Summary:
Union Adjutant Fitz-John Porter sends orders to General W. H. Keim, commanding at
Chambersburg, in May, 1861. Porter orders Keim to move forces gathering in the
Chambersburg area to points around Hagerstown.
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA,
Maj. Gen. W. H. KEIM,
Commanding U. S. Forces,
Chambersburg, Pa.:
Philadelphia,
May 29, 1861.
GENERAL:
The commanding general instructs me to give you in his name the following information and directions:
A movement, as soon as the force is prepared, will be made to Hagerstown, for the purpose of establishing beyond an encampment as the base of future operations. You are relied upon to organize and hold ready for instant movement those regiments which are prepared to move and face an enemy, and now gathering at Chambersburg, in the following manner:
1. A column of cavalry and three regiments of well-drilled infantry, to march from Chambersburg to Hagerstown. This column to be under the command of Col. George H. Thomas, Second Cavalry, U. S. Army.
2. A second column, to be commanded by Brig.-Gen. Williams, to follow next day on foot, or by rail, if circumstances demand.
3. A third brigade, to go by rail, and to land in Hagerstown just after arrival of Col. Thomas' brigade. If the second brigade goes by rail, the third, wholly or in part, will be pushed to Hagerstown as rapidly as transportation will permit.
4. A fourth brigade, composed of the other regiments, will be pushed by regiment to Hagerstown as soon as prepared and transportation (rail) can be procured.
Col. Thomas, with his cavalry from Carlisle, will arrive at Chambersburg on Friday. Direct the regimental commanders to report at once.
Wagon transportation is being prepared at Harrisburg and will be pushed to Chambersburg, and the train organized by A. R. Eddy, assistant quartermaster. Capt. Eddy will have charge of the quartermaster's department at Chambersburg, and transfer the depot to Hagerstown as the forces are located.
Capt. B. Du Barry, Subsistence Department, at Harrisburg, will provide for your present depot, and you are desired to see that each regiment has when it moves at least three days' provisions.
The commanding general wishes you to require commanders to keep their officers and men in camp and out of the towns, and always ready to turn out.
The commanding general, with his staff, will join you in a few days, till which no movement to the front will be made unless circumstances should imperatively demand, which you will telegraph. He hopes on his arrival to find, through your energy and judgment, aided by the active efforts of every officer of your command, the different commands organized and prepared to move at a moment's notice on arrival of accouterments, and, if necessary, before their arrival.
Capt. John Newton, Engineers, will soon join you. He goes with special instructions relating to reconnoitering the ground in advance of Hagerstown. He and Capt. Eddy have the confidence of the commanding general, and on this account are sent to you.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
F. J. PORTER,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 2, Serial No. 2, Pages 658-659, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
