THIS WEEK IN THE CIVIL WAR July 20,1862

1862

1862 Calendar
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From the Editor: A tense stalemate has overtaken the Union and Confederate forces in both the Eastern and Western theaters. With their armies outnumbered and outresourced, Robert E. Lee and Braxton Bragg know that this situation cannot continue. Both are struggling to find a way to strike a blow at the Union army. Lee wants desperately to silence the "miscreant" commander of the Army of Virginia, John Pope who, "ought to be suppressed if possible." In Tupelo, Mississippi, Bragg has been carefully eyeing the success of John Hunt Morgan. Morgan has spent the last several weeks in Kentucky conducting a cavalry raid that has illuminated the extent of the Federal weakness in that area. After spending the first half of 1862 conquering vast areas of the South, the Union has been unable to consolidate and protect their new holdings. The painfully slow progress of Don Carlos Buell's men through northern Alabama gives Bragg the opportunity he has been searching for. Now he must shepherd his men over a roundabout seven hundred and seventy-six mile railroad journey to join forces with Kirby Smith's men in Chattanooga. Together they will be in position to launch a strike at Buell's army, or move north into Middle Tennessee. Success could even bring the Confederate army back into Kentucky, where horses and men are waiting to join the Confederate cause.

THE MAP ROOM [Sunday] [Monday] [Tuesday] [Wednesday] [Thursday] [Friday] [Saturday] Jul 20 1862 (Sunday)

John Pope sends a message to George McClellan, still hovering at Harrison's Landing, reporting the bad news. "Ewell is at Gordonsville with about 6,000 men. Jackson...at Louisa's Court House with 25,000." For his failure to cut the Virginia Central Railroad at Gordonsville, Pope blames his cavalry commander, Brigadier-General John Hatch.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, Washington, July 20, 1862. - Major-General BANKS, near Sperryville : Your dispatches of yesterday render it almost certain that General Hatch has made a failure. It is due simply to his astonishing operation of taking infantry and wagon trains, when he was ordered to make a cavalry movement purely. For three days after he should have moved on Gordonsville there was no enemy there....His course must be explained. JNO. POPE, Major-General, Commanding.

With reports coming in the Don Carlos Buell's army "is prepared to cross [the Tennessee River] near Bridgeport" and approach to within thirty miles of Chattanooga, Kirby Smith asks Braxton Bragg to come to his aid. "It is your time to strike at Middle Tennessee."

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT No. 2, Tupelo, Miss, July 20, 1862. - Maj. Gen. E. KIRBY SMITH, Commanding, &c., Knoxville, Tenn. - GENERAL: Your dispatch announcing General Buell's arrival opposite Chattanooga was received....Confronted here by a largely superior force strongly intrenched, it will be impossible for me to do more than menace and harass the enemy from this quarter....The fact is we are fearfully outnumbered in this department, the enemy having at least two to our one in the field, with a comparatively short line, upon which he may concentrate....I must urge on you the propriety of assuming command in person at Chattanooga. The officer I sent you [General McCown], I regret to say, cannot be trusted with such a command, and I implore you not to intrust him indeed with any important position. New Madrid fell by his errors and want of decision and firmness...while other prominent instances and evidences of his want of capacity and nerve for a separate, responsible command have just been brought to my notice. His high rank constraining me to send him with his division, I had no alternative at the time. Respectfully, general, your obedient servant, BRAXTON BRAGG.

