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HDQRS. THIRD ARMY CORPS, ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
August 27, 1862-4.30 a.m.
General POPE:
Your telegram of 12 midnight is only just received. I will endeavor to have Buford ascertain as soon as he can and as far as he can the extent of the enemy's movement toward White Plains. I saw General Sigel late last night and his scouts, and did not learn that the general had any other information than I gave you in my telegram of 10 o'clock p.m., and he was not aware of the negro's statement which I sent you at 9 o'clock p.m. Your telegram of 11 o'clock last night was received. My corps is at present posted as follows:
King's division on Sulphur Springs road, one brigade near Springs. Ricketts' on Waterloo road, about 4 miles from town. Reynolds' inside and between the others.
IRVIN McDOWELL.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
August 26, 1862-5.30 a.m.
General McDOWELL:
I have just heard from Fitz John Porter. He has neither wagons nor provisions, and only 40 rounds of ammunition per man. The troops here have no wagons and are very scarce of provisions.
The railroad is interrupted between here and Manassas, and will require a strong force to repair it and keep it open. Meantime we shall suffer for everything. It therefore appears to me that we had best move with our whole force to occupy Gainesville, so as to secure our communication with Alexandria. It does not seem to me possible to hold a position so far to the front as Warrenton while so heavy a column of the enemy is so near to our concentration-much in front of Manassas. Give me your views immediately on the subject, for we must act promptly in some way. At all events, all wagons not needed for amunition must be got ready for an immediate movement to the rear. Let me hear from you at once.
JNO. POPE,
Major-General, Commanding.
(No record of General McDowell's answer to this.)
AUGUST 26, 1862.
Major-General POPE:
I have just received your telegram of 5 o'clock a.m., directing me to ascertain in some way or another whether the enemy be really in force at Waterloo Bridge.
My corps, as ordered, is on the march to Sulphur Springs, and I start in a few moments myself. When I get there I will endeavor to ascertain what you wish.
IRVIN McDOWELL.
August 26, 1862-8.10 a.m.
Major-General McDOWELL:
I sent instructions last night to make a strong reconnaissance across to Sulphur Springs, intending that Sigel should do the same thing at Waterloo Bridge and Reno at Rappahannock. Sigel reports himself unable to do anything of the kind until his men are rested. I directed him to halt them somewhere near Warrenton and put them in camp for a day. Reno instead of going to Bealeton and then to Kelly's Ford, has come to this place, and is now near here. You must, therefore, under these circumstances, exercise your discretion about the reconnaissance to Sulphur Springs, but it will certainly be well for you to ascertain what there is in the direction of Waterloo Bridge and still farther to your right. Send for Milroy; he is a courageous man. * * * If you deem it necessary assume command also of Sigel's corps. It is essential that we should watch the movements of the enemy toward our right in some manner. Out of Buford's, Bayard's, and Sigel's cavalry enough can certainly be found to perform this service. Troops are accumulating here but not very fast. Take charge of the front and use everybody you find there.
JNO. POPE,
Major-General, Commanding.
P. S. - I will push Reno to Fayetteville. It will be well to have the men cook three days' rations. Please notify Banks and Sigel.
HDQRS. THIRD ARMY CORPS, ARMY OF VIRGINIA, August 26, 1862.
Major-General SIGEL,
Commanding Division:
GENERAL: I am instructed by Major-General Pope to take command of the troops on the right and front, for the purpose of strengthening some movements I am ordered to make. Please let me know the position and strength of your command, and especially the cavalry.
My headquarters are on the hill southwest of Warrenton, on Sulphur Springs road.
IRVIN McDOWELL,
Major-General, Commanding.
HDQRS. THIRD ARMY CORPS, ARMY OF VIRGINIA, August 26, 1862.
Brigadier General JOHN F. REYNOLDS,
Commanding King's Division:
GENERAL: General Sigel states that the enemy's rear is at Orleans;
his main body at White Plains. Can you ascertain by a scout if the enemy is still in front of Sulphur Springs, and whether he is in any force or not, and let me know immediately? Don't allow them to throw away any artillery ammunition this morning. Have the division well in hand for a move at short notice.
IRVIN McDOWELL,
Major-General, Commanding.
WARRENTON JUNCTION, August 26, 1862.
Major-General McDOWELL:
Banks and Sigel are halted near Warrenton. Reno is here; Hooker and Kearny are here; Cox and Sturgis are arriving. You will have any support you need, and what you have done is approved.
JNO. POPE,
Major-General, Commanding.
P. S. - I will push Reno to Fayetteville. It will be well to have the men cook three days' rations. Please notify Banks and Sigel.
