commander should be at once sent to that brigade. I do not know who is senior in that department. Is Morgan there? W. E. Jones, I believe, belongs to East Tennessee. The case is urgent. I shall return General Breckinridge as soon as I can. WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A., General R. E. LEE, Taylorsville, Va.: In anticipation of your wish General W. E. Jones had been assigned to the command of the Department of Southwestern Virginia, during the absence of General Breckinridge. J. A. SEDDON, Colonel MCCAUSLAND, Christiansburg: TAYLORSVILLE, May 25, 1864. General Imboden reports that signal officer at Monterey reports enemy massing at Beverly for a raid on Staunton. Investigate truth and be prepared. Guns at Staunton can be placed at Millborough Depot and Cow Pasture River bridge. R. E. LEE. NEW MARKET, May 26, 1864-9 p. m. General S. COOPER: Signal corps reported Sigel advancing in force from Strasburg at 1 p. m., and at 6 p. m. his column was at Maurertown, advancing. Citizens report that he has issued eight days' rations. He has a pontoon train along. I have a reserve battery at Staunton ready for the field, except horses. Captain Turk, quartermaster there, refuses even to lend me horses for a few days, unless you order it. It is important for me to have this additional battery. The horses are in the stables at Staunton. Can I have them a few days? Am preparing for the best fight my means afford, and will keep you advised. J. D. IMBODEN, Brigadier-General. Maj. C. S. STRINGFELLOW, Christiansburg: JACKSON RIVER, May 26, 1864. Your dispatch received. Reports from Beverly on the 22d instant show only 1,100 and no artillery. Have now two companies in Pocahontas watching, and will get reliable information as soon as possible. I am about to move to Callaghan's. Shall I delay until I hear again from Beverly? Enemy still in Greenbrier in force. W. L. JACKSON, Colonel. NEW MARKET, May 27, 1864-2 p. m. (Care of General Cooper): (Received 2.10 p. m.) He General Hunter commands the forces advancing upon me. occupied Mount Jackson at noon to-day. His cavalry outnumbers ours two to one; his infantry four to one; his artillery four to one. He is moving on my flank, and will compel me to fall back. There is no point this side of Mount Crawford where I can successfully resist him, and there it is very doubtful, though I will do my best. J. D. IMBODEN, Brigadier-General. Maj. C. S. STRINGFELLOW: JACKSON RIVER, May 27, 1864. My command now moving to Callaghan's, except guards here. I have no additional news from Beverly; none to indicate the massing of troops there. W. L. JACKSON, Colonel. Maj. C. S. STRINGFELLOW : LACEY SPRING, May 29, 1864. The order received from General Lee was: "Keep commanding officer in Southwestern Virginia informed of enemy's movements in this district, and co-operate in driving him back." Enemy is again advancing to-day; as soon as his purpose is fully developed, I will notify General Jones. J. D. IMBODEN, General W. E. JONES: LACEY SPRING, May 29, 1864-4 p. m. Enemy, 7,000 strong, advancing from Mount Jackson; also reported by signal corps in force at McDowell to-day. Is it possible for you to aid me? Staunton is his objective point. J. D. IMBODEN, CALLAGHAN'S, May 29, 1864. General W. E. JONES: General Imboden telegraphs from Lacey Spring that he is pressed by the enemy. All quiet in my front and right. W. L. JACKSON, Colonel. CALLAGHAN'S, May 29, 1864. No advance of the enemy in Greenbrier. Think they are preparing and watching closely. All quiet toward Beverly. Will know more about Beverly on Monday. W. L. JACKSON. Maj. C. S. STRINGFELLOW, Dublin: CALLAGHAN's, May 29, 1864. Yesterday there were about 200 Yankees at Lightness, 15 miles from Gatewood's, up Black Creek. They returned toward Hightown, and were from Petersburg. No movements from Beverly or from Greenbrier. Maj. C. S. STRINGFELLOW, W. L. JACKSON, Colonel. GLADE SPRING, May 30, 1864. Assistant Adjutant-General, Dublin : The following dispatch from General, Lee : Get all the available forces you can and move at once to Imboden's assistance to defend Valley; enemy said to be