After months of complaining to Richmond that his Indian troops are being neglected, Albert Pike asks to be relieved of command.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF INDIAN TERRITORY, Fort McCulloch, Ind. T., July 20, 1862. - The Secretary of War - Sir: If General Hindman [has] the power to order me out of this department to organize troops in Arkansas and to defend Northwestern Arkansas, the existence of that power [is] sufficient reason, in my judgment, why I should at once ask him to place some other officer here to execute his orders; and also there is no power on earth short of actual force that could take me within the sphere of his martial law and the jurisdiction of his cloud of provost-marshals, and no power whatever that could compel me to aid in enforcing that martial law while I regard it as a simple usurpation and the substitution of a despotism in place of a constitutional government. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, ALBERT PIKE, Brigadier-General, Comdg. Department of Indian Territory. [Sunday] [Monday] [Tuesday] [Wednesday] [Thursday] [Friday] [Saturday] Jul 21 1862 (Monday)

One day after rejecting the idea of moving his army to Tennessee, Braxton Bragg changes his mind. He issues orders for the movement of his troops, utilizing the services of six separate railroads, on a 776 mile journey, through Mobile, Alabama, and Atlanta, Georgia, to Chattanooga, Tennessee.

TUPELO, MISS., July 21, 1862. - President JEFFERSON DAVIS, Richmond, Va.: Will move immediately to Chattanooga in force and advance from there. Forward movement from here in force is not practicable. Will leave this line well defended. BRAXTON BRAGG.

With the impending arrival of "three hundred thousand raw recruits," the United States Sanitary Commission releases the conclusions of their fifteen month survey of the "sanitary interests of our great army."

NEW YORK AGENCY OF THE U.S. SANITARY COMMISSION, 498 Broadway, July 21, 1862. - The PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. - SIR: We have arrived at definite conclusions as to measures necessary to protect these new levies against certain of the dangers which threaten them....The careless and superficial medical inspection of recruits made at least 25 per cent. of the volunteer army raised last year not only utterly useless, but a positive incumbrance and embarrassment, filling our hospitals with invalids and the whole country with exaggerated notions of the dangers of war that now seriously retard the recruiting of the new levies we so urgently need. The...regulations of the U.S. Army that require a minute and searching investigation of the physical condition of every recruit were, during the spring and summer of 1861, criminally disregarded by inspecting officers. In 29 per cent. of the regiments mustered into service during that period there had been no pretense even of a thorough inspection. Few regiments have thus far taken the field that did not include among their rank and file many boys of from fourteen to sixteen--men with hernia, varicose veins, consumption, and other diseases, wholly unfitting them for duty, and which could not have escaped the eye of a competent medical officer--and others with constitutions broken by intemperance or disease, or long past the age of military service. Each of these men cost the nation a certain amount of money, amounting in the aggregate to millions of dollars....Some regiments left 10 per cent. of their men in hospitals on the road before they reached the seat of war. No national crisis can excuse the recruiting of such material....We respectfully submit that no new recruits should be accepted until they have been examined by medical officers of the U.S. Army....The liability of soldiers to disease should be far less than it is. It would be so were they required to observe the laws of health....For the last three months thousands and thousands of wan and wasted forms, brought north by railroad and on hospital transports, stricken by no rebel bullet, but by far deadlier enemies of the nation--malarial fever and camp dysentery--have been impressing on the people the lesson the Sanitary Commission has been endeavoring to teach ever since the war began, viz, that our soldiers were in far greater danger from disease than from the violence of their enemies, and that we lose ten men uselessly by preventable disease for every man destroyed by the enemy....As it is, the greatest efforts have been required to inspire officers and men with a sense of the nature and importance of sanitary laws, and with the practical application of hygienic principles to their tents, their camps, their persons, and their habits and food....If Government will call on the Medical Department of the Army for its official judgment on this grave and urgent question, we feel no doubt that these views will be abundantly confirmed, and more forcibly argued. We have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servants, HENRY W. BELLOWS, W. H. VAN BUREN, M.D., C. R. AGNEW, .D., WOLCOTT GIBBS, M.D., FREDK. LAW OLMSTEAD, GEO. T. STRONG, Executive Committee of the U.S. Sanitary Commission.

Major-General Erasmus Keyes writes a letter to his good friend Montgomery Meigs urging that the Army of the Potomac be withdrawn from its inhospitable position at Harrison's Landing on the York peninsula.

