THE MAP ROOM
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Jul 27 1862 (Sunday)

Robert E. Lee finally decides to reinforce "Stonewall" Jackson. After convincing James Longstreet to release A.P. Hill from arrest, Lee sends Hill and his 18,000 men to Gordonsville. Lee also wants revenge against General Adolph von Steinwehr who has arrested "five of the most prominent citizens of Page County, Virginia, to be held as hostages and to suffer death" if any of Steinwehr's men are "shot by bushwackers."

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, July 27, 1862. - General THOMAS J. JACKSON, Commanding Valley District: GENERAL: I will send A. P. Hill's division and the Second Brigade of Louisiana Volunteers to you.....These troops will exceed 18,000 men....Do not let your troops run down if it can possibly be avoided by attention to their wants, comforts, &c., by their respective commanders. This will require your personal attention; also consideration and preparation in your movements. I want Pope to be suppressed. The course indicated in his orders, if the newspapers report them correctly, cannot be permitted and will lead to retaliation on our part. You had better notify him the first opportunity. The order of Steinwehr must be disavowed, or you must hold the first captains from his army for retaliation. They will not be exchanged. A. P. Hill you will, I think, find a good officer, with whom you can consult, and by advising with your division commanders as to your movements much trouble will be saved you in arranging details, as they can act more intelligently. I wish to save you trouble from my increasing your command. Cache your troops as much as possible till you can strike your blow, and be prepared to return to me when done, if necessary. I will endeavor to keep General McClellan quiet till it is over, if rapidly executed. Very respectfully and truly, R. E. LEE, General.

The failure of John Hatch results in his being relieved from duty as a cavalry commander and reassigned to command a brigade of infantry under Rufus King. Career cavalryman John Buford is selected to replace Hatch.

HDQRS. SECOND CORPS, ARMY OF VIRGINIA, July. 27, 1862---12 m. - MY DEAR SIR: General Hatch reported in person last night. He failed, he says, to execute his orders, from the utter breaking up of his horses, the state of the roads, and the storms. He went no farther than Stanardsville, south from there to Rockingham and Luray back. He has been much disappointed, I judge, by the result....Learned on pretty good authority that Robinson (should be Robertson, successor to Ashby), with two or three regiments of cavalry, was at Orange; Ewell with a force of all arms 3 miles beyond, and others of Jackson's troops strung along toward Madison Court-House for several miles, variously estimated at 30,000 and 20,000. General Hatch expresses the opinion if the enemy moves upon us it will be by a cavalry raid. He represents that they have some 4,000 cavalry near Gordonsville. This he gathered from report of people and contrabands. Very truly, yours, N. P. BANKS, Major-General, Commanding.

Cochise, powerful leader of a band of Chiricahua Apaches, had been one of the least hostile of the Apache leaders until he had been wrongfully accused of participating in a raid against a local ranch. Now Cochise is on a rampage, ambushing military detachments, in and around Apache Pass. The pass, east of Tucson, Arizona houses the only fresh spring for miles, and is to be guarded by Fort Bowie.

HDQRS. COLUMN FROM CALIFORNIA, Apache Pass, Overland Mail Station, July 27, 1862. - A post will be established in this pass, which will be known as Fort Bowie. This post will be garrisoned by Company G, Fifth Infantry....Lieutenant-Colonel Rigg, First Infantry California Volunteers, will see that the command is furnished with twenty days' rations of subsistence and a sufficient number of tents....Passing detachments will keep the command at Fort Bowie supplied with fresh beef until the arrival of the beef contractor....The commanding officer at Fort Bowie will establish that post at the best point in the Apache Pass for the protection of travelers and passing trains. If this point, from the nature of the ground, cannot be found near the spring, a small redoubt on the most commanding position will be at once erected near that spring, and be occupied night and day by a picket guard strong enough to hold it. The commander at Fort Bowie will cause the Apache Indians to be attacked whenever and wherever he may find them near his post, unless they bear flags of truce....He will...cause all trains and expressmen to be escorted through the pass and well out into the open country on either hand. To effect all this a great deal is necessarily left to his judgment, caution, vigilance, and energy. By command of Brigadier-General Carleton: BEN. C. CUTLER, First Lieut., First Infty. California Vols., Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen.