advancing by Mount Jackson and McDowell. Call out the reserves to hold your lines with what forces you leave behind. Direct Major Dorman to comply with General Lee's instructions. W. E. JONES, Brigadier-General. Maj. C. S. STRINGFELLOW, CALLAGHAN'S May 30, 1864. Assistant Adjutant-General, Dublin: General Imboden reports enemy advancing up the Valley, and says signal corps reports them at McDowell; asks me to move to Millborough, if my orders will permit. No movements in Greenbrier this way; shall I move as requested? If they are at McDowell, I should be at least at the Cow Pasture bridge or at Millborough, W. L. JACKSON, Colonel. JACKSON RIVER, May 30, 1864. Maj. C. S. STRINGFELLOW, Dublin: Beverly has not been re-enforced, and there is no movement from Greenbrier. At the request of General Imboden, I am now moving to the Depot; am I right in so doing, and shall I go to Millborough? Please give me orders. I keep scouts to Greenbrier. WM. L. JACKSON, Colonel. Maj. C. S. STRINGFELLOW, Dublin: GLADE SPRING, May 30, 1864. Colonel Jackson can go. Notify General McCausland to move east and occupy Jackson's place, thus vacated. Jackson will leave sufficient force to picket and report movements of enemy until relieved by McCausland. General S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General: W. E. JONES, Brigadier-General. CENTRAL, May 31, 1864. By direction of General R. E. Lee, I am here on my way with my available force to co-operate with General Imboden in Valley. Col. G. B. Crittenden commands in my absence; he has ample cavalry for pickets, enough artillery, and the reserve force. The bulk of my force will reach Lynchburg to-morrow. W. E. JONES, GENERAL ORDERS, No. 6. HDQRS. DEPT. OF WESTERN VA. AND EAST TENNESSEE, Glade Spring, Va., May 31, 1864. Col. George B. Crittenden, C. S. Army, is hereby assigned to command of the Department of Western Virginia and East Tennessee. By order Brig. Gen. W. E. Jones: WALTER K. MARTIN, HDQRS. DEPT. OF WESTERN VIRGINIA AND E. TENNESSEE, Glade Spring, June 1, 1864. Brig. Gen. J. L. KEMPER, Commanding Reserves, Richmond, Va, : This department is threatened with invasion. The regular troops have all been withdrawn, and I will be dependent for its defense almost entirely upon the reserves. The organization of this force should be immediate, if anything is to be accomplished with it. I think it would be best to organize it in regiments and subjected to my orders. G. B. CRITTENDEN, Colonel, Commanding Department. XII. Col. E. G. Lee, Provisional Army, C. S., in addition to the other duties to which he has recently been assigned, will assume temporary command of the post at Staunton, Va., and will do all int his power to organize the local forces and to aid in the defenses of the Valley. JNO. WITHERS, Assistant Adjutant-General. ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE, * XX. The horses impressed by General Smith, superintendent Virginia Military Institute, from the farmers of Rockbridge County for the artillery attached to the Corps of Cadets will be immediately re turned to their proper owners. VI. Brig. Gen. John McCausland is assigned to the command of the cavalry brigade lately commanded by Brig. Gen. A. G. Jenkins, and will report to Brig. Gen. W. E. Jones, commanding, &c. HDQRS. DEPT. OF WESTERN VIRGINIA AND E. TENNESSEE, Glade Spring, Va., June 4, 1864. General S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General, Richmond, Va.: On the 31st of May Brig. Gen. W. E. Jones turned over the command of the Department of Western Virginia and East Tennessee to me. What are the geographical limits of my command? G. B. CRITTENDEN, HDQRS. DEPT. OF WESTERN VIRGINIA AND E. TENNESSEE, Glade Spring, June 4, 1864. General S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General, Richmond, Va.: SIR: The command of the Department of Western Virginia and East Tennessee having accidentally devolved upon me, I request that the Government order here an officer in whom it has confidence to relieve me of the command. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Col., C. S. Army, Comdg. Dept. of W. Va. an E. Tenn. |