HEADQUARTERS FOURTH CORPS, Harrison's Bar, July 21, 1862. - Brig. Gen. M. C. MEIGS, Quartermaster. General U.S. Army. - MY DEAR GENERAL: In times of crises I always think of corresponding with you. I do not know the amount of your influence at this time, but whether you possess much or little, you ought now to exert all you possess to guard the state from the dangers that threaten it....I will tell you some things which you may regard as facts....The newspapers will tell you that the health of this army is improving. It is only apparently improving. Comparative rest has produced a seeming improvement during the last three weeks. I speak from no hearsay nor from any man's theory; I go every day and inspect several regiments....I find that a majority of the generals are beginning to droop. I find the men are becoming weaker by the day--their minds and bodies are growing weak together--and, though I despise most theories, I will say that to pen up more than 100,000 men and animals in a space so small that you can find no point of that space which is one mile distant from its outside boundary on the James River in the months of July, August, and September is to secure disease, weakness, and nostalgia as a certain crop....We can neither operate against the enemy nor build up our own army on this spot. Then why do we stay here? Please let me hear from you. Your friend, E. D. KEYES.

Once again, John Hatch's cavalry fails to cut the Virginia Central Railroad.

WASHINGTON, VA., July 21, 1862. - Major-General POPE: I have just received a dispatch from Colonel Anisansel, First Virginia Cavalry, dated Culpeper, July 21. He says: "I received orders from General Hatch to strike the Richmond and Gordonsville Railroad in the neighborhood of Louisa Court-House...and burn the bridge." He...learned with certainty that Jackson had been there [and] was received with great rejoicing....Colonel Anisansel proceeded to the left of Louisa Court-House, but was informed by prisoners and contrabands that no bridges or culverts were between Gordonsville and Hanover Court-House. He failed in attempting to tear up the track for want of tools and the presence of rebel troops moving on the State road to and fro. He reports that he heard the cars running, and a great stirring up was evident on his left, toward Hanover Court-House. He finally made a dash at his right...but encountered a heavy body of cavalry. N. P. BANKS, Major-General. [Sunday] [Monday] [Tuesday] [Wednesday] [Thursday] [Friday] [Saturday] Jul 22 1862 (Tuesday) Abraham Lincoln calls a cabinet meeting to announce his intention of issuing an Emancipation Proclamation and to show them his first draft of this document. It promises to free all the slaves currently held in Southern territory outside the control of the United States Army. Only Postmaster-General Montgomery Blair voices his displeasure; fearing that it could cost the Republicans control of Congress in the fall elections. Lincoln finally acquiesces to Secretary of State William Seward's advice to withhold the document "until you can give it to the country supported by military success." Otherwise it will be viewed "as the last measure of an exhausted government." Lincoln hopes that the necessary military victory will be quickly provided by John Pope.

By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation All persons held as slaves within any State, or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom....And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind and the gracious favor of Almighty God. By the President: Abraham Lincoln.

Secretary of War Edwin Stanton issues orders allowing military commanders in occupied Southern territory to "seize and use any property, real or personal, which may be necessary or convenient for their...commands." Following in Stanton's wake, John Pope expands the scope of his now infamous General Orders, No. 5, specifically targeting Culpeper County.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, Washington, July 22, 1862. - Maj. Gen. FRANZ SIGEL, Commanding First Army Corps, near Sperryville, Va., Maj. Gen. N. P. BANKS, Commanding Second Army Corps, Sperryville, Va.: Under the provisions of General Orders, No. 5, from these headquarters, you will seize for the use of the United States all horses and mules in the vicinity of your command, especially in Culpeper County, that are not absolutely needed by the inhabitants of the country. You will also seize all stores and supplies in the same vicinity that are not absolutely necessary for the maintenance or subsistence of the inhabitants. For these vouchers will be given, payable as prescribed in General Orders, No. 5. By command of Major-General Pope: GEO. D. RUGGLES, Colonel and Chief of Staff.