John Pemberton requests a shipment of rifles for his "poorly armed" cavalry guarding the Atlantic coast.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA, Charleston, S.C., July 27, 1862. - General S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General: - GENERAL: The only troops I can spare for the protection of the interests in the neighborhood of Georgetown consist of one field battery of six pieces, equipped, and five companies of cavalry. These cavalry companies are very poorly armed--some of them almost without arms which can be relied on. I have none to furnish them and have no means of getting them. No inconsiderable portion of the other troops in this department are in the same condition. I therefore respectfully urge upon the War Department the necessity of directing that at least 1,000 stand of short Enfield or Brunswick rifles be placed at my disposal. J. C. PEMBERTON, Major-General, Commanding.
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Jul 28 1862 (Monday)

Ex-hatter Colonel John McNeil warns of a "general uprising of the rebels" in Missouri.

HEADQUARTERS, Palmyra, July 28, 1862. - General SCHOFIELD: - GENERAL: There is a general uprising of the rebels all over this part of the State. A sudden blow must be made. I am perplexed for the want of force. The militia of the new levy is not yet enrolled. I have used nearly every man of my regiment in the service, and have as many prisoners almost as I have men at this post. I will send part of my prisoners to Saint Louis, in order to reduce the guard required here. I shall take the field with what force I can raise to-night. Can you send me a regiment of effective men? Nothing less will now reduce the counties to subjection. JOHN McNEIL, Commanding.

The van of Bragg's army reaches Chattanooga, Tennessee, after completing their long train ride. Bragg desperately hopes to complete this delicate movement before the Union army realizes he has left Mississippi.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF EAST TENNESSEE, Knoxville, Tenn., July 28, 1862. - Brig. Gen. C. L. STEVENSON, Commanding First Division, Bean's Station : - GENERAL: The commanding general has just returned to this point from Chattanooga, and directs me to say to you the Army of the Mississippi is arriving at Chattanooga; two or three brigades had arrived yesterday (27th); General Bragg comes in person. The offensive will be assumed immediately on the arrival of the whole of his forces. Most respectfully, your obedient servant, E. CUNNINGHAM, Lieutenant and Acting Aide-de-Camp.

A detachment of cavalry, sent by Phil Sheridan, raid the town of Ripley, Mississippi. There they discover a cache of letters "mostly written by persons attached to the Twenty-sixth Alabama." These letters are the first indication that Braxton Bragg is on the move.

ROSECRANS' [HEADQUARTERS, Corinth], July 28, 1862. - General GRANT: Sheridan has returned from the front. Has captured a captain of cavalry and some thirty letters on a private mail carrier. They show the enemy moving in large force on Chattanooga. Has sent the letters up. They had 19 miles to come. Will dispatch you when they arrive. W. S. ROSECRANS, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

General Gideon Pillow, exiled to a backwater command after the debacle of Fort Donelson, complains of malicious Union activity just south of the Missouri border near Oxford, Arkansas.

OXFORD, July 28, 1862. - JEFFERSON DAVIS, President, Richmond, Va.: The Federals are sweeping this country of its negroes. They have, with bodies of armed men, driven off nearly all the Negroes in Arkansas. Phillips County they have neither work stock, corn, nor meat, and rob and plunder the houses. They shoot the negroes attempting to escape, and handcuff and chain those refusing to go. They have driven off all I had--men, women, and children--nearly 400 in number. Can no retaliatory measures be adopted? G. J. PILLOW, Brigadier-General.
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Jul 29 1862 (Tuesday)

The 12,000 soldiers reported sick or wounded in the Army of the Potomac are readied for transport off the York peninsula. This is Henry Halleck's first step in his effort to ease George McClellan away from his base at Harrison's Landing.

Washington, July 29, 1862. - Col. JAMES BELGER, Quartermaster, U. S. Army, Baltimore,, Md.: The Secretary of War directs that you engage at once all the steamers in port that can be used for the transportation of sick and wounded men, and send them immediately to Harrison's Landing, on the James River, to report to the senior officer of the quartermaster's department in charge there. By order of the Secretary of War: M. C. MEIGS, Quartermaster. General.

