Diary of Gideon Welles: Tuesday, December 16, 1862

The army has recrossed the Rappahannock; driven back, has suffered heavy loss. The shock is great, and it is difficult to get any particulars. I fear the plan was not a wise one.

SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 1: 1861 – March 30, 1864, p. 193

Major-General George G. Meade’s General Orders, No. 101, November 9, 1863

GENERAL ORDERS, No. 101.

HDQRS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

November 9, 1863.

The commanding general congratulates the army upon the recent successful passage of the Rappahannock in the face of the enemy, compelling him to withdraw to his intrenchments behind the Rapidan.

To Major-General Sedgwick and the officers and men of the Sixth and Fifth Corps participating in the attack – particularly to the storming party under Brigadier-General Russell – his thanks are due for the gallantry displayed in the assault on the enemy's intrenched position at Rappahannock Station, resulting in the capture of 4 guns, 2,000 small-arms, 8 battle-flags, 1 bridge train, and 1,600 prisoners.

To Major-General French and the officers and men of the Third Corps engaged – particularly to the leading column, commanded by Colonel De Trobriand – his thanks are due for the gallantry displayed in the crossing at Kelly's Ford and the seizure of the enemy's intrenchments, and the capture of over 400 prisoners.

The commanding general takes great pleasure in announcing to the army that the President has expressed his satisfaction with its recent operations.

By command of Major-General Meade:

 S. WILLIAMS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 29, Part 1 (Serial No. 48), p. 576

Special to New York Papers

(Herald Dispatch.)

WASHINGTON, May 13. – Matters in the Department of the Rappahannock remain unchanged.  The enemy’s pickets are stationed about five miles beyond Fredericksburg, consisting principally of cavalry.  The only infantry pickets being on the Bowling Green road.  The great body of the enemy has fallen back and they are not now supported in this vicinity.

The railroad bridge across the Rappahannock under the supervision of Gen. Gibbons, is rapidly approaching completion, as are all the other necessary repairs to the road.

Several residents of Fredericksburgh have been arrested for treason and sent to Washington.

(Times Correspondence.)

FRANKLIN, Va., via Green Springs and Baltimore, May 13. – Gen. Fremont arrived here early to-day at the head of his army, having come by forced marches to the relief of Schenck and Millroy.  He immediately reviewed the regiments stationed here, and rode a little beyond the town.  The enemy decamped last night and are now retreating.

In the late battle at McDowell our loss was 80 killed and about 200 wounded – many but slightly.

The troops are all in high spirits and full of expectation.

(Special to Tribune.)

WASHINGTON, May 13. – The Judiciary Committee of the House have agreed to report in favor of the 3d member from California.

A delegation from Columbus, Ohio, urged the claims of that place as a site for a National Armory before the Military Committee of the House to-day.

Acting Provost Marshal, Col. Gats, yesterday took charge of the Post Office at Fredericksburgh, outing the rebel Postmaster, who has held the same office for twenty years under the Federal Government, and grown rich upon it. -   Horn had the effrontery to demand forty five dollars, which he said the U. S. Post Office Department owed him, and which he hoped would be paid in gold.

WASHINGTON, May 13. – F. Throop, of the Contract P. O. Department, left Washington to-day for Norfolk to open the Post Office at that place.  The mails will be sent by the old rout via Fortress Monroe.

Representative Lovejoy’s bill, which has passed both Houses, establishes a Department of Agriculture, with a Commissioner’s salary of $3,000 per annum, as chief executive officer. – It is separate and distinct from all other Departments and exclusively devoted to Agriculture.

The recent act of the Legislature of New York, placing its canals at the service of the Government, so far as to allow the enlargement of its canal locks to a size adequate to the passage of vessels, to add to defend the Lakes from hostile attacks, was place on the table of Congress this morning, accompanied by a letter from Capt. Ericsson, and also by evidence furnished by extracts from the London Times showing the defenceless condition of American commerce on the Lakes and the ability of England at any time to take immediate and complete control of them.

(Special to Tribune.)

NEW YORK, May. – Montery, Tenn., May 12 – To-day our troops took possession of an evacuated rebel camp 8 ½ miles from Corinth, and the rebel pickets were driven in.

The Mobile Register of the 6^th states that five Federal gunboats appeared off Dolphin Island.

The New Orleans Delta of the 4^th records and interview between Gen. Butler and the mayor and Council, and says they will continue their functions, except upon political and military offences.  No oath of [allegiance] has been required.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 17, 1862, p. 3

The Department of the Rappahannock . . .

. . . the formation of which was mentioned the other day, is commanded by Gen. McDowel, and not by Gen. McClellan as announced. Gen. McClellan’s Department is still that of the Potomac, and his headquarters are now in the vicinity of Yorktown.

– Published in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 12, 1862, p. 2