"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, "I am compelled again to call your attention to the great deficiency of shoes, and other indispensable articles of clothing, that still exists in some of the corps in this army. Upon the assurances of the chief quartermaster, who based his calculation upon information received from Washington, that clothing would be forwarded at certain times, corps commanders sent their wagons to Hagerstown and Harper's Ferry for it. It did not arrive as promised, and has not yet arrived. Unless some measures are taken to insure the prompt forwarding of these supplies, there will necessarily be a corresponding delay in getting the army ready to move, as the men cannot march without shoes. Everything has been done that can be done at these headquarters to accomplish the desired result. It was "I am using every possible exertion to get this army ready to move. only yesterday that a part of our shoes and clothing arrived at Hagerstown. It is being issued to the troops as rapidly as possible. 66 GEORGE B. McCLELLAN, "Major General. "Major General H. W. HALLEck, "HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, October 15, 1862-7.30 p. m. 66 “General Franklin reports that there is by no means as much clothing as was called for at Hagerstown. I think, therefore, you had better have additional supplies, especially of shoes, forwarded to Harper's Ferry as soon as possible. "R. B. MARCY, Chief of Staff. "Colonel R. INGALLS, "Care of Colonel Rucker, Quartermaster, Washington." "HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, . "October 16, 1862. "General J. F. Reynolds just telegraphs as follows: My quartermaster reports that there are no shoes, tents, blankets, or knapsacks at Hagerstown. He was able to procure only a complete supply of overcoats and pants, with a few socks, drawers, and coats. This leaves many of the men yet without a shoe. My requisitions call for 5,255 pairs of shoes.' "Please push the shoes and stockings up to Harper's Ferry as fast as possible. "R. B. MARCY, Chief of Staff. "Colonel R. INGALLS, "Care of Colonel Rucker, Quartermaster, Washington." HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Camp near Knoxville, Maryland, October 9, 1862. "You did riga. n sending clothing to Harper's Ferry. You will not be able. to send too much or too quickly. We want blankets, shoes, canteens, &c., very much. "RUFUS INGALLS, "Lieutenant Colonel and Aide-de-Camp, Chief Quartermaster. 66 Colonel C. G. SAWTELLE, HEADQUARTERS Army of THE POTOMAC, Camp near Knoxville, Maryland, October 10, 1862. 'Shipments to Hagerstown must be made direct through, to avoid the contemptible delays at Harrisburg. If Colonel Crosman was ordered to send clothing, I hope he has sent it, for the suffering and impatience are excessive. RUFUS INGALLS, "Lieutenant Colonel and Aide-de-Camp, Chief Quartermaster. Captain AUGUSTUS BOYD, 66 66 "HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Camp near Knoxville, October 13, 1862. "Has the clothing arrived yet? If not, do you know where it is? What clothing was taken by the rebels at Chambersburg? Did they capture any property that was en route to you? Have we not got clothing at Harrisburg? Send an agent over the road to obtain information, and hurry up the supplies. Reply at once. 66 66 "RUFUS INGALLS, "Lieutenant Colonel and Aide-de-Camp, Chief Quartermaster. Captain GEORGE H. WEEKS, 66 Depot Quartermaster, Hagerstown." "SHARPSBURG, October 15, 1862. I have just returned from Hagerstown, where I have been for the clothing for the corps. There was nothing there but overcoats, trowsers, and a few uniform coats and socks. There were not any shoes, blankets, shirts, or shelter tents. Will you please tell me where and when the balance can be had. Shall I send to Harper's Ferry for them to-morrow? The corps surgeon has just made a requisition for 45 hospital tents. There are none at Hagerstown. Will you please to inform me if I can get them at Harper's Ferry? 66 FIELDING LOWRY, "Captain and Quartermaster. "General INGALLS.” 66 HAGERSTOWN, October 15, 1862. "I want at least ten thousand (10,000) suits of clothing in addition to what I have received. It should be here now. “Colonel INGALLS, Quartermaster.” "G. W. WEEKS, 66 Assistant Quartermaster. "HARPER'S FERRY, October 22, 1862. "We have bootees, 12,000; greatcoats, 4,000; drawers and shirts are gone; blankets and stockings nearly so; 15,000 each of these four articles are wanted. "ALEX. BLISS, "General INGALLS, "Chief Quartermaster, &c." 66 Captain and Assistant Quartermaster. 66 "MCCLELLAN'S HEADQUARTERS, "October 24, 1862-11 a. m. "Please send to Captain Bliss, at Harper's Ferry, 10,000 blankets, 12,000 caps, 5,000 overcoats, 10,000 pairs bootees, 2,000 pairs artillery and cavalry boots, 15,000 pairs stockings, 15,000 drawers, and 15,000 pants. The clothing arrives slowly. Can it not be hurried along faster? May I ask you to obtain authority for this shipment? “ RUFUS INGALLS, "Lieutenant Colonel and Aide-de-Camp, Chief Quartermaster. "Captain D. G. THOMAS, 66 "Military Storekeeper, Washington." 66 HAGERSTOWN, October 30. Clothing has arrived this morning. None taken by rebels. Shall I supply Franklin, and retain portions for Porter and Reynolds until called for? "Colonel INGALLS." 66 "G. W. WEEKS, Captain and Assistant Quartermaster. The following statement, taken from a report of the chief quartermaster with the army, will show what progress was made in supplying the army with clothing from the 1st of September to the date of crossing the Potomac on the 31st of October, and that a greater part of the clothing did not reach our depots until after the 14th of October: Statement of clothing and equipage received at the different depots of the army of the Potomac from September 1, 1862, to October 31, 1862. 