August 1, 1862

August 1, 1862: Due to the surprise artillery attack across the James River in the wee hours of the morning, Gen. McClellan sends this dispatch to Sec. of War Stanton. The letter clearly indicates that McClellan, at this late date, still has not realized how his stock has fallen back in Washington. Nor has he realized that this lack of confidence has meant that the decision to pull his army out of the Peninsula area has already been made. (Indeed, some troops have already been pulled out and taken to Washington.):
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
Berkeley, August 1, 1862-8 a.m.
Firing of night before last killed some 10 men and wounded about 15.
No harm of the slightest consequence done to the shipping, although several were struck. Sent party across river yesterday to the Cole's house; destroyed it and cut down the timber. Will complete work to-day, and also send party to Coggins'Point, which I will probably occupy. I will attend to your telegraph about pressing at once. Will send Hooker out. Give me Burnside, and I will stir these people up. I need more cavalry; have only 3,700 for duty in cavalry division.
Adjutant General's Office forgot to send Sykes' commissions as major-general with those of other division commanders; do me the favor to hurry it on.

GEO. B. McCLELLAN.
Major-General, Commanding.
—Pres. Jefferson Davis is enraged over the barbarity of Gen. John Pope’s orders concerning the civilians of northern Virginia and their property. He pens this strong letter to Gen. Lee as to which policies the Army of Northern Virginia will adopt, in retaliation:
The general order issued by Maj.-Gen. POPE on the 23d of July, the day after the signing of the cartel, directs the murder of our peaceful inhabitants as spies, if found quietly tilling the farms in his rear, even outside of his lines; and one of his Brigadier-Generals. STEINWEHR, has seized upon innocent and peaceful inhabitants to be held as hostages, to the end that they may be murdered in cold blood if any of his soldiers are killed by some unknown person whom he designates as "Bushwhackers." Under this state of facts this Government has issued the inclosed General Order, recognizing Gen. POPE and his commanding officers to be in the position which they have chosen for themselves -- that or robbers and murderers, and not that of public enemies, entitled, if captured, to be considered as prisoners of war. . . .

For the present we renounce our right of retaliation on the innocent, and shall continue to treat the private enlisted soldiers of Gen. POPE's army as prisoners of war: but if, after notice to the Government at Washington, of our continuing repressive measures to the punishment only of commissioned officers who are willing participate in these crimes, the savage practices are continued, we shall reluctantly be forced to the last resort of accepting the war on the terms chosen by our foes, until the outraged voice of a common humanity forces a respect for the recognized rules of war. . . .

Very respectfully, yours, &c.,
JEFF. DAVIS.
　
—Today, Pres. Lincoln pardons 90 soldiers who had been condemned by court-martial.

—Surgeon Alfred L. Castleman, of the Union army, notes his impressions of the previous night’s bombardment:
August 1st.—The month was ushered in by the opening of a cannonade, precisely as the clock struck twelve, on our shipping, from the south side of the river. For a short time the firing was very brisk. It was from some batteries of flying artillery which had taken position during the night. They were soon silenced, but not till after they had killed and wounded a number of our sailors, and done some damage to our shipping.