The activities of Confederate cavalry raiders have wreaked havoc on the Union Army's telegraphic communications in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama. To rectify this situation General Buell asks to have an expert decipherer sent to his headquarters. "The operators have had little practice that way. Send ciphers, so that my staff can learn." Despite Buell's belated attention, John Morgan's telegrapher successfully taps into the line at Somerset, Kentucky. Morgan is completing the last leg of his raid during which, by his own account, he "captured 16 cities, destroyed millions of dollars' worth of United States property...[and] paroled 1,500 Federal prisoners."

Capt. R. A. ALSTON, Assistant Adjutant-General. - JULY 22. Somerset, Kentucky: Opened office at 7 o'clock...and after everything in town belonging to the United States Government was destroyed the general [Morgan] gave me the following message to send: "SOMERSET, KY., July 22, 1862. General J. T. BOYLE, Louisville, Ky.: Good morning, Jerry! This telegraph is a great institution. You should destroy it, as it keeps me too well posted. My friend Elsworth has all of your dispatches since July 10 on file. Do you wish copies? JOHN H. MORGAN, Commanding Brigade." The above report contains but a few of the dispatches I received and sent during General Morgan's late expedition through Kentucky. Those of the greatest interest and importance are respectfully submitted. I remain, your obedient servant, GEO. A. ELSWORTH, Morgan's Telegrapher.

Cavalry raiders continue to be active in Alabama and Tennessee, burning the "storehouse and other property in Waterloo" and menacing the Union garrison at Murfreesborough.

HEADQUARTERS, Nashville, July 22, 1862. - Major-General BUELL: General Forrest, with forces variously reported from 1,200 to 4,000 strong, advanced yesterday on Lebanon pike within 8 miles of city, then marched across to Mill Greek Bridge, 7 miles out on Chattanooga Railroad; destroyed three bridges, taking 80 prisoners Second Kentucky Volunteers....Took prisoners on Murfreesborough road 12 miles from this place, camped, paroled the prisoners this morning, and marched at daylight toward Murfreesborough to capture wagon train with 360 of Thirty-sixth Indiana, who left here yesterday morning for Murfreesborough....The enemy menaced this place yesterday evening ; drove in our pickets; captured 3 of our scouts. They are divided into parties and endeavored to draw out my forces after them. I held and will hold my forces under arms in city. I have no cavalry to pursue, but will hold the city....The paroled men have just arrived. JNO. F. MILLER, Colonel, Commanding Post.

The gunboat U.S.S. Essex and the ram Queen of the West attack the C.S.S. Arkansas, lying "at anchor with a disabled engine at Vicksburg." The Arkansas is also hampered my a lack of qualified boatmen and her Captain, Isaac Newton Brown, "reports himself doomed to inactivity by the inability to get them."

UNITED STATES RAM SWITZERLAND, Off Vicksburg, July 1862. - I have the honor to inform you that, in accordance with preconcerted arrangements made with Flag-Officers Farragut and Davis, I, in the Queen of the West, made an attack upon the rebel ram and gunboat Arkansas, lying under the batteries at Vicksburg. I regret to say that, owing to failure upon the part of the parties who were to co-operate with me in the attack from some cause that is yet unexplained to me, I did not succeed as I expected in destroying the Arkansas. I did succeed, however, in striking a severe blow, and no doubt inflicted severe injury upon her; but being unsupported by the Essex and Sumter, as I had been led to expect, and exposed alone to the united fire of all the upper batteries, I was obliged to draw off without accomplishing the full result anticipated. The position that the Arkansas occupies was a very unfavorable one for my attack. I could not reach her vulnerable side without rounding about, and thus lost much headway. The consequence was that she failed to receive the effects of a full blow. In making my retreat, most unfortunately for me our gunboats had retired, and I had the undivided attention of all the enemy's batteries and sharpshooters that lined the river bank. The consequence was the Queen was completely ridded with balls and very much damaged. Most fortunately no one was seriously hurt, although several were severely wounded. Very respectfully, ALFRED W. ELLET, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Ram Fleet.

