Summary:
In this October, 1862, report, Union Quartermaster-General Montgomery C. Meigs
discusses supplying General George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac. He
mentions supplies destroyed by Confederate Cavalry behind the army at
Chambersburg.
OCTOBER 12, 1862
I was informed yesterday that everything called for in the way of clothing from this department, except blankets, had gone forward. There had been some delays for want of cars at this point. As we had not enough blankets and shelter-tents at this point, I ordered by telegraph,a day or two since, 20,000 blankets and a sufficient supply of shelter-tents to be sent direct from New York to Harper's Ferry.
All the power of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and of the Cumberland Valley Railroad has been used, under the direction of Brig.-Gen. Haupt, invested by the Secretary with special and full powers to do anything necessary to expedite the forwarding of supplies to the army under Gen. McClellan. It is nearly impossible to supply such an army, having over 30,000 animals to feed, by means limited to two railroads. The canal will be repaired and ready for use in a few days. It was hoped that water could have been admitted to it to-day. This, if boats can be found to navigate it, will increase the power of this department to forward supplies considerably. I understand, however, that everything called for has gone forward. What has been intercepted and destroyed by the rebel cavalry in rear of the army at Chambersburg and on the railroad I have not yet learned.
Respectfully,
M. C. MEIGS,
Quartermaster-Gen.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 19, Serial No. 27, Pages 12-13, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
