Unknown to Robert Patterson, June 28, 1861

COLONEL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a telegram from the General-in-Chief, dated 27th instant, saying: “I had expected your crossing the river to-day in pursuit of the enemy.” I infer from this that orders have been sent me to cross and attack the enemy ; if so, Lhave not received them.

Captain Newton, of the Engineers, returned at midnight, after two days’ absence in the direction of Sharpsburg and Dam No. 4, and reorts, on information he considers reliable, 5,000 men from Falling

aters to Dam No. 4; 4,500 in the vicinity of Shepherdstown, under

General Jackson, and a reserve of 5,500 men under General Johnston near Bunker Hill. He also reports twenty to twenty-four guns and a large cavalry force with General Jackson, and thinks that General Negley, whose brigade is on my left, near Sharpsburg, will be attacked—-the river being fordable at almost every point. To meet this force of 15,000 men, with twenty-two guns, and nearly 1,000 cavalry, [have about 10,000 volunteer infantry, and 650 cavalry and artillery, the latter being nearly all recruits. The horses are untrained and we are still without harness for the battery.

I have repeatedly asked for batteries, and ought to have one for each brigade, but have none. The only one fit for service sent me was the Rhode Island Battery, and that the General-in-Chief was compelled, by the necessities of his own position, to take from me when most wanted, and within a week after it joined me. I have neither cavalry nor artilery sufficient to defend the fords of the river between Harper’s Ferry and Hancock, but I would much rather attack than defend, and would have far more confidence in the result. While I will not on my own responsibility attack, without artillery, a superior force, I will do so cheerfully and promptly if the General-in-Chief will give me an explicit order to that effect.

To insure success, I

respectfully, but earnestly, request that the troops —