Earl Van Dorn reports on his successes in defending Vicksburg.

VICKSBURG, July 22, 1862. - The PRESIDENT: An attempt made this morning by two iron-clad rams to sink the Arkansas. The failure so complete that it was almost ridiculous. Several men were, however, killed by a shot entering one of her ports. Canal will be a failure. Nothing can be accomplished by the enemy unless they bring overwhelming numbers of troops. EARL VAN DORN, Major-General. [Sunday] [Monday] [Tuesday] [Wednesday] [Thursday] [Friday] [Saturday] Jul 23 1862 (Wednesday)

Colonel William Averell reports on some guerrilla activity on the Long Bridge Road.

HEADQUARTERS FIRST CAVALRY BRIGADE, Westover, July 23, 1862. - Capt. A.J. ALEXANDER, A.A.A.G. - SIR: I have the honor to report that yesterday nothing of interest occurred on the first Long Bridge road....Toward evening the officer in command (Captain Taylor) was proceeding leisurely up the road to visit his pickets, when he was fired upon by a concealed party of 4 or 5 and slightly wounded in the left side. The party escaped. The grounds were thoroughly searched and the point where they had been concealed discovered. Some loose oats in the sheaf indicated where they had fed their horses. A negro stated that the party was not composed of soldiers, but consisted of the neighbors. I have directed an investigation, and shall cause the arrest of such parties in the vicinity as may be implicated. Respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. W. AVERELL, Colonel, Commanding.

Robert E. Lee, worried that "General McClellan is feeling stronger," is hesitant to send reinforcements to Jackson's command near Gordonsville. However he informs "Stonewall" that, "as soon as [the] prospect is apparent" that a blow can be struck upon John Pope's army, reinforcements will be sent. Meanwhile, Pope is concerning himself with "disloyal male citizens" residing behind his lines.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, Washington, July 23, 1862. - Commanders of army corps, divisions, brigades, and detached commands will proceed immediately to arrest all disloyal male citizens within their lines...Such as are willing to take the oath of allegiance to the United States...shall be permitted to remain at their homes....Those who refuse shall be conducted South beyond the extreme pickets of this army, and be notified that if found again anywhere within our...they will be considered spies, and subjected to the extreme rigor of military law....All communication with any person whatever living within the lines of the enemy is positively prohibited...and any person concerned in writing or in carrying letters or messages in any other way will be considered and treated as a spy within the lines of the United States Army. By command of Major-General Pope: GEO. D. RUGGLES, Colonel, Assistant Adjutant-General, and Chief of Staff.

Continuing guerrilla activity on the railroad between Nashville, Tennessee and Huntsville, Alabama, and heavy rains which have washed away part of the bridge over the Duck River at Columbus, interrupt the flow of supplies to Buell's stalled army.

CORINTH, July 23, 1862. - To Capt. FRANCIS DARR, Tuscumbia: On account of the small means of transportation we are living from hand to mouth. It will be impossible for me to send you any supplies. JOHN P. HAWKINS, Captain, Commissary of Subsistence. [Sunday] [Monday] [Tuesday] [Wednesday] [Thursday] [Friday] [Saturday] Jul 24 1862 (Thursday)

Union cavalry return from Hanover Junction after a successful raid. This action allows Pope to claim his first victory over the forces of "Stonewall" Jackson.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, Washington, July 24, 1862. - Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: A cavalry expedition, sent...from Fredericksburg, returned last evening. Early yesterday morning they met and defeated a body of Confederate cavalry about 100 strong, stationed near Carmel Church, on the Telegraph road from Fredericksburg to Richmond, burnt their camp and six cars loaded with corn, and broke up the telegraph from Gordonsville. An hour later a large body of Stuart's cavalry came up to attack them. These, too, were defeated, driven across the North Anna River, and pursued till within sight of Hanover Junction. Several prisoners, a large number of horses, and many arms were brought back. A march of 70 miles and the encounter and defeat of two bodies of Confederate cavalry was accomplished in twenty-nine hours and without the loss of a man. JNO. POPE, Major-general, Commanding.

