Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 37.djvu/109

Rh by the Quarter-Master, which helped to swell the numbers of the cavalry.

On the 27th, Hooker had written to Halleck, when he asked for more troops, saying, "That there may be no misunderstanding as to my force, I would respectfully state that including the portions of General Heintzelman's command, the General Schenck now with me, my whole force of enlisted men for duty will not exceed one hundred and five thousand men."

General Meade in his testimony before the Committee on the Conduct of the War, puts the number slightly less. The field returns of the Army of the Potomac, on file among the official records at Washington, show present for duty, officers and men, on June 30th, 117,930.

There are no existing data from which the strength of the Confederate army under Lee, can be gathered with equal accuracy. Colonel Walter H. Taylor, assistant Adjutant General, after consulting the Archives in Washington, and making a study of the subject, estimates General Lee's strength, embracing his entire effective force of all arms, to have been in round numbers, 67,000.

The 28th was employed by General Meade, in making himself acquainted with the situation. On the 29th he informed Halleck that the army was in motion towards Westminster and Emmittsburg, the first and eleventh corps being destined for the latter place, the third and twelfth for Taneytown, and the other three for Frizzelburg, Union and New Windsor, with the cavalry guarding the flanks and rear: That if Lee was moving for Baltimore, he should get between his main army and that place. If he was crossing the Susquehanna, he would rely upon Couch holding him in check, until he should fall upon his rear and give battle. That he had abandoned Harper's Ferry? and the garrison there, with the exception of a detachment sent to Washington, would join him. That the line by rail from Frederick to Baltimore was abandoned and in moving forward he should incline to the right toward the Baltimore and Harrisburg Railroad (Northern Central).

Early's demonstration towards York, caused Meade's inclination to the right, but when informed from Washington that