The War Department
keeps very close as to matters at Harper’s Ferry and vicinity. There is either
little knowledge of what is doing, or a very great reluctance to communicate.
Mr. Felton, President of the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore R. R.
sends me a, letter by private hands, stating that while he was not alarmed, he
desired a gunboat at Gunpowder Creek, etc., to protect railroad property. Sent
Fox to inquire of General Halleck as to the necessity. General H. thinks it
unnecessary; but will advise us in season if wanted. Beyond this nothing is
communicated.
Stanton tells me
that he has no idea the Rebels are in any force above, and should not give them
a serious thought, but that Grant says he thinks they are in force, without,
however, giving his reasons or any facts. The President has been a good deal
incredulous about a very large army on the upper Potomac, yet he begins to
manifest anxiety. But he is under constraint, I perceive, such as I know is
sometimes imposed by the dunderheads at the War Office, when they are in a fog,
or scare, and know not what to say or do. It is not natural or the way of the
President to withhold information, or speculation at such times, and I can
always tell how things are with Halleck and Stanton when there are important
movements going on. The President is now enjoined to silence, while Halleck is
in a perfect maze, bewildered, without intelligent decision or self-reliance,
and Stanton is wisely ignorant. I am inclined to believe, however, that at this
time profound ignorance reigns at the War Department concerning the Rebel raid
in the Shenandoah Valley; that they absolutely know nothing of it, — its
numbers, where it is, or its destination. It has to me appeared more
mischievous than to others. I think we are in no way prepared for it, and a
fierce onset could not well be resisted. It is doubtful, however, whether the
onset will be made, for it is the nature of man to lose his opportunities. The
true course of the Rebels is to strike at once at this point.
SOURCE: Gideon
Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and
Johnson, Vol. 2: April 1, 1864 — December 31, 1866, p. 69-70
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