June 18, 1862 (Wednesday): Waiting on the Earth and SKy

McClellan and Lincoln

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington, D. C., June 18, 1862.

Major-General McCLELLAN:
    Yours of to-day making it probable that Jackson has been re-enforced by about 10,000 from Richmond is corroborated by a dispatch from General King at Fredericksburg, saying a Frenchman just arrived from Richmond by way of Gordonsville met 10,000 to 15,000 passing through the latter place to join Jackson.
If this is true it is as good as a re-enforcement to you of an equal force. I could better dispose of things if I could know about what day you can attack Richmond, and would be glad to be informed, if you think you can inform me with safety.


A. LINCOLN.

McCLELLAN'S, June 18, 1862.

The PRESIDENT:
    I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your dispatch of to-day. Our army is well over the Chickahominy, except the very considerable forces necessary to protect our flanks and communications. Our whole line of pickets in front runs within 6 miles of Richmond. The rebel line runs within musket-range of ours. Each has heavy support at hand. A general engagement may take place any hour. An advance by us involves a battle more or less decisive. The enemy exhibit at every point a readiness to meet us. They certainly have great numbers and extensive works. If 10,000 or 15,000 men have left Richmond to re-enforce Jackson it illustrates their strength and confidence. After to-morrow we shall fight the rebel army as soon as Providence will permit. We shall await only a favorable condition of the earth and sky and the completion of some necessary preliminaries.


GEO. B. McCLELLAN,

Major-General.

McCLELLAN'S, June 18, 1862-11.30 a.m.

Honorable E. M. STANTON,
Secretary of War:
    Colonel Averell has just returned from a scout to the Mattapony. A band of guerrillas he was in search of had left the day before. He destroyed the bridge, took a number of wagons and carts loaded with supplies for Richmond, destroyed a large amount of rebel grain, and took some important prisoners. As usual, he conducted the expedition most handsomely.
    Colonel Gregg made a handsome reconnaissance to Charles City Court-House and recovered some of the mules driven off by Stuart. I think we are about even with Stuart now. Am at a loss to understand the reported re-enforcements to Jackson, unless the enemy are in very great strength here. We will probably know more of the truth to-morrow.


GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major-General.

Official Records Series I., Vol. 11, Part 3, Page 232.

"I think we are even with Stuart now." is a remarkable statement by McClellan.  Stuart had ridden entirely around his army and knew, as did McClellan, the right wing remained "in the air" near Mechanicsville.  Yet McClellan did not realize the import of what Stuart had done, beyond having had some mules driven away.  McClellan did, however, realize the improbability of reports of reinforcements being sent to Jackson.  It had the effect, as shown here, of once again inflating in McClellan's mind the size of the Confederate army near Richmond.  As for Lincoln, he continued to operate on the supposition Jackson was being reinforced for offensive operations in the Shenandoah Valley.  Inside information from roaming Frenchmen aside, Jackson on June 18th was with his army just on the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge coming down from Waynesboro and Rockfish Gap.