General Bragg, in the midst of attempting to move 5,000 men a day on the dilapidated Southern railway system, is ordered to appoint a court of inquiry to investigate the charges of "drunkenness in the army," leveled at Major-General George Crittenden. Crittenden, rumored to be drunk during the battle of Mill Springs, was found "in a state of intoxication" just prior to the Shiloh campaign.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT NO. 2, Tupelo, Miss., July 24, 1862. - By direction of the President of the Confederate States a court of inquiry is appointed to assemble at such time and place as may hereafter be determined by Major-General Van Dorn to examine into the conduct of Maj. Gen. G. B. Crittenden, Provisional Army of the Confederate States, under the provisions of the "act to punish drunkenness in the army," approved April 21, 1862. - Detail for the Court: Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn, Provisional Army of the Confederate States; Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge, Provisional Army of the Confederate States; Brig. Gen. Daniel Ruggles, Provisional Army of the Confederate States. Lieut. Col. G. W. Brent is appointed judge-advocate, and is authorized to issue summons or subpoenas to all the necessary witnesses within the limits of the department, which all persons will be required to obey promptly. By command of General Bragg: THOMAS JORDAN, Chief of Staff.

Due to falling water levels and sickness among his ships' crews, Rear-Admiral David Farragut orders his fleet of gunboats to withdraw down the Mississippi River to Baton Rouge.

VICKSBURG, July 24, 1862. - President DAVIS: The whole of the lower fleet and all the troops have disappeared down the river. The upper fleet in movement, but still at anchorage. Ran one transport ashore above with light battery and burnt her. Mail taken with interesting accounts of the Arkansas. EARL VAN DORN, Major-General. [Sunday] [Monday] [Tuesday] [Wednesday] [Thursday] [Friday] [Saturday] Jul 25 1862 (Friday)

John Pope continues to wage war on the citizens of northern Virginia. He issues orders prohibiting guards from being placed over private property. "Soldiers were called into the field to do battle against the enemy, and it is not expected that their force and energy shall be wasted in protecting private property of those most hostile to the Government." Near Richmond, General Lee is still wrestling with the problem of whether he can afford the risk of sending reinforcements to Jackson.

HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, July 25, 1862. - Maj. Gen. THOMAS J. JACKSON, Commanding Valley District, &c. - GENERAL: I hope you will be able to get definite information of Pope, his numbers, &c. You must keep your troops well in hand and your cavalry close upon him, so that he cannot strike you an unexpected blow should you not be strong enough to strike at him....I am extremely anxious to re-enforce you, and would send General A. P. Hill's division, but he is now in arrest....Although feeling weak, uncertain which side of the James River the enemy will advance, and being obliged to watch both, I could send you a force to suppress Pope should I see a chance of your hitting him which did not involve its too long absence. Keep me advised and yourself prepared....If Pope goes far enough, could you swoop down north of the Rappahannock, suddenly uniting with Stuart, and clear the left bank opposite Fredericksburg? Wishing you all health and success, I am, very truly, R. E. LEE.

Anchored above Vicksburg, Andrew Ellet, left behind after the withdrawal of Farragut's gunboats, is forced to use large numbers of blacks to man the depleted crews for his battered ram fleet.