Samuel Curtis, employing Thomas Hindman's old house as his headquarters in Helena, Arkansas, considers resuming his long delayed march to Little Rock.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE SOUTHWEST. - Helena, Ark, July 29, 1862. - Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK: - GENERAL: I am delayed for want of gunboats and transports, but hope soon to be ready...to move on Little Rock....Captured rebel mails having letters from Tupelo, Little Rock, and General Pike's headquarters....General Pike sends resignation. His letters are gloomy....General Hindman reports thirty Arkansas regiments poorly armed; also Texas and Louisiana troops. These forces are not yet concentrated. He complains of a delay in getting arms, and seems very much dissatisfied with the delay. The officers writing from Tupelo boast of their success at Richmond....They say Beauregard is in Alabama; that none of that army went to Richmond or Vicksburg, but speak of a movement against Tennessee. I have broken several very important crossings on the Mississippi, destroyed over one hundred ferry-fiats, and found and taken two small steamers.... All successful, but all with scouts. Respectfully, SAML. R. CURTIS, Major-General.

Having become practiced in the art of repairing railroads, Don Carlos Buell's work crews speedily have the rail line, damaged by Nathan Bedford Forrest's cavalry, back in operation. Today, the first train pulls into Stephenson, Alabama, with 210,000 rations, and Buell's hungry men are put back on full rations. However, "Bull" Nelson, whose division has worn out its shoes chasing Forrest, is worried about the successful hit and run tactics of the gray cavalrymen.

MURFREESBOROUGH, July 29, 1862. - Major-General BUELL: The cavalry that was to come here has not arrived. Any time within the last five days John Morgan and Forrest could have been destroyed if I could get cavalry. You ordered me to assume the command when I came to Nashville of all the troops on the line. My orders are not obeyed; on the contrary, I find them making movements unknown to me and to my understanding imaginary. To-day or to-morrow Morgan, Forrest, and Elliott will unite their commands, and they will have 4,000 of the best mounted cavalry in the world. You ordered me to assume the command. I desire to know of whom, of what, for nobody obeys. The result will be the utter destruction of our commands. W. NELSON, General.

Daniel Harvey Hill likes the idea of establishing "guerrilla companies" in Union controlled territories of North Carolina and Virginia.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA, July 29, 1862. - I cordially recommend the raising of guerrilla companies, and the arming of them by the Government, to operate in the counties of Nansemond and Gates, or wherever the infernal Yankees and their rascally Dutch allies can be found. The special duty of these guerrillas is to kill the murderers and plunderers wherever they show their villainous faces. D.H. HILL, Major-General, Commanding District. [Indorsement.] Authorize General D. H. Hill to issue authority for companies of partisan rangers in the counties of Gates, N. C., and Nansemond, Va. Rolls are to be returned to the Adjutant-General and the officers commissioned. No restrictions as to age. G.W.R. (Secretary of War, George Randolph)
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Jul 30 1862 (Wednesday)

"Little Mac," again pleads for more men. He reports: "Heavy re-enforcements have arrived in Richmond and are still coming." While McClellan is reporting more men in Richmond, John Pope sends a telegram to Washington insisting that Richmond is being evacuated of all its military forces.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, Warrenton, July 30, 1862. - Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Washington. D.C.: Reports from several different sources represent the enemy to be leaving Richmond and crossing James River, with their heavy artillery. Enemy gradually withdrawing in front of me. I am pushing forward strong reconnaissances to Gordonsville to-day and will go forward to the front to-morrow, and advance whole force to line of Rapidan as fast as practicable. It seems to be understood that the enemy will draw back to Danville and Lynchburg. JNO. POPE, Major-General. Commanding.

That bold cavalier John Hunt Morgan reports on the smashing success of his Kentucky raid.

HEADQUARTERS MORGAN'S COMMAND, Knoxville, Tenn., July 30, 1862. - R. A. ALSTON, Assistant Adjutant-General. - GENERAL: I left Knoxville on the 4th day of this month with about 900 men, and returned to Livingston on 28th instant with nearly 1,200, having been absent just twenty-four days, during which time I traveled over 1,000 miles, captured seventeen towns, destroyed all the Government supplies and arms in them, dispersed about 1,500 Home Guards, and paroled nearly 1,200 regular troops. I lost, in killed, wounded, and missing, of the number that I carried into Kentucky about 90....I take great pleasure in testifying to the gallant bravery and efficiency of my whole command. All of which is respectfully submitted. JOHN H. MORGAN, Acting Brigadier-General, C. S. Army.

"Cump" Sherman takes it upon himself to prohibit the use of gold or silver in the area of his jurisdiction.

