Monday, April 14, 2014

Major-General George B. McClellan to Major-General Henry W. Halleck, September 14, 1862 – 9:40 p.m.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Three miles beyond Middletown, Md., Sept. 14, 1862 9.40 p.m.
(Received 1 a.m., 15th.)
Major-General HALLECK,
General-in- Chief:

After a very severe engagement, the corps of Hooker and Reno have carried the heights commanding the Hagerstown road. The troops behaved magnificently. They never fought better. Franklin has been hotly engaged on the extreme left. I do not yet know the result, except that the firing indicated progress on his part. The action continued until after dark, and terminated leaving us in possession of the entire crest. It has been a glorious victory. I cannot yet tell whether the enemy will retreat during the night or appear in increased force in the morning. I am hurrying up everything from the rear, to be prepared for any eventuality. I regret to add that the gallant and able General Reno is killed.

GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
[Major-General.]

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 19, Part 2 (Serial No. 28), p. 289

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