THE WAR IN VIRGINIA: Gen. McClellan’s Orders on Assuming His Command; The Troops to be in Readiness for Immediate Service (9/6/1862)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 9/6/1862

[Homer_J_Simpson]

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 1862.

GENERAL ORDERS NO. 1. -- First -- Pursuant to General Orders No. 122, from the War Department, Adjutant-General's Office, of the 2d inst., the undersigned hereby assumes command of the fortifications of Washington and of all the troops for the defence of the Capital.

Second -- The Heads of the Staff Departments of the Army of the Potomac will be in charge of their respective Departments at these Headquarters.

Third -- In addition to the consolidated morning reports required by the circular of this date from these headquarters, reports will be made by corps commanders as to their compliance with the assignment to positions heretofore given them, stating definitely the ground occupied and covered by their command, and as to what progress has been made, in obedience to the orders already issued to place their commands in condition for immediate service.

[Official.] G.B. McCLELLAN,

Major-General.

S. WILLIAMS, Adjutant-General.

BY TELEGRAPH FROM WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON, Friday, Sept. 5.

The following items are gathered from newspapers and private sources:

It is believed the rebels have crossed in some force this side of Point of Rocks, and subsequently for the most part recrossed into Virginia, as though hesitating to make the experiment of getting a lodgment in Maryland.

The rebels have thrown shells across the river at canal boats, &c., which, however, did no damage.

A man professing to have made his escape from the neighborhood of Leesburgh on Wednesday, by swimming the river, arrived within our lines to-day. He states that JACKSON had entered Leesburgh with his troops, and was pushing toward Harper's Ferry; and LONGSTREET, with a considerable force, was marching in the same direction. The rebels are well supplied with artillery. Most of the Union people about Winchester and Leesburgh had made their escape into Maryland.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4090951/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

The War in Virginia: Gen. McClellan’s Orders on Assuming His Command – 2-3
The Killed and Wounded – 3-4
Preparations in Cincinnati: Troops Pouring into the City – 4
Pennsylvania Organizing: Military Preparations at Harrisburgh and Elsewhere – 4-5
The War in Kentucky: Rumored Attack on the National Forces at Shelbyville – 5
The Rebels in Western Virginia – 5
The Guerrillas in Tennessee – 5
Sketch of Gen. Kearney – 5
Editorial: Our Officers in the Field – A Needed Reform – 5-6
Editorial: Gen. McClellan’s New Command – 6
Taking Washington – 6
Funk Omnipotent – 6

[kg_mobster]

I am reading “To The Gates of Richmond” by Stephen Sears right now. To say it is not kind to McClellan would be a large understatement. Then again, the facts do speak for themselves. McClellan punched out when the fighting began, especially during the Seven Days. Worst case was on June 30, 1862, when he spent the Battle of Glendale aboard the USS Galena instead of at or near the front where leadership was desperately needed. If Lincoln and Stanton would have realized just how bad McClellan was during the Seven Days, he would have never got a second chance to lead the Army of the Potomac. Hooker in charge at Antietam might have been a possibility.

[BroJoeK]

A fourth engagement in the 1862 Dakota Indian wars ends "today", a USA victory:

Minnesota 1862 Dakota War Engagements

Date	Engagement	Military Units	Losses	Victor
Aug 19	New Ulm, Mn	Union civilians (Nix, Roos, Flandreau -350), Santee Sioux (Little Crow, Big Eagle -750)	Union 45-total (15-killed), Santee Sioux unknown	USA
Aug 20-22	Fort Ridgley, Mn.	Union Mn. Inf & Rangers (Marsh Shehan ~210), Santee Sioux (Little Crow, ~1,500))	Union 17-total (4-killed), Santee Sioux 7-total (2-killed)	USA
Sep 2-3	Birch Coulee, MN	Union Dept. of the NW (HP Grant, Anderson ~150), Dakota Indians(Gray Bird, Bald Eagle -200)	Union 60-total (13-killed), Dakotas unknown total (2-killed)	Santee Sioux
Sep 3 - 6	Fort Abercrombie, MN	Union garrison (Vander Horck ~300), Santee & other Sioux (~400)	Union 6-total (4-killed), Santee Sioux unknown	USA (fort held)

[libertylover]

Thanks for that info. I didn’t know the Indian wars were going on at the same time as the Civil War.

[rxh4n1]

Hard to believe these days, but the NYT editorials are actually correct. Especially on McClellan.

[Sam Clements]

It is worth noting that McClellan was a democrat. This should not be a surprise.

[BroJoeK]

"It is worth noting that McClellan was a democrat.
This should not be a surprise."

"It is worth noting that McClellan was a democrat.
This should not be a surprise."

"It is worth noting that McClellan was a democrat.
This should not be a surprise."

Worth noting again!

[BroJoeK]

"didn’t know the Indian wars were going on at the same time as the Civil War"

Native Americans served on both sides.
So far we've seen them in New Mexico allied to Confederates, and in Oklahoma (aka Indian Territory) on both sides.
So I've counted those battles as US Civil War statistics.
However, the Dakota War of 1862 seems to me something entirely different, so I do still list them individually, but don't add those into Civil War total numbers.