Report of the Congressional Committee on the Operations of the Army of the Potomac

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1863 Excerpt: ...the 1st of September, I received verhal instructions from Gen. Halleck to take command of the defenses of Washington. I was, bowever, expressly prohibited from, in any way, assuming any control over tne troops under Oen. Pope. I think it was on tho next day after that I was instructed verbally by the President and Gen. Halleck to go out and meet the army which was coming in, and to assume command or it when it approached the position that I considered it ought to occupy for defensive-purposes, and to post it properly. The testimony of Gen. Halleck upon the same point is as follows: Question. What was the position of Gen. McClellan in regard to the troops of the Army of the Potomao as they landed at Acquia Creek and Alexandria? Were they under his command; and if so, how long did they remain under hia command? 'Answer. Gen. McClellan retained the command of the Army of the Potomao as it landed at those two points, except such portions of it as were sent into the field under Gen. Pope. Those portions were considered as temporarily detached from his command, but still belonging to his army, and be was directed that all orders sent from him to the troops as-detached, while under Gen. Pope's immediate command, must be sent through the headquarters at Washington. Ha retained command of all the troops of his army as they landed at those places until sent into the field, and reported to Gen. Pope; and they continued to remain under nis command, with the exception of his detachments, until Gen. Pope's army fell back on Washington, when all came under Gen. MoCleU&n's command. On his (Gen. McClellan') arrival at Alexandria he was told to take immediate command of all the troops in and about Washington, in addition to those which properly belonged to th...