Headquarters of The Army,
Washington, May 15, 1861.
Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, U. S. Army,
Commanding Department of the Ohio, Cincinnati :
Sir: Your letter of the 10th of May, by Lieutenant Williams, is
received. I am directed by the General-in-Chief to reply as follows: He concurs in your general views respecting the establishment of batteries on the Lower Ohio. You have doubtless before this received General Orders, Nos. 14 and 19, placing you in command of the Department of the Ohio, copies of which are herewith inclosed. This assignment will enable you to carry out your policy tending to quiet the excitement along the river. Capt. N. H. McLean, assistant adjutant general, has been ordered to report to you as soon as he can be relieved probably in two or three days—from commissary duty at Harrisburg. Maj. Robert Anderson, with the commission of colonel, has been ordered to muster into service as many volunteers in Western Virginia and Kentucky as he can enroll. He will be directed to communicate with you in relation to the disposition to be made of these troops, which after muster will come under your command. Herewith I send you copies of his commission and instructions. The War Department has given authority for raising a regiment of cavalry in sections of country within your department. It will, of course, also be at your disposal. It will not be possible to transfer a regular company of horse artillery to your department, and the Ordnance Department has not now the means to equip a new company. You will therefore be obliged to turn the Fort Randall companies to the best account your resources will permit. In case Kentucky should secede, the recruiting depot at Newport Barracks will be immediately transferred to another point. In this event the barracks will be turned over to you, and you will exercise your own sound judgment in regard to holding the post. Your intention to support Major Burbank in case of emergency is approved, but so long as Newport Barracks continues to be occupied as a recruiting depot the operations of that branch of the service should not be interfered with.
received. I am directed by the General-in-Chief to reply as follows: He concurs in your general views respecting the establishment of batteries on the Lower Ohio. You have doubtless before this received General Orders, Nos. 14 and 19, placing you in command of the Department of the Ohio, copies of which are herewith inclosed. This assignment will enable you to carry out your policy tending to quiet the excitement along the river. Capt. N. H. McLean, assistant adjutant general, has been ordered to report to you as soon as he can be relieved probably in two or three days—from commissary duty at Harrisburg. Maj. Robert Anderson, with the commission of colonel, has been ordered to muster into service as many volunteers in Western Virginia and Kentucky as he can enroll. He will be directed to communicate with you in relation to the disposition to be made of these troops, which after muster will come under your command. Herewith I send you copies of his commission and instructions. The War Department has given authority for raising a regiment of cavalry in sections of country within your department. It will, of course, also be at your disposal. It will not be possible to transfer a regular company of horse artillery to your department, and the Ordnance Department has not now the means to equip a new company. You will therefore be obliged to turn the Fort Randall companies to the best account your resources will permit. In case Kentucky should secede, the recruiting depot at Newport Barracks will be immediately transferred to another point. In this event the barracks will be turned over to you, and you will exercise your own sound judgment in regard to holding the post. Your intention to support Major Burbank in case of emergency is approved, but so long as Newport Barracks continues to be occupied as a recruiting depot the operations of that branch of the service should not be interfered with.
Your telegram of the 12th, in relation to clothing, has also been received. The general begs to refer you to communications sent you by the Quartermaster-General on this subject. At present no more funds than the $30,000 recently sent to Captain Dickerson, assistant quartermaster, can be furnished from that department. The general suggests that you forward detailed requisitions for the various stores you require, that intelligent action may be had upon them; and in making out the requisitions please keep in view the immense draft made, and of necessity to be made, upon the means of all kinds at the disposal of the Government. The general urges you to impress on the Governors of the Northwestern States the necessity of substituting the long-term—three years—volunteers for three-months’ men as rapidly as possible. The Adjutant-General is engaged in arranging the quotas for the several States. It is of the first importance that the best class of arms should be reserved for the three-years’ volunteers, as but a very limited number is on hand. The greatest efforts and the best means should be applied to equip and discipline the three years’ men. Lieut. Lawrence A.Williams, Tenth Infantry, is ordered to report to you, and Captain Dickerson, assistant quartermaster, will for the present remain under your orders. Besides letters, & c., already acknowledged as received from you, the following have been received: Letters of April 28, May 4 and 9; telegrams of May 11, in relation to prisoners at Saint Louis, and May 13, in relation to concentration of troops at Saint Louis, and one received this day in relation, to affairs in Western Virginia. The subject of the prisoners is under consideration. Since the foregoing letter was written, your satisfactory report of May 11 has been read to the general.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant-General.