July 3, 1862 (Thursday): Beyond Belief

General Edward King

HEADQUARTERS THIRD ARMY CORPS,
Warrenton, July 3, 1862.
    Brigadier-General KING, Falmouth:
It is reported from the Army of the Potomac and James River that the enemy are evacuating Richmond. Major-General Sigel reports the same information, obtained by his cavalry on the front of his corps from the country people, who were so informed by the secession outposts before they fell back. The enemy has withdrawn his pickets from the Rapidan. It is especially desired to ascertain whether any troops are passing or have lately passed up or down the Virginia Central Railroad between Richmond and Gordonsville. The Richmond papers say that part of this road is not in use. Can you ascertain? How is the Catharpin road for such a purpose? It is more than ever necessary that we continue to obtain the valuable information which your efforts have heretofore secured. I send the Rhode Island cavalry, under Duffie, to the Rappahannock Station, and when he arrives will instruct him to patrol through the Germanna Mills Crossing of the Rapidan, under your orders.


IRVIN McDOWELL.

Official Records, Series I, Vol. 12, Part 3, Page 450.

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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, D. C., July 3, 1862.
Major General GEORGE B. McCLELLAN:
    Yours of 5.30 yesterday is just received. I am satisfied that yourself officers, and men have done the best you could. All accounts say better fighting was never done. Ten thousand thanks for it.
On the 28th we sent General Burnside an order to send all the force he could spare to you. We then learned that you had requested him to go to Goldsborough; upon which we said to him our order was intended for your benefit and we did not wish to be in conflict with your views.
We hope you will have help from him soon. To-day have ordered General Hunter to send you all he can spare. At last advices General Halleck thinks he cannot send re-enforcements without endangering all he has gained.


A. LINCOLN,
President.

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HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Harrison's Bar, July 3, 1862.
Honorable E. M. STANTON,
Secretary of War:
   SIR: In order to insure a perfect understanding of the exact condition of this army, I have directed my chief of staff, General R. B. Marcy, to repair to Washington and give you full explanations of the events of the last few weeks.
    A simple summary is, that this army has fought every day for a week against superior numbers, holding its own at least, often repulsing the enemy by day, then retiring at night. Our light and heavy guns are saved, with the exception of one. All the wagons are now within the line of pickets, and I hope will all be saved. The army is thoroughly worn-out, and requires rest and very heavy re-enforcements.
     Our losses have been very great, for the fighting has been desperate, and officers and men have behaved heroically.
    I am in hopes that the enemy is as completely worn-out as we are. He was certainly very severely punished in the last battle. The roads are now very bad. For these reasons I hope that we shall have enough breathing space to reorganize and rest the men and get them into position before the enemy can attack again. I have ordered Burnside to bring up all his available force, and leave to your judgment the question of evacuating New Berne and its dependencies, so as to bring any available men to re-enforce this army. It is of course impossible to estimate as yet our losses, but I doubt whether there are to-day more than 50,000 men with their colors.
    To accomplish the great task of capturing Richmond and putting an end to this rebellion re-enforcements should be sent to me rather much over than much less than 100,000 men.
I beg that you will be fully impressed by the magnitude of the crisis in which we are placed. We require action on a gigantic scale-one commensurate with the views I expressed in a memorandum to the President submitted early last August, when first ordered to command the Army of the Potomac. The safety of the country and the preservation of its honor demand the utmost energy and intelligence.
    I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,


GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major-General, Commanding.

Official Records, Series I., Vol. 11, Part 3, Page 291.

There is a certain detachment from reality in each letter.  McDowell has heard Richmond was taken by McClellan.  Lincoln thinks (or at least says) "better fighting has never been done."  And McClellan believes Lee will rest inert while a force as great as that he started up the Peninsula with is gathered and sent to him in order that he might take Richmond.