WASHINGTON D. C. October 6, 1862,
Major-General MCCLELLAN:
I am instructed to telegraph you as follows: The President
directs that you cross the Potomac and give battle to the enemy or drive him
south. Your army must move now while the roads are good. If you cross the river
between the enemy and Washington, and cover the latter by your operation you
can be re-enforced with 30,000 men. If you move up the Valley of the
Shenandoah, not more than 12,000 or 15,000 can be sent to you. The President
advises the interior line, between Washington and the enemy, but does not order
it. He is very desirous that your army move as soon as possible. You will
immediately report what line you adopt and when you intend to cross the river;
also to what point the re-enforcements are to be sent. It is necessary that the
plan of your operations be positively determined on before orders are given for
building bridges and repairing railroads.
I am directed to add that the Secretary of War and the
General-in-Chief fully concur with the President in these instructions.
H. W. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
19, Part 1 (Serial No. 27), p. 72
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