HDQRS. FIFTH DIVISION, ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, Memphis, July/ 30, 1862. - Col. JOHN A. RAWLINS, Headquarters Corinth, Miss.: - SIR: General Curtis, I am informed, goes to Little Rock very soon; indeed, I hear the army moves today....Information has also reached us that our fleet before Vicksburg has raised the siege, the lower fleet returning to Baton Rouge, and upper, on its return, maybe, to this place. This will embolden Van Dorn, and we must soon expect to hear from him. I have been very busy in answering the innumerable questions of civilians, and hope they are now about through. I found so many Jews and speculators here trading in cotton, and secessionists had become so open in refusing anything but gold, that I have felt myself bound to stop it. This gold has but one use--the purchase of arms and ammunition...Of course I have respected all permits by yourself or the Secretary of the Treasury, but in these new cases (swarms of Jews) I have stopped it.....If we permit money and salt to go into the interior it will not take long for Bragg and Van Dorn to supply their armies with all they need to move. Without money--gold, silver, and Treasury notes--they cannot get arms and ammunition of the English colonies; and without salt they cannot make bacon and salt beef. We cannot carry on war and trade with a people at the same time.....I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding.

Phil Sheridan's information, divined on the Ripley raid, is worth its weight in gold because it has alerted the Federal High Command of Braxton Bragg's movement to Chattanooga. In reward, five of his superiors recommend "Little Phil" for a promotion.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI, July 30, 1862--3.05 p.m. - Major-General HALLECK: Brigadiers scarce. Good ones scarcer....The undersigned respectfully beg that you will obtain the promotion of Sheridan. He is worth his weight in gold. His Ripley expedition has brought us captured letters of immense value, as well as prisoners, showing the rebels' plans and dispositions, as you will learn from district commander. W. S. ROSECRANS, JER. C. SULLIVAN, G. GRANGER, W. L. ELLIOTT, A. ASBOTH, Brigadier-Generals.

Despite the protestations of the U.S. Marshal, Mistress Emley is "permitted to exercise her charity by supplying clothing...to those who are sick or in prison."

PHILADELPHIA, July 30, 1862. - Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War: I have just searched the house of a lady named Emley, who has four women at work making clothing for secesh prisoners. She does not deny it. Says all her sympathies are with them. There are other parties connected with her. I found two letters addressed to her from Captain Gibson, commander Fort Delaware, thanking her for her kindness. What shall I do with the parties? Strong feeling here against such parties. It operates against recruiting. WILLIAM MILLWARD, U.S. Marshal.

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Jul 31 1862 (Thursday)

To provide a diversion to cover the movement of A.P. Hill's division to Gordonsville, Robert E. Lee orders a night artillery barrage on the Union encampment at Harrison's Landing. An examination of the ground and the placement of the batteries takes most of the night, and the attack is postponed until tomorrow.

HEADQUARTERS, Petersburg, Va. - General D. H. HILL, Commanding Department of North Carolina. - GENERAL: I left Petersburg at 10 a.m., and on arriving at the mill found you, in company with General W. N. Pendleton...in command of thirty-two field guns and four siege pieces....It was there for the first made known to me that you designed the attack to be made at night, and showed me some sketches of Coggins Point, a sort of peninsula, around which the James River sweeps, diminishing its width to about 1,000 yards, and directly opposite to which is Harrison's Landing. Beyond this landing were large encampments of the enemy, his shipping extending above and below for a distance of 2 miles....I explained to you the necessity of delaying the attack. You expressed apprehensions of a failure if not made at once, believing our position and forces would be discovered by the enemy on the morrow, and then, announcing that the expedition was under my command, informed me you would return to Petersburg. The balance of the night was mostly passed in placing the different batteries in the shelter of the woods to prevent them being seen by reconnaissances from the balloons of the enemy.....I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, S. G. FRENCH, Brigadier-General.

Asa and Nelson Tift, Savannah shipbuilders, are struggling to find enough iron to finish construction of the new Rebel ironclad, C.S.S. Atlanta. When complaints are made about some of the tactics used to procure the necessary iron, Jefferson Davis responds: "The iron seized...was taken for the completion of the gunboat....Land defenses can be built without iron, but it is indispensable for plated boats." In the interim, the nearly completed ship takes a shake-down cruise near Fort Pulaski causing much consternation in the U.S. Navy. "Unless some monitor comes to our succor, the fair weather yachts now reposing on the placid bosom of the Savannah River, have before them an excellent opportunity of learning what it is to be blown out of the water."

