HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF
THE POTOMAC,
October 29, 1862 – 2 p.m.
His Excellency the
PRESIDENT:
In reply to your dispatch
of this morning,* I have the honor to state that the accounts I get of the
enemy's position and movements are very conflicting. A dispatch I have just
received from General Kelley, at Cumberland, says three ladies, just in at
Cherry Run from Martinsburg, report that Generals Hill, Jackson, and Hampton
are encamped near there, with a regiment of cavalry at Hedgesville. General
Pleasonton reports from Purcellville yesterday that information from Union
people places Hill's command at Upperville, and that troops have been passing
there for some days; that their pickets extend as far as the Snickersville and
Aldie turnpike, over which they allow no one to pass, north or south.
Pleasonton reports this morning that a Union Quaker, who escaped from the
rebels yesterday, says he saw Longstreet at Upperville day before yesterday;
that he had 18,000 men with him. Pleasonton also states that it is reported to
him that Stuart with two brigades was at Berryville; that Walker's brigade was
at Upperville. A Union man told him that Longstreet was at Upperville,
Bloomfield, and Middleburg. General Couch reports yesterday that a contraband
who came into Harper's Ferry from beyond Charlestown says Hill's division came
back from near Leetown on Sunday, and that the cavalry told him Jackson was
coming with his whole force to attack Harper's Ferry. He is confident that
there is infantry back of Charlestown, as he heard the drums beating last
night. General Porter reports last night that, through several sources, he is
under the impression that R. E. Lee is not far distant from him, and that
Stuart is within an hour's march; that there are the same number of cavalry
regiments opposite him as usual, and that the enemy moved from Bunker Hill
toward Shannondale yesterday. I ordered
General Averell to make a reconnaissance to Martinsburg, but he has not yet
reported his return. General Pleasonton has his scouts well out toward
Middleburg, Upperville, and Aldie, and I will soon have more reliable
information. In the meantime I am pushing forward troops and supplies as
rapidly as possible. We will occupy Waterford and Wheatland to-day. There is
now no further difficulty in getting supplies of clothing. Reynolds' corps and
Whipple's division have been fully supplied, and are being sent forward.
Couch's corps moves forward from Harper's Ferry to-day around the Loudoun
Heights.
GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major-General,
Commanding.
[19.]
__________
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 51,
Part 1 (Serial No. 107), p. 897-8