UNITED STATES RAM SWITZERLAND, Above Vicksburg, July 25, 1862. - Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: I have the honor to apply to you for instructions. Some of my officers and men have deserted their posts and disobeyed my orders at a period of great danger to the public service. I have the parties under arrest, but can find no means, either through Commodores Farragut or Davis or Generals Williams or Grant, to bring them to trial. I have been obliged, in consequence of the great amount of sickness that prevails among my crews, to employ large numbers of blacks, who came to me asking protection. Some of them had been in the employ of General Williams, and left by him unprovided for on the Louisiana shore. I am desirous to know what I am to do with these people after I no longer require their services and how I am to bring these offending parties to trial. Very respectfully, ALFRED W. ELLET, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding.

John Morgan's horsemen finally leave the Bluegrass state. Although the raid is more embarrassing than it is damaging to Union military interests in Kentucky, it does illustrate how weakly defended the state is and how vulnerable it would be to a concerted Confederate attack.

LOUISVILLE, KY., July 25, 1862. - Major-General BUELL: Morgan has left the State....Will report fully as I have time. Morgan gone to Sparta. There is rebel cavalry at Huntsville, Salins, and near Sparta. I trust they may be taken. There are bands over the State; nearly all the pretended deserters from the rebels and paroled soldiers and those who have passed our lines form their bands or the nucleus. If they could be cut off at Sparta we could give protection to other parts....I have some 500 convalescents here; sending them forward gradually. Shall I arm them from the arsenal here! J. T. BOYLE, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

On Wednesday, Louisiana's Governor Thomas Moore complained to Jefferson Davis that it has been three months since a Confederate general has been stationed in Louisiana. "This persistent neglect is incomprehensible." Today he writes to Secretary of War George Randolph with further complaints about the amount of attention his state is receiving from the Richmond government.

HEADQUARTERS, Opelousas, July 25, 1862. - Hon. GEORGE W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War. - SIR: I protest against the division of Western Louisiana as at present made. All north of Red River is placed in General Hindman's department and is tacked onto Arkansas; all south of that stream is attached to Texas and is in General Hébert's department. Louisiana is as completely sunk out of existence as Virginia was proposed to be by Cameron. Hindman's headquarters are at Little Rock, Hébert's at San Antonio, and both inaccessible to me....General Van Dorn has all my guns and other property yet. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, THO. O. MOORE, Governor. [Sunday] [Monday] [Tuesday] [Wednesday] [Thursday] [Friday] [Saturday] Jul 26 1862 (Saturday)

In what has become an all to common refrain, George McClellan asks for more men for his immobilized army.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Berkeley, July 26, 1862. - Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Commanding U. S. Army. - GENERAL: I have seen to-day nearly a thousand of our sick and wounded just returned from Richmond....All of these who have enjoyed any opportunities of observation unite in stating that re-enforcements are pouring into Richmond from the South....Supplies are being rapidly pushed in by all routes. It would appear that Longstreet is in front of Richmond on this side of the James; D. H. Hill at Fort Darling and vicinity. Our cavalry pickets on Charles City road were driven in to-day by a heavy force of cavalry and some artillery....Allow me to urge most strongly that all the troops of Burnside and Hunter, together with all that can possibly be spared from other points, be sent to me at once. I am sure that you will agree with me that the true defense of Washington consists in a rapid and heavy blow given by this army upon Richmond. Can you not possibly draw 15,000 or 20,000 men from the West to re-enforce me temporarily? They can return the moment we gain Richmond. Please give weight to this suggestion; I am sure it merits it. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. B. McCLELLAN, Major-General, Commanding.

Five weeks after his advance upon Vicksburg, General Thomas Williams' expeditionary force is back at Baton Rouge. "Numerically little reduced by disease, effectively greatly so." Sensing an opportunity to strike a blow at these isolated troops, Earl Van Dorn attempts to mobilize enough troops to mount an attack.

