December 26, 1862 (Friday): False Alarm

Harper's Ferry

HEADQUARTERS,
Baltimore, Md., December 26, 1862.
Major-General HALLECK,
General-in-Chief:
    The following telegram just received from Brigadier-General Kelley, at Cumberland, dated 9.30 p.m. yesterday:
    General Cluseret sends me dispatch, dated at 9 o'clock last evening had appeared in his front, on the Strasburg and Front Royal road, in strong force, with cavalry and artillery. I have sent him all the cavalry I had to spare from Martinsburg and North Mountain. Please advise General Kenly, and, if possible, have Harper's Ferry strengthened. I intended to have gone there to-day, but cannot now.


    B. F. KELLEY,
    Brigadier-General.

   Cannot Harper's Ferry be re-enforced from Washington?

   ROBT. C. SCHENCK,
   Major-General, Commanding.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, December 26, 1862.
Major-General BURNSIDE,
Falmouth, Va.:
    General Kelley reports that the enemy are reappearing in large force at Strasburg and Front Royal, and it is probable that he will take advantage of the vicinity of the Army of the Potomac to make another raid on Harper's Ferry. This is certainly very disheartening. We have no forces here to send to Harper's Ferry, without again stripping Washington. I am almost at a loss what to say or do.


    H. W. HALLECK,
    General-in-Chief.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
December 26, 1862-4 p.m. (Received 4 p.m.)
Major General H. W. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief:
    You can take the whole of General Slocum's corps, if you choose, and I will replace him with General Sigel's. I will communicate further in half an hour.


    A. E. BURNSIDE,
    Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
December 26, 1862-7.30 p.m.
Major General H. W. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief, Washington:
     Do you desire the whole of General Slocum's corps? If you desire it, I will order him to at once proceed to Harper's Ferry, and replace him by General Sigel's command.


    A. E. BURNSIDE,
    Major-General.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, December 26, 1862.
Major-General BURNSIDE,
Falmouth, Va.:
     General Dix is also of the opinion that the enemy's force against him has increased, and asks for re-enforcements.


     H. W. HALLECK,
     General-in-Chief.

Official Records, Series I., Vol. 21, Part 1, Pages886, 887.

Halleck was no doubt alarmed by the reports of an advance on Harper's Ferry.  It would develop that the advance was merely probes by cavalry forces in the area.  It says something about the state of intelligence gathering that on the strength of such sketchy reports Burnside was willing to offer to send a complete corp to Harper's Ferry.