing), being at each point met by artillery in position, and rifle-pits manned by infantry.

General Gregg, at the railroad crossing, reports taking a prisoner of the Forty-eighth Mississippi Regiment, belonging to A. P. Hill’s corps, who ad the whole of Hill’s corps was at or near Prange Court-House. Other prisoners taken yesterday aver that Ewell’s corps is also behind the Rapidan. i

y judgment, formed on the variety of meager and conflicting testimony, is, that Lee’s army has been reduced by Longstreet’s corps, and perhaps by some regiments from Ewell and Hill. What the amount of force left with him, it is difficult to conjecture, but I have no doubt it is deemed sufficient by him, with the advantages of position, to check my crossing the Rapidan, at least until he can withdraw, in case he desiresto doso. Under these circumstances, I have directed General Pleasonton to maintain his position on the Rapidan, to cross if practicable, and in the meantime to endeavor to obtain more definite information. General Warren, with the Second Corps, will remain in position at Culpeper. I should be glad to have your views as to what had better be done, if anything.

If Lee’s army is as much reduced as the intelligence now received would lead us to believe, when the detached troops from this army return, I ought to be his superior in numbers, and should be able to require him to fall back. At the same time, I see no object in advancing, unless it is with ulterior views, and I do not consider this army is sufficiently large to follow him to Richmond (in case that should prove practicable), and lay siege to that place, fortified as we know it to be.

Moreover, the change of base, in case such a movement were effected, must be determined—whether it shall be to the Fredericksburg railroad or the James River.

I should be glad if you would communicate the views of yourself and the Government at the earliest possible moment.

GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General, Commanding.

SEPTEMBER 14, 1863—7.30 p. m. Commanding Officer Second Corps:

Your dispatch of 6.30 received. The commanding general does not deem it expedient at this moment to throw an infantry force across the Rapidan, and he wishes the operations on that river to be confined to the cavalry, unless you think it best to support General Gregg with, say, a brigade of infantry. Information, to be received within a day or two, may lead the commanding general to move the entire army in the direction of Gordonsville, but for the present your position will

be Culpeper. S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General.

SEPTEMBER 14, 1863—8.30 p. m. Commanding Officer Second Corps: Please send the following to General Pleasonton by special messenger.

8.30 p. m. Commanding Officer Cavalry Corps:

In consequence of the information thus far received, leading to the opinion that you cannot effect a crossing of the Rapidan unless strongly assisted by infantry, and as I am not prepared at the present moment to make a general movement of the army in that direction, I desire you to hold the line of the Rapidan, picketing well above and below your position, and obtaining all the information you can respecting the movements of the enemy.

If, nowever, you find you can succeed in crossing the river without hazarding the safety of your command, or risking a severe engagement, you will, of course, do so. The telegraph wire is now in working order to Culpeper, and I wish you to communicate with me frequently, and keep me fully advised of all that transpires in

your vicinity. GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE Potomac, September 14, 1863, Maj. Gen. JoHN NEWTON, Commanding First Corps:

GENERAL: Your communication of the 13th, instant in reference to the detail of the Second Corps to auL pot the cavalry reconnaissance sent in front of the army yesterday, has been laid before the commanding general, who regrets to learn that the detail has occasioned a feeling of disappointment among the officers and men of your corps.

The considerations which led the commanding general to select the Second Corps for this service were chiefly that the First Corps formed part of a line the continuity of which the general did not wish to break, as he could not foresee the consequences which might flow from our advance, and he was by no means certain that the reconnoitering party, together with its support, might not be driven back upon that line, and moreover, he had in view the fact that the First Corps had for some weeks occupied an advanced position, requiring on its part unusual watchfulness, and far more exhausting duties than had been performed by the corps in rear. The commanding general trusts that this explenaron will satisfy you that in assigning the Second Corps to the duty above indicated no distrust was entertained of the qualifications of the First Corps to perform the service equally well.

I am directed to add that, while the commanding general has given in this instance his reasons for issuing a particular order, he does not admit the right of any subordinate commander to call in question his acts, and he regrets that you should have thought it proper to do so.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,