To George B. McClellan1Jump to section
Rockville, Md. Sep. 10. 10/15 AM. 1862.
How does it look now? A. LINCOLN
Annotation
[1] ALS, owned by Foreman M. Lebold, Chicago, Illinois. McClellan's telegram received at 1:40 P.M. is as follows: ``In reply to your dispatch of the morning I have the honor to state that Genl Pleasanton at Barnesville reports that a movement of the Enemy last night is said to have been made across the Potomac from this side to the other Side. We shall know the truth of this rumor soon. Pleasanton is watching all the fords as high as Conrad's ferry & has pickets out to the mouth of the Monocacy He has sent out this morning to occupy Sugar Loaf Mountain from which a large extent of country can be seen in all directions.
``Genl Burnside had his scouts out last night to Ridgeville & within 3 miles of New Market. No Enemy seen with the exception of a few pickets. They were told that Stuart's Cavalry 5000 in number occupied New Market & that the main Rebel force under Jackson was still at Frederick. Burnside has sent a strong reconnaissance today to the mountain pass at Ridgeville I propose if the information I have rec'd proves reliable regarding the natural strength of this position to occupy it with a sufficient force to resist an advance of the Enemy in that direction. I have scouts & spies pushed forward in every direction shall soon be in possession of reliable & definite information The statements I get regarding the Enemy's forces that have crossed to this side range from 80 to 150,000. I am perfectly certain that none of the Enemy's troops have crossed the Potomac within the last 24 hours below the mouth of the Monocacy. I was informed last night by Genl Pleasanton that his information rendered it probable that Jackson's forces had advanced to New Market with Stuart's Cavalry at Urbana. In view of this I ordered the army forward this morning to the line along the high ridge from Ridgeville through Damascus[,] Clarksburg &c but the information subsequently obtained from Genl Burnside's Scouts that the mass of the Enemy was still at Frederick induced me to suspend the movement of the right wing until I could verify the truth of the reports by means of Burnside's reconnaissance in force today. My extreme left advances to Poolesville this morning. The work of reorganization & re-fitting is progressing very satisfactorily with the new heads of staff Dept's. Dispatch this instant rec'd from Genl Pleasanton dated Barnesville 10.30 a.m. says `My Scouts occupy the ferry at the mouth of the Monocacy They found no Enemy except a few pickets on the other side of the Monocacy at Licksville. About 3 miles from that Stream it was reported there was a force of 6,000 men.''' (DLC-RTL).