Hilton Head, Port Royal, S.C., July 31, 1862. - Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War, Washington, D.C.: - SIR: I have the honor to inform you that Flag-Officer DuPont has received information which he regards as reliable, and which has every appearance of being so, to the effect that the rebels in Savannah have prepared and completed a powerful iron-mailed ram, with which to attack the fleet and transport vessels in this harbor and attempt to destroy the vast depots of quartermaster and commissary stores on Hilton Head. The flag-officer is making every preparation to repel the expected attack, but previous experience shows that gunboats and war vessels of the ordinary class cannot be safely relied upon in cases of this kind....I have the honor to be, sir, with the highest esteem, your obedient servant, D. HUNTER, Major-General, Commanding.

Vermont born John Phelps has been recruiting and training Blacks for combat outside New Orleans. When he is ordered to put his men to work instead, Phelps resigns and returns to his home state.

CAMP PARAPET, LA., July 31, 1862. - Capt. R. S. DAVIS, A. A. A. G., New Orleans, La.: - SIR: I am willing to prepare African regiments for the defense of the Government against its assailants I am not willing to become the mere slave-driver which you propose, having no qualifications in that way. I am therefore under the necessity of tendering the resignation of my commission as an officer of the Army of the United States, and respectfully request a leave of absence until it is accepted....I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. W. PHELPS, Brigadier-General.
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Aug 01 1862 (Friday)

Ten men are killed and another twelve wounded, but there is "no damage of the slightest consequence...done to any of the vessels or depot" in the delayed night bombardment of Harrison's Landing. To prevent further attacks, General McClellan sends a work party to "fell the timber" and "to burn the Ruffin house, with all its outbuildings, they having been used as covers or posts...by the enemy."

HEADQUARTERS, Petersburg, Va. - General D. H. HILL, Commanding Department of North Carolina. - GENERAL: As night approached thousands of lights from the shipping and their tents disclosed the objects for attack. The guns were silently conducted over the difficult grounds and winding roads, and before 12 [o'clock] all the guns were in position awaiting action. Silence as profound as the darkness of the night reigned in the enemy's camps. At a signal the thunder of over forty guns startled them from their midnight slumbers. From the screams, scenes of wild confusion must have followed, as sailors rushed on the decks of their vessels and soldiers fled from their tents in midnight darkness amid bursting shells falling fast around them. The gunboats soon returned the fire and in about fifteen or twenty minutes a rapid fire was opened on us from their land batteries, but without any damage, many of the shots passing over the whole length of the point or peninsula. The red glare of the fire of so many guns and exploding shells on such a night is seldom witnessed. Gradually the firing on our part ceased and the guns were withdrawn under a heavy fire. The rain, the difficulty of seeing the roads at all, and the exposed position of the peninsula induced us to leave the caissons behind with the baggage wagons, and thus the number of rounds to be fired was limited; over a thousand were fired on our part. What damage we inflicted on their vessels and their camps probably will never be made known; but considering that many of the guns were within from 1,000 yards to a mile of the transports, and that behind them was one vast encampment, it could not have been otherwise than destructive....Of the command exposed to fire all behaved well except some privates belonging to the siege pieces....I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, S. G. FRENCH, Brigadier-General.

In a heartfelt letter to Henry Halleck, McClellan proclaims that "there is no particle of feeling of jealousy in my heart toward you." Meanwhile Halleck moves Ambrose Burnside's men from Fortress Monroe to Fredericksburg. This is Halleck's second step in his plan to orchestrate the removal of "Little Mac's" men from the York peninsula.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, August 1, 1862. - General BURNSIDE or General STEVENS, Newport News, Va.: The troops of General Burnside's command will immediately embark for Aquia Creek, and on reaching that landing will take position near Fredericksburg; the movement to be made as rapidly as possible, and the destination to be concealed. H. W. HALLECK, Major-General, Commanding.

