HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Washington, January 8, 1862.

Brigadier-General STONE,

Poolesville, Md.:

I have taken time for reflection on your inquiry. I think you should not apply at this moment. Besides, your military superiors are attacked, and that consideration involves the propriety of abastaining just now.

JAS. A. HARDIE.

[5.]

WASHINGTON, D. C., January 8, 1862.

Captain G. L HARTSUFF,

Wheeling, Va.:

Tell General Milroy the commanding general thanks him and his troops for the gallant affair at Huntersville. He must keep on the alert, and not have the compliment returned. Have the india rubber blankets come? Have the stoves been ordered? have the 1,000 rifled muskets ordered arrived? Get the full returns of the muskets of the regiments, so that I may have them exchanged and rifled. A strong letter went in your case to-day. I go to New York to-morrow for three days. Telegraph me there, care of William Hegeman, corner Eighth anb Broadway. Will return to Washington on Monday next, them home very soon.

W. S. ROSECRANS,

Brigadier-General, U. S. Army.

[5.]

WAR DEPARTMENT,

January 9, 1862.

Honorable GALUSHA A. GROW,

Speaker House of Representatives:

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the resolution adopted by the House of Representatives on the 6th instant, to the effect that the answer of this Department to the resolution adopted by the House on the second day of the session "is not responive or satisfactory to the House, and that the Secretary be directed to return a further answer."* In reply, I have respectfully to state that "measures have been taken to ascertainw ho is responsible for the disastrous movement of our troops at Ball's Bluff," but that it is not deemed compatible with the public interest to make known these measures at the present time,

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

SIMON CAMERON,

Secretary of War.

[5.]

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Washington, January 10, 1862.

Governor F. H. PEIRPOINT,

Wheeling, Va.:

I will do the best I can for Romney.

GEO. B. MCCLELLAN,

Major-General, Commanding.

[5.]

---------------

*See VOL. V, p. 346.

---------------