VICKSBURG, MISS., July 26, 1862. - General PRICE, [Tupelo, Miss. ] - GENERAL: The enemy at Baton Rouge are threatening Camp Moore. I have ordered 4,000 men there. If you will send me one of your brigades I will break up their nest there and return to you in twelve days. Will you do it? Please answer. I cannot venture more than 4,000 from this point just now, and the enemy are 5,000 or 6,000 strong in position. EARL VAN DORN, Major-General.

Confederate cavalry raids continue to strike at Buell's extended supply lines. Buell explains to General Halleck that "these disgraceful and serious results are due to the neglect and disobedience of orders...and I shall bring every offender to trial. I am trying to make our lines secure against such occurrences, for they are fraught with the most serious consequences to an army operating on such long lines."

HDQRS. CAVALRY BRIGADE, ARMY OF THE WEST, Moulton, Ala., July 26, 1862. - Major SNEAD. - MAJOR: Having arrived near Courtland, avoiding all roads as much as possible, I sent two companies...to advance upon the flank. I succeeded, through corn fields and by-paths, in getting within 500 yards of the enemy's camp, when I charged them with the main body of cavalry....The enemy's infantry fell back under cover of the railroad and fired a volley, but I soon crossed the railroad and charged down it on the north side, which drove them from the trestle work and forced them to take shelter under the bank of a creek, where it was impossible to get at them on horseback. I immediately pushed around some dismounted men to charge them on foot. Seeing this they ceased firing, threw down their arms, and surrendered. In getting to this infantry command I had to charge through the cavalry encampment, dispersed their cavalry, taking the commander and many others prisoners, captured 2 wagons and teams, 500 bushels sacked corn, many horses and equipments, a large number of arms, all the camp and garrison equipage of four companies, and six days' supplies; destroyed the telegraph line, three pieces of trestle work and a bridge, burned a depot, and took 133 prisoners (8 commissioned officers)....This country is peculiarly adapted for cavalry service of this kind. Forage in abundance can be procured; subsistence, except sugar, coffee, and salt, can be purchased. I am, sir, with respect, your obedient servant, FRANK C. ARMSTRONG, Brigadier-General.

Rufus King questions the wisdom of attempting to expel all disloyal male citizens from the extremely disloyal city of Fredericksburg, Virginia.

FREDERICKSBURG, July 26, 1862---8.45 a.m. - Col. GEORGE D. RUGGLES, Chief of Staff, Washington: General orders...directing arrest of all disloyal male citizens, has reached us through the newspapers, but not otherwise, and creates great excitement in Fredericksburg, where nearly the whole population is disloyal. I anticipate a pretty general stampede from there. Is it expected that I shall put the order in force at once in that town? RUFUS KING, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

The feasibility of adding further exemptions to the already diluted conscription act is raised by North Carolina Governor Henry T. Clark.

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Raleigh, July 26, 1862. - Hon. GEORGE W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War, Richmond, Va. - SIR: The numerous appeals made to me for my influence to exempt certain very hard cases under the conscript act induces me to call your attention to three classes who seem to have pressing claims for your consideration: First. Tanners--There are many small establishments of this sort which contribute essentially to the supply of a most necessary article, whose services cannot well be stopped. They supply neighborhoods, while larger tanneries supply the public. Second. There is a class of millers who are directly and immediately necessary for a supply of food, and too poor to employ a substitute like their brethren on a larger scale, who are exempted without a substitute. Third. Physicians themselves are not entitled to more than other professions or trades...many large districts of country are likely to be without physicians if the conscript act is rigidly enforced. Doctors are an admitted necessity. All of them should not be excused, but a regulation which would leave one to each district would be most favorably esteemed. The law gives you no power or discretion about discharges or exemptions; but they may be enrolled, with permission to remain at home "waiting orders." If these cases have any merit they will at once occur to you, and I leave them for your consideration. Yours, most respectfully, HENRY T. CLARK.
Author: Rienzi99@civilweek.com REFERENCES LAST WEEK IN THE CIVIL WAR NEWS FROM THE REAR

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