Major-General McCLELLAN.
WASHINGTON, August 26, 1862-11 a.m.
There is reason to believe that the enemy is moving a large force into the Shenandoah Valley. Reconnaissances will soon determine. General Heintzelman's corps was ordered to report to General Pope, and Kearny will probably be sent to-day against the enemy's flank. Don't draw any troops down the Rappahannock at present; we shall probably want them all in the direction of the Shenandoah. Perhaps you had better leave General Burnside in charge at Aquia Creek and come to Alexandria, as very great irregularities are reported there. General Franklin's corps will march as soon as it receives transportation.
H. W. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief.
DIVISION HEADQUARTERS, August 26, 1862-11.15 a.m.
COLONEL: Your dispatch is just received, as well as those for Generals Ricketts and Bufford, which have been forwarded. My division is halted and going into position as directed. I have instructed General Patrick, who commands the advance, to discontinue all unnecessary firing. The division will be arranged in this wise:
PATRICK'S BRIGADE.
DOUBLEDAY'S.
GIBBON'S.
HATCH'S.
I will remain in the field as long as I can, and if I find it necessary to leave the front will notify General Reynolds.
Major-General POPE,
Warrenton, Va.:
Not the slightest dissatisfaction has been felt in regard to your operations on the Rappahannock.* The main object has been accomplished in getting up troops from the Peninsula, although they have been greatly delayed by storms. Moreover the telegraph has been interrupted, leaving us for a time ignorant of the progress of the evacuation. Just think of the immense amount of telegraphing I have to do, and then say whether I can be expected to give you any details as to movements of others, even when I know them. Franklin's corps is at Alexandria, and will march as soon as the wagons arrive. Sumner's is somewhere on the way, and Keyes' still behind. A change in the organization of corps will be made when we get the troops into position, and we may then arrange about Sigel. If possible to attack the enemy in flank do so, but the main object now is to ascertain his position. Make cavalry excursions for that purpose, especially toward Front Royal. If possible to get in his rear, pursue with vigor.
H. W. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief.
*This in reply to dispatch of 9 a.m., August 25. See Pope's report, Part II, p. 65.
RUFUS KING,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.
HDQRS. THIRD ARMY CORPS, ARMY OF VIRGINIA, August 26, 1862.
Brigadier General J. B. RICKETTS,
Commanding Division:
GENERAL: Information received this morning indicates the enemy has passed through White Plains and Thoroughfare Gap and that his troops are moving constantly in that direction, so that we have them on three sides. Your position becomes one of very great importance, and the mountain on the right of the position, which is, as the general understands, now occupied by General Tower, is one which the general wishes you and General Tower to examine particularly in the morning.
General Buford will send out to-night parties of cavalry which will cover your entire front. Examine all the ground occupied by your entire division,a nd have a little sketch of it prepared as soon a you can.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ED. SCHRIVER,
Colonel and Chief of Staff.
HDQRS. THIRD ARMY CORPS, ARMY OF VIRGINIA, August 26, 1862.
Brigadier General RUFUS KING,
Commanding Division:
GENERAL: The reconnaissances at Waterloo and Rappahannock having failed, you will not push any part of your division across the river, but take up the best position on this side, out of cannon-range, avoiding useless cannonading.
Rickett's division goes across to Waterloo road; make, therefore, disposition of your bridges without regard to him; place one brigade in advance, two in line in rear of it, and the fourth as a reserve in rear of main line. Bayard's cavalry ought to be joining you very soon. Let me know when it arrives.
My headquarters are in camp just out Warrenton, on Sulphur Springs road.
By order of Major-General McDowell:
ED. SCHRIVER,
Colonel and Chief of Staff.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
Warrenton Junction, Va., August 26, 1862-2 p.m.
Major General H. W. HALLECK:
Have you seen General White's telegram to me, saying that, should he find the enemy approaching Winchester and the telegraph line cut, he would fire four signal guns at intervals of two minutes, and requesting that Colonel Miles, commanding at Harper's Ferry, and the commanding officer at Martinsburg may be directed to throw out vedettes in direction of Winchester and to keep watchmen in the mountains night and day for a few days?
JNO. POPE,
Major-General, Commanding.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, August 26, 1862.
COMMANDING OFFICERS,
Martinsburg and Harper's Ferry, Va.:
If Winchester should be attacked, General White will fire four signal guns at intervals of two minutes, when the commanders of Martinsburg and Harper's Ferry will throw out vedettes and keep watchmen in the mountains for a few days.
H. W. HALLECK.
AUGUST 26, 1862-2.45 p.m.
General KING:
What is the state of affairs in front of you?
