Summary:
Union General George Cadwalader writes to Fitz-John Porter, stationed at Chambersburg, in June, 1861. Cadwalader replies to Porter's order that he send a detachment of his men to Cumberland. Cadwalader insists that it would be impossible to do so.

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Maj. F. J. PORTER, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Chambersburg, Pa.:

WILLIAMSPORT, MD.,

June 15, 1861.

Maj.:

Yours of this date is received. We are endeavoring to obtain reliable information as to Harper's Ferry and the other side. There may be a deep-laid plot to deceive us. To reach Cumberland would require three marches, and would weaken us too much to make such a detachment as you propose. The moment we have reliable information you shall hear from me; probably too late for Cumberland. The whole affair is to me a riddle. Our command is exhausted, and could not make any march before morning.

Very truly, yours.

GEO. CADWALADER,
Brevet Maj.-Gen., Commanding.

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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 688-689, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.