Of Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock, U.S. Army, commanding Second Army Corps
June 23, 1863.
Major-General STAHEL:
You have been misinformed in regard to the soldier you refer to as having been taken inside of the infantry picket line. My infantry picket extends only to the railroad crossing here, and is a mere line extending for about a mile around the Gap.
This soldier informs me that he was taken in the road between the infantry pickets and Hay Market.
WINF'D S. HANCOCK,
Major-General, Commanding Corps.
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June 23, 1863.
General BUTTERFIELD, Headquarters:
Two rebel cavalrymen, coming from my rear, passed near Hay Market, going toward New Baltimore, and picked up one of Stahel's cavalrymen, a sutler, a wagon-master, a negro, and a wagon with telegraph wire, which the operator had sent for without my knowledge-all this in sight of Stahel's picket near Hay Market. The wagon and contents were not troubled, but the individuals were all taken. Coming near New Baltimore, our pickets saw the party and pursued. The negro and soldier, in the melee, escaped. The sutler and wagon-master kept on with the two men. I think it not unlikely the whole party have been captured, as our cavalry was close to them.
All trains are escorted along the road below Gainesville and this place. I have directed by telegraph to Gainesville that this telegraph wire should be brought up in the guarded train of to-day, but it appears the dispatch was not delivered.
WINF'D S. HANCOCK,
Major-General.
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June 23, 1863.
General HANCOCK:
Did you conclude to make two divisions of your corps?
DANL. BUTTERFIELD,
Chief of Staff.
JUNE [23], 1863.
General BUTTERFIELD :
Yes; and have sent programme for the reduction of two divisions, which telegraph operator has now, waiting till the wires get free of use.
WINF'D S. HANCOCK.
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HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS,
June 23, 1863--8.30 p.m.
Brigadier-General WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Potomac:
GENERAL: There are ten days' rations of subsistence on hand in this command from to-morrow morning.
WINF'D S. HANCOCK.
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HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS,
June 23, 1863--8 p.m.
Major-General FRENCH, Commanding Division, Gainesville:
GENERAL: Notwithstanding my application to General Stahel for cavalry, 200 or 300, he declined leaving any. I have made applications to headquarters of the army for cavalry, but the reply I received was such as to deter me from asking again. I will use all the cavalry I have to scour the roads, keeping none in reserve. The men captured this afternoon were taken at Hay Market. They have all been recaptured. They were pumped dry.
There is nothing new.
I am, sir, very respectfully,
WINF'D S. HANCOCK,
Major-General, Commanding Corps.
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HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS,
Near Thoroughfare Gap, June 23, 1863.
Major-General BUTTERFIELD, Chief of Staff, Army of the Potomac :
GENERAL: I have just received a dispatch to meet General Hooker. I proceed at once. General French has also telegraphed me that he has received a similar dispatch in reference to himself, which I have not received. When I reach Gainesville, I will revise his dispatch, and, if correct, will bring General French with me.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WINF'D S. HANCOCK,
Major-General, Commanding Corps.
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HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS,
Near Thoroughfare Gap, Va., June 23, 1863.
Brig. Gen. S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General:
GENERAL: I transmit you by telegraph my indorsement upon General French's application for a higher command, which has just been received, and upon which I am required to express certain opinions. This in order to save time in the return of the original communication.
When the application of General French for a higher command was first received, I indorsed upon it a suggestion that if General French's rank did not entitle him to a higher command than that of a division, it would be well to reduce the three divisions of this corps to two, suggesting that General French and General Gibbon should command those divisions, but I afterward thought it might weaken General French's application, which was a personal one. I therefore tore off the indorsement, and forwarded it without remark.
I now recommend that the two oldest divisions of this corps--First (originally Sumner's), consisting of four brigades; Second (originally Sedgwick's), three brigades--retain their organizations, and that the Third Division (two brigades), dating from Antietam, be distributed between the other two, which would not interfere with the numbers of the First and Second Divisions, and would give General French the First Division. There are nine brigades in the three divisions now. I would prefer, on account of the good commanders that we might get, to retain this number of brigades in the two divisions. The ninth brigade might, if the General-in-Chief thought proper, be placed under command of Colonel Miles, Sixty-first New York Volunteers, who is now here, and for service might be used as light troops, for advanced guards, &c., although its papers would show it to be an integral part of the First Division (General French's). I believe that number of brigades would make the corps much more effective than a smaller number.
General Caldwell ranks General Gibbon, and would, therefore, either have to command a brigade in the First Division, where he now is, or be detached, to which I have no objection. The latter would be the best course. In breaking up the Third (French's division), I would, of course, give him Carroll's Western brigade, which is the important one of the two. This consolidation would considerably reduce the means of transportation.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WINF'D S. HANCOCK,
Major-General, Commanding Corps.
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