Don Carlos Buell announces "instances of disgraceful neglect" in the behavior of some of his troops.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE OHIO, In Camp, Huntsville, Ala, August 1, 1862. - The guard at Courtland Bridge-- consisting of Companies A and H, Tenth Kentucky, under the command of Captain Davidson...was completely surprised and captured with but trifling loss...by a force of irregular cavalry. On the same day the companies of Captains Boyl and Goben, Tenth Indiana, which were ordered to protect two bridges on the same road...deemed it wiser to bring in an empty train which came up than to defend their posts, threatened with an attack from the same irregular cavalry, and so put themselves on the train and arrived safely at Decatur...without the loss or injury of a man....The general submits these examples to the reflection of the troops. He reminds them that neglect and bad conduct on the part of guards bring dishonor upon them and may even jeopardize the safety of an army....Had the orders for bridge guards to fortify their posts been promptly executed and proper vigilance been observed the attacks referred to, if made at all, would have had very different results. This order and General Orders, No. 32, will be read at the head of every company and detachment. By command of Major General Buell: JAMES B. FRY, Colonel and Chief of Staff.

Braxton Bragg details his plans for the upcoming invasion of middle Tennessee.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT NO. 2, Chattanooga, Tenn., August 1, 1862. - S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General: - GENERAL: The troops are coming on as rapidly as the railways can carry them. Maj. Gen. E. Kirby Smith, commanding Department of East Tennessee, met me here yesterday by appointment, and we have arranged measures for mutual support and effective co-operation. As some ten days or two weeks must elapse before my means of transportation will reach here to such extent as to enable me to take the field with my main force it has been determined that General Smith shall move at once against General Morgan, in front of Cumberland Gap. Should he be successful, and our well-grounded hopes be fulfilled, our entire force will then be thrown into Middle Tennessee with the fairest prospect of cutting off General Buell, should that commander continue in his present position. Should he be re-enforced meantime from the west side of the Tennessee River, so as to cope with us, then Van Dorn and Price can strike and clear West Tennessee of any force that can be left to hold it....Both Buell at Bridgeport and Morgan at Cumberland Gap are now and have been for some days on short rations, owing to the exhaustion of the country and our interruption of the railroads in their rear, which leave them without adequate means of transportation. Respectfully, your obedient servant, [BRAXTON BRAGG,] General, Commanding.

The activities of John Pope and Adolph von Steinwehr in seizing men and property in Virginia cause them to be branded as outlaws. In addition it is "specially declared" that they and "all commissioned officers serving under their...commands" are "not entitled to be considered as soldiers....In the event of the murder of any unarmed citizen...it shall be the duty of the commanding general...to cause to be immediately hung, out of the commissioned officers aforesaid, a number equal to our own citizens murdered by the enemy." In a further incident, a private in Company F, Eighth Virginia Cavalry, in a death-bed declaration, charges that he was purposefully shot after surrendering as a prisoner of war.

HEADQUARTERS, Monroe County, August 1, 1862. - Col. GEORGE CROOK, Commanding U. S. Forces, Meadow Bluff. - COLONEL: I have been directed by the commanding general to bring to your attention an instance of flagrant outrage of the customs of war--an inhuman attempt to murder--committed by armed soldiers of your command....The commanding general deems it proper to bring this case to your special notice and to ask that inquiry be at once instituted, feeling assured that the perpetrators of a crime so infamous will be brought to swift and certain punishment and the act disavowed by the proper authority. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JNO. McCAUSLAND, Colonel, Commanding.

[ Sub-inclosure No. 1. ] Testimony of Alex. Robinson. "I was in an apple orchard and the enemy came up in twenty steps of me before I saw them, and I remained perfectly still, being on my horse. One told me to surrender, which I did immediately, at the same time dropping my gun and saber. Another told me to surrender. I told him I had surrendered (having then no arms) and asked him not to shoot me. Another said, "God damn you, why didn't you surrender before when you were shooting at us last night?" They all exclaimed, "Damn him, shoot him!" Upon which all fired at me. Two balls passed through my body. I then fell off my horse, and while I was lying on the ground one came up saying, "Damn him, let me ride over him and mash his damn brains out." Another said, "No, let me shoot him again." A third said, "He will die anyhow; let him alone."" ALEX. ROBINSON.
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Aug 02 1862 (Saturday)

John Breckinridge, his 5,000 men army cut almost in half due to sickness, pauses on his march to Baton Rouge. He wires Earl Van Dorn that he will continue to "undertake to capture the garrison if the [gunboat] Arkansas could be sent down to clear the river or divert the fire of the gunboats."

HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE, Baton Rouge, La., August 2, 1862. - Capt. R. S. DAVIS, Assistant Adjutant-General. - John Mahan [Mann?], with a pass from General Butler...arrived at Ponchatoula and Camp Moore...having proceeded up the Jackson Railroad as far as Jackson, arrived here by the way of Summit, Liberty, and Bayou Sara this morning at 10 o'clock. He says he saw Breckinridge's force of six full regiments and fourteen guns at Camp Moore and Ponchatoula Monday, July 28, and that their purpose is to attack this place; says they may be expected on the rear of Baton Rouge at this time, or at any time in the next day or two....If Mahan be a true man and a true observer there is to be an attack here or at New Orleans; if at New Orleans, a demonstration here. Respectfully, your obedient servant, T. WILLIAMS, Brigadier-General, Volunteers.

Lieutenant-Colonel Woolfolk describes a skirmish with some guerrilla fighters in Missouri. As has become common in that bloody state, no quarter is given in the fight.

LACLEDE, MO., August 2, 1862. - Brigadier-General LOAN, Missouri State Militia. - GENERAL: An express came to me from Major Mullins, at Brunswick, requesting immediate re-enforcements, as he was credibly informed that a force of 400 guerrillas would attack his camp that night or in the morning....After marching all night we reached Brunswick at sunrise and found camp undisturbed, but hourly expecting an attack. I immediately sent out scouts in all directions, who returned with information that a guerrilla force was encamped east of Chariton River, about 3 miles from Keetsville. I at once started in pursuit with 212 men....We crossed the Chariton and marched some 15 miles up the river in pursuit of the enemy, and about dusk on Wednesday evening our advance guard met their advance near Clark's Mill, in Chariton County. I was informed that they were 80 strong, and they were just emerging from the forest lining the banks of the Chariton when we met them. They fired a volley upon us, and then a portion of them dashed into the prairie, while the remainder fell back into the forest. Our men immediately pursued them, firing a volley upon the fleeing foe.....Many of them endeavored to effect their escape into the forest, and some succeeded. My orders were to show no quarters, and it being too late to fire with any accuracy, my men closed in upon them and shot them down with their revolvers. All the while concealed assassins were firing heavily on us from the forest, but their shot whistled harmlessly over our heads. When we had dispersed and slaughtered all we could find upon the prairie it was 11 o'clock at night, and so dark that we could not distinguish friends from enemies. On this account I regarded it as too hazardous to plunge my men into the thick forest on the Chariton, and I was satisfied, too, that we could not find the enemy, concealed and scattered as they were....Fortunately none of my men were injured, although balls pierced the hats and clothing of several. I required the neighboring rebels to bury their dead, and pursued our march the next morning, but without meeting any other parties of guerrillas....I returned here yesterday evening. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, ALEX. M. WOOLFOLK, Lieutenant-Colonel First [Mo. S. M.] Cavalry.

The troops of A.P. Hill are reported to have joined "Stonewall" Jackson. These reinforcements will allow Jackson more freedom to pursue offensive movements against the dispersed forces of John Pope.

HEADQUARTERS FORCES AT CULPEPER, VA., August 2, 1862. - [General BANKS:] - DEAR GENERAL: I have just returned. I went into camp to-day with the Fifth New York and First Vermont Cavalry. We had quite a little affair with the enemy, in which we lost several men killed and had others wounded.....Two regiments were at the town. I cut the telegraph and had some of the track destroyed. A regiment, the Sixth Virginia, were expected every moment, and before we left the cheering was heard announcing their arrival. They think you are in force. Jackson was on that side; he has withdrawn his forces to Mechanicsburg [?]. A.P. Hill arrived yesterday with 10,000 infantry.....I am very tired and will write in the morning. Very truly, yours, S. W. CRAWFORD, Brigadier-General.

Several months ago we published that "Sherman was insane" for worrying about the war taking 3 or 4 years to reach a conclusion. Now all the 90 day men are gone and so is our server space with AOL.  If we had only listened to Sherman earliar we may have been able to prepare for the space this war going to take.  If John Brown were alive today he would probably say "The only way this war will be reported is through blood, fast modems, and lots of server space!"  Well 'This Week in the Civil War' is heeding the remarks of these men and others to move to a new server. We will be moving over the course of the next few weeks.  Please bear with us during this time. We will soon be able to provide all your favorite Civil War information on our faster larger server.  Thanks again .... CWITCW editors.

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