Unknown to Henry W. Halleck, May 16, 1862
Srp: I have the honor to inclose you the official reports of BrigadierGenerals Schenck and Milroy concerning the action of the 8th instant near McDowell.
It will undoubtedly give you pleasure to know, as it affords me great satisfaction to say, that the conduct of the regiments engaged, under the gallant leadership of Brigadier-General Milroy, was distinguished by the admirable courage and tenacity with which they repeatedly attacked and charged a greatly superior force.
More accurate information places the number of the enemy’s dead at 42, buried in the neighborhood, and his wounded at 200 or more.
The promptitude with which General Schenck advanced to the relief of the force under General Milroy, and the skill and courage with which he conducted the hazardous retreat, which I found it necessary to order, are worthy of particular notice.
Having anticipated while at New Creek, on the Baltimore and Ohio
, Railroad, a movement of the enemy in this direction, I advanced as ‘rapidly as possible with my whole available force to this point, where Generals Schenck and Milroy successfully held the enemy at bay until my approach caused him immediately to retire.
The necessity of making this advance before adequate transportation could be collected has caused some suffering among the men, but this has only given me additional reason to commend their conduct. They cheerfully submit to all privations, and are only anxious to have an opportunity of displaying their lees to a country. fully, your obedient servan bi es alg ‘J. C. FREMONT,
Major-General, Commanding.
Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War.
Return of Oasualties in the Union forces.
(Compiled from nominal lists of casualties.)
Killed. Wounded. Missing F g F Command. q g Remarks. ; ; ; re é i g i ae . o ° ° bo § R 8 a § e 4 25th Ohio …….-.–. …— 6 DP 80a oes 1 58 32a Ohio ene ecemins canoes 4 3 CT eee sees 56 Lieut. C. S. Fugate died of wounds. 75th ORO tesice oe eee 8 s- 5s 6 1 BL ccces 1 39 : S20 Ohio scclessoss s Report of Brig. Gen. Robert O. Schenck, U. 8S. Army, commanding brigade