November 30, 1861 (Friday): Rumors of Battle

General P. G. T. Beauregard

ALEXANDRIA, November 30, 1861. 

General BEAUREGARD:
   DEAR SIR: I write to inform you what is going on around our city, hoping that it may prove of some service to you and our cause. On the 28th about 100 wagons came to town, also five regiments, and proceeded up the Leesburg pike. At 4 o'clock two regiments came in and went up on the railroad to Springfield Station. On the 29th eight regiments crossed over the bridge and went up the Columbia pike. I was in Washington yesterday and called at the War and Navy Departments, and from all I could see and hear they intend to make a forward movement. Sumner states that they will move at five different points to Leesburg, Fairfax, Occoquan, where the largest force will be thrown, and attempt to throw a force from Maryland across the river at or near the batteries-supposing that while they attack the forces at Occoquan you will draw your forces from them. This you must take as a rumor and use your judgment. From what I can see and hear they will be forced to try and do something desperate, as the Yankees are getting quite dissatisfied with General McClellan's inactivity. Rumor states that we have a traitor in the War Department at Richmond who transmits news to Washington. One regiment was sent over from Maryland belonging to Sickles' brigade. It was stationed near the hospital opposite the navy-yard. They arrived last night.
Yours, with much respect. 



Y. F. W. 

Official Records, Series I., Vol. 51, Part 2, Page 403.

The informant's report of a contemplated Federal movement to the Occoquan was accurate, but only to the extent the administration in Washington advocated the movement.  McClellan was neither ready, nor willing, to make the move and already was contemplating a movement by water to the Peninsula and then up to Richmond.  The rumor of dissatisfaction with McClellan’s failure to move was also accurate.  The next day Lincoln would present a questionnaire to McClellan asking how long it would take to put the army in moition, naming the Occoquan as a target.