6,200 4, 22, 025 From September 1 to October 6.10, 700 4,000 65, 200 30, 000 Total 1903, 000 6,000 6, 200 6,000 4, 2004, 200 11, 100 500 10, 22118, 325 12, 989 1,000 6,000 3,000 1,250 9,000 18, 876 5, 000 2,500 3,600 9,000 1,500 3,008 2,200 9,900 5,000 20, 040 97, 700 34,500 123, 425 4, 190 6, 250 28, 229 45, 301 33, 889 12, 70033, 84023, 100 Statement of clothing and equipage received, &c.—Continued. Colonel Ingalls, chief quartermaster, in his report upon this subject, says: "There was great delay in receiving our clothing. The orders were promptly given by me and approved by General Meigs, but the roads were slow to transport, particularly the Cumberland Valley road. 66 'For instance, clothing ordered to Hagerstown on the 7th October for the corps of Franklin, Porter, and Reynolds did not arrive there until about the 18th, and by that time, of course, there were increased wants and changes in position of troops. The clothing of Sumner arrived in great quantities near the last of October, almost too late for issue, as the army was crossing into Virginia. We finally left 50,000 suits at Harper's Ferry, partly on the cars just arrived, and partly in store." The causes of the reduction of our cavalry force have already been recited. The difficulty in getting new supplies from the usual sources led me to apply for and obtain authority for the cavalry and artillery officers to purchase their own horses. The following are the telegrams and letters on this subject: "HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, "October 12, 1862-12.45 p. m. "It is absolutely necessary that some energetic means be taken to supply the cavalry of this army with remount horses. The present rate of supply is (1,050) ten hundred and fifty per week for the entire army here and in front of Washington. From this number the artillery draw for their batteries. "Major General HALLECK, "General-in-Chief." "GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, The general-in-chief, in a letter to me dated Washington, D. C., October 14, 1862, replies to this despatch in the following language: "I have caused the matters complained of in your telegrams of the 11th and 12th to be investigated. "In regard to horses, you say that the present rate of supply is only 150 per week for the entire army here and in front of Washington. I find from the records that the issues for the last six weeks have been 8,754, making an average per week of 1,459." One thousand and fifty (1,050) is the number stated in the original despatch, now in my possession; and as not only figures were used, but the number was written out in full, I can hardly see how it is possible for the telegraphic operator to have made a mistake in the transmission of the message. H. Ex. Doc. 15-15 "With my small cavalry force it is impossible for me to watch the line of the Potomac properly, or even make the reconnoissances that are necessary for our movements. This makes it necessary for me to weaken my line very much, by extending the infantry to guard the innumerable fords. This will continue until the river rises, and it will be next to impossible to prevent the rebel cavalry raids. My cavalry force, as I urged this morning, should be largely and immediately increased, under any hypothesis, whether to guard the river, or advance on the enemy, or both. "Major General H. W. HALLECK, "Commander-in-Chief." "GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, "Major General. The following is an extract from the official report of Colonel Ingalls: 66 Immediately after the battle of Antietam efforts were made to supply deficiencies in clothing and horses. Large requisitions were prepared and sent in. The artillery and cavalry required large numbers to cover losses sustained in battle, on the march, and by diseases. Both of these arms were deficient when they left Washington. A most violent and destructive disease made its appearance at this time, which put nearly 4,000 animals out of service. Horses reported perfectly well one day would be dead lame the next, and it was difficult to foresee where it would end, or what number would cover the loss. They were attacked in the hoof and tongue. No one seemed able to account for the appearance of this disease. Animals kept at rest would recover in time, but could not be worked. I made application to send west and purchase horses at once, but it was refused, on the ground that the outstanding contracts provided for enough, but they were not delivered sufficiently fast, nor in sufficient numbers until late in October and early in November. I was authorized to buy 2,500 late in October, but the delivery was not completed until in November, after we had reached Warrenton." In a letter from General Meigs, written on the 14th of October, and addressed to the general-in-chief, it is stated: "There have been issued, therefore, to the army of the Potomac, since the battles in front of Washington, to replace losses, (9,254) nine thousand two hundred and fifty-four horses." What number of horses were sent to General Pope before his return to Washington I have no means of determining; but the following statement made upon my order, by the chief quartermaster with the army, and who had means for gaining accurate information, force upon my mind the conclusion that the Quartermaster General was in error: "HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, "Chief Quartermaster's Office, October 31, 1862. "Horses purchased since September 6, 1862, by Colonel Ingalls chief quartermaster, and issued to the forces under the immediate command of Major General George B. McClellan. 1,200 "Issued and turned over to the above force by Captain J. J. Dana, assistant quartermaster, (in Washington).. 2,261 Issued to forces at and near Washington which have since joined the command... 352 "Total purchased by Colonel Ingalls and issued and turned over by Captain Dana to the forces in this immediate command.... 3,813 |