BARSTOW,
Major.
WATERY MOUNTAIN, August 26, 1862-3.10 p.m.
Major BARSTOW:
All quiet; no infantry in sight; only two sections of artillery been firing on us.
KING,
General.
WINCHESTER, VA.,
August 26, 1862-7 p.m.
Major-General HALLECK, General-in-Chief:
All quiet here. I have no report from the parties sent out this morning. Have the different approaches closely watched.
JULIUS WHITE,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.
TELEGRAPH OFFICE, August 26, 1862-8.20 p.m.
Major-General McDOWELL:
The operator at Manassas reported at 8 p.m. that a body of the enemy's cavalry had rushed into that place, firing into the train there, immediately after our line was opened. I infer from this the rebels have cut the wire. My inference is correct. We can still communicate with Warrenton Junction. The operator at the latter place tells me the circuit on the military and railroad wires is gone north of him. Will inform you if I hear further.
W. H. ECKMAN.
ALEXANDRIA DEPOT, VA., August 26, 1862.
Major General H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief:
The following telegram has just been received from Manassas:
Numbers 6 train, engine Secretary, was fired into at Bristoe by a party of cavalry-some say 500 strong. They had piled ties on the track, but engine threw them off. Secretary is completely riddled by bullets. Conductor says he thinks the enemy are coming this way.
MCCRICKETT,
Dispatcher.
The engine Secretary was being followed by four other trains, which are in great danger, as there is no communication. The wire is cut between Manassas and Warrenton. We have transportation for 1,200 men. This number might be sent to Manassas to protect the road while we repair it. I suppose the bridge at Bristoe will be destroyed.
H. HAUPT.
Numbers 50. HEADQUARTERS THIRD CORPS, Warrenton, August 26-9 p. m.
Major-General POPE:
An intelligent negro has just come in to General Buford from White Plains, and reports the advance of the enemy at that place. He says he saw himself at White Plains to-day at 12 o'clock two batteries of artillery, two regiments of cavalry, four regiments of infantry, and that they were moving in the direction of Thoroughfare Gap. The man's story is evidently to be relied upon. General Buford says his statements are confirmed by his scouts, who report large trains passing up through Orleans to White Plains.
IRVIN McDOWELL,
Major-General.
ALEXANDRIA, VA., August 26, 1862-9 p. m.
Major General H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief:
Operator at Manassas just says: "I am off now, sure." I directed the agent to run the two engines at Manassas forward, wait until the last moment, and then escape on the engine, if a real necessity existed. Operator had just commenced message to headquarters of General Pope when wire was cut. It is clear now that the railroad can be relied upon only for supplies. No more troops can be forwarded. By marching they will protect communication; in cars they are helpless. Our capacity by this raid will be much reduced.
H. HAUPT.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
August 26, 1862. (Received 9.25 p. m.)
Colonel HERMAN HAUPT:
General Smith, General Slocum, General Sturgis, or any other general officers you can find, will immediately send all the men you can transport to Bristoe Bridge or Manassas Junction. Show this order.
H. W. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief.
ALEXANDRIA, VA., August 26, 1862-11 p. m.
Major-General HALLECK:
I have been in search of some general officers, but can find none. Cox is in Washington; Sturgis in the field; Smith I can learn nothing of. I have found Colonels Scammon and White, of Cox's command, who will be ready in an hour. I will no go to other camps and endeavor to drum up more. The engine Secretary 2 miles this side of Bull Run Bridge, ran into rear end of another train, doing serious damage. The track is blocked. I will send out 3,000 or 4,000 troops, but they can do no move to-night than hold Bull Run Bridge. Damage at Manassas cannot now be helped, whatever it is. It has been already done. It is probable that when our troops get there no enemy will be found. I will forward wrecking and construction train to repair damages as rapidly as possible. If Bull Run Bridge is destroyed it will prove a serious matter. General Cox is at Kirkwood House. It may be well to send him by boat, or hack, or horseback to Alexandria to take command. He can come in this way sooner than we can clear the track to send and engine.
H. HAUPT.
Official Records, Series I., Vol. 12, Part 3, Various.
Pope is judged harshly in light of the outcome of the 2nd Manassas Campaign, but he displayed no lack of activity. He was unclear of what exactly his warrant from Washington was, other than to cover Washington, and the composition of his forces and his authority over them was constantly shifting. Here he believes the bulk of Lee's force is still near Sulphur Springs and Waterloo, west of Warrenton. Halleck's information is the Confederate force is shifting to the west, moving down the Valley. In reality, Jackson's force has moved around the Union right and has cut the Orange and Alexandria railroad at Bristoe Station.
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