Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 5.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[370]

Communicate with me frequently by telegraph from Warrenton.

To Major-General Pope: General Sigel's bridge-train has arrived. I think it may be useful. Gen. Milroy burnt the bridge at Waterloo before he retired from that place last night, and Buford says the fords near Waterloo are bad. I have directed the available forces of Sigel's cavalry, with a section of his artillery, to report to Gen. Buford this afternoon on the Waterloo road, with three days cooked rations. I have directed Buford to march at dawn to-morrow toward Chester Gap, to ascertain what direction the enemy have taken on our right, whether to Rectortown or Front Royal, through Chester Gap. He will either take the Carter Church road up the left bank of Carter's Run, or the road direct from this place to Chester Gap, as inquiries to be made this P. M. shall determine. However persons may have differed as to the force at Waterloo, Sulphur Springs, or elsewhere, all agree in one thing — the movement of the enemy toward our right from Rappahannock to Waterloo. Battalions, trains, batteries, all have the same direction. The force of the enemy now seems to be above Sulphur Springs. Under these views, in addition to Sigel's corps now here, I beg to suggest that Hooker and Kearny be marched at once in this direction, instead of the direction of Rappahannock station, for, whether we attack them or they attack us, the contest must come off, it seems to me, as things now stand, above rather than below Sulphur Springs. If they could make a march this P. M. towards either Sulphur Springs or Waterloo Bridge, it would be a movement I think in the right direction. What is the enemy's purpose is not easy to discover. Some have thought he means to march around our right through Rectortown to Washington. Others think that he intends going down the Shenandoah, either through Thornton's or Chester Gap. Either of these operations seems to me too hazardous for him to undertake, with us in his rear and flank. Others, that it was his object to throw his trains around into the valley to draw his supplies from that direction, and have his front looking to the east rather than to the north. It is also thought that while a portion of his force has marched up the immediate right bank of the Rappahannock, a larger portion has gone through Culpeper up the Sperryville road. No doubt these various suppositions may have occurred to you, but I have thought it not inappropriate to recapitulate them here with reference to concentration of forces in this direction, which I have herein suggested. Cannonading at Sulphur Springs still continues about the same. I have ordered Buford to send you a regiment of cavalry. I can't get hold of Bayard.

(Signed)

I have just received your telegrams of 2.20 and 3.15 P. M. I trust that Buford's reconnaissance to-morrow will obtain the information you desire concerning the movements of the enemy across the Sperryville pike, in the direction of Gaines's Cross Roads and Salem. I also received from Gen. Banks's signal-officer the account of this movement. With reference to your inquiries as to what has occurred to make the presence of Cox here desirable, I made the suggestion, first, because in the general order issued, he was ordered to join Sigel at Fayetteville. As Sigel was here, and, as I understood, Cox was arriving in the cars, I thought if it could be done time would be gained by his being landed here rather than at Warrenton Junction.

(Signed)

To General Pope: Trains and troops still passing over the same route. A deserter just come in says, Longstreet's corps, embracing Anderson's, Jones's, Kemper's, Whitney's, and Evans's divisions, are located in the woods back of Waterloo Bridge; thinks Hill's division at Jefferson, Jackson's corps somewhere above Longstreet's. He appears truthful, and I credit his story. The entire district from Jefferson to Culpeper, Sperryville, and as far as Barber's covered with smoke and lines of dust. The deserter reports the arrival last evening of the greater portion of Longstreet's corps at its present position.

(Signed)

Major-General Pope: An intelligent negro has just come in to Gen. Buford from White Plains, and reports the advance of the enemy's column at that place. He says he saw himself at that place to-day, at twelve o'clock, two batteries of artillery, two regiments of cavalry, four regiments of infantry, and that they were moving in the direction of Thoroughfare Gap. The man's story is evidently to be relied upon. General Buford says his statements are confirmed by his scouts, who report large trains passing up through Orleans to White Plains.

(Signed)

Major-General McDowell, Warrenton: Fitz-John Porter, with Sykes's and Morell's divisions, will be within two miles and a half of Warrenton, on the Fayetteville road, to-morrow night. See if you cannot have the cross-roads repaired so that he can get from his position into the Sulphur Springs road, with his artillery, if he should be