Report on the Organization and Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac: To which is Added an Account of the Campaign in Western Virginia, with Plans of Battle-fields

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Sheldon, 1864 - 480 pages

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Page 171 - You will do me the justice to remember, I always insisted that going down the bay in search of a field, instead of fighting at or near Manassas, was only shifting and not surmounting a difficulty ; that we would find the same enemy, and the same or equal intrenchments, at either place.
Page 144 - And allow me to ask, do you really think I should permit the line from Richmond, via Manassas Junction, to this city, to be entirely open, except what resistance could be presented by less than 20,000 unorganized troops? This is a question which the country will not allow me to evade.
Page 194 - York rivers, than by a land march. In order, therefore, to increase the strength of the attack upon Richmond, at the earliest moment, General McDowell has been ordered to march upon that city by the shortest route. He is ordered, keeping himself always in position to save the capital from all possible attack, so to operate, as to put his left wing in communication with your right, and you are instructed to cooperate, so as to establish this communication as soon as possible. By extending your right...
Page 228 - I am glad to learn that you are pressing forward re-enforcements so vigorously. I shall be in perfect readiness to move forward and take Richmond the moment McCall reaches here and the ground will admit the passage of artillery.
Page 354 - General Stuart will detach a squadron of cavalry to accompany the commands of Generals Longstreet, Jackson and McLaws, and, with the main body of the cavalry, will cover the route of the army, and bring up all stragglers that may have been left behind. " The commands of Generals Jackson, McLaws and Walker, after accomplishing the objects for which they have been detached, will join the main body of the army at Boonsboro
Page 300 - You say that the withdrawal from the present position will cause the certain demoralization of the army, " which is now in excellent discipline and condition." I can not understand why a simple change of position to a new and by no means distant base, will demoralize an army in excellent discipline, unless the officers themselves assist in that demoralization, which I am satisfied they will not. Your change of front from your extreme right at Hanover...
Page 354 - General Long-street's command will pursue the same road as far as Boonsboro', where it will halt with the reserve, supply and baggage trains of the army. % General McLawa, with his own division and that of General RH Anderson, will follow General Longstreet. On reaching Middletown, he will take the route to Harper's Ferry, and by Friday morning possess himself of the Maryland Heights, and endeavor to capture the enemy at Harper's Ferry and vicinity.
Page 232 - If I cannot fully control all his troops, I want none of them, but would prefer to fight the battle with what I have, and let others be responsible for the results.
Page 201 - The next dispatch clearly sets forth the situation of affairs at the time : WASHINGTON, May 25, 1862. Your dispatch received. Gen. Banks was at Strasburg with about six thousand men, Shields having been taken from him to swell a column for McDowell to aid you at Richmond, and the rest of his force scattered at various places. On the 23d, a Rebel force of seven...
Page 297 - All points of secondary importance elsewhere should be abandoned,, and every available man brought here. A decided victory here, and the military strength of the rebellion is crushed. It matters not what partial reverses we may meet with elsewhere: here is the true defence of Washington ; it is here, on the banks of the James, that the fate of the Union should be decided.

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