His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS, RICHMOND, VA., June 7, 1864. President, &c. : SIR: Brig. Gen. A. E. Jackson has been, we understand, relieved of the command of his brigade in Western Virginia, and ordered to report to General Joseph E. Johnston. We regret his removal from that department, and, whatever may have been the representations of others, we take it upon ourselves to say that he can be relied on with as much confidence as any officer in that department. He has been badly treated and stripped of his troops for the last year. His full and intimate knowledge of the country, his known zeal, courage, and ability, make his detention in that department the subject of public anxiety. We respectfully request, if practicable, that he be assigned to command a brigade in Western Virginia. The loss of General W. E. Jones, we think, makes it the more necessary and proper. Respectfully, LANDON C. HAYNES, [Indorsement.] JULY 13, 1864. The representations reaching the Department from various sources were that General Jackson had been able to obtain the command of only a few hundred irregular troops, in no wise worthy of the name of a brigade, and that they were ill-disciplined and inefficient. In consequence it was thought better he should be transferred to some more important field of operations, where his services could be made more available, and he was accordingly ordered to General Johnston's army, where he is now in command of a brigade. It is doubted whether the exchange asked would be agreeable to General J. himself, while it certainly would not, in my judgment, promote the general service. J. A. SEDDON. General B. BRAGG, Richmond: LYNCHBURG, VA., June 8, 1864-2 p. m. Just arrived here, cars running off track twice. Find here a fourgun battery of Vaughn's command, fully equipped. Will push it on to Charlottesville as fast as possible. Just heard there are only 150 Yankees in Greenbrier, and Averell at Warm Springs on the 5th. This means he was going to Staunton. I telegraphed Vaughn of the re-enforcements, and urged him to hold fast in the best positions, if the enemy advances. I venture to suggest that Morgan be ordered to the Valley. JNO. C. BRECKINRIDGE, 48 R R-VOL XXXVII, PT I Major-General. RICHMOND, VA., June 8, 1864-5.20 p. m. Maj. Gen. J. C. BRECKINRIDGE: Dispatch received. Following are two last telegrams from Vaughn, dated yesterday, from Blue Ridge Tunnel: General BRAGG: An escaped prisoner just in reports enemy 15,000 strong under Hunter. General Jones' cavalry Brigade, 1,100 strong, has just arrived. Later.-No movement of enemy from Staunton to-day. I have information frombattle-field. We have there 60 wounded. Enemy's loss in killed and wounded, 1,500; they have 1,000 prisoners. We have a report here that Morgan has gone to Kentucky. G. B. Crittenden, at Glade Spring, in command of department temporarily. Inquire of him. [BRAXTON BRAGG.] HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, Major-General BRECKINRID E, Lynchburg: I was under the impression until last night that Colonel King and his battalion had accompanied General Wharton; only McLaughlin's battalion went. Is King's battalion required? Sheridan's cavalry crossed Mattapony last night. His destination may be the Valley. Keep strict watch. R. E. LEE, General, Brigadier-General VAUGHN, LYNCHBURG, VA., June 8, 1864 In front of Charlottesville, Va.: I hear that Averell was at Warm Springs on the 5th. They may attempt to pass with cavalry through the gaps to the left and south of you, Tye River and other gaps. Watch these and keep your forces well in hand, that we may be prepared to take the offensive when our troops are brought together. I hear you have now a large force of cavalry. It will be well if you can spare a good mounted force under enterprising leaders to operate on their flanks and rear. JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE, Major-General. LYNCHBURG, June 8, 1864. Brigadier-General VAUGHN, In front of Charlottesville, Va.: Re-enforcements should be in Charlottesville this evening. Communicate with them. If the enemy advances hold fast as long as you can at the best positions. I may not be able to leave here before to-morrow morning. Telegraph me fully. I hope you have abundant supplies. Do you need ammunition? If so, of what kind. and how much. Please have ready a full statement of your forces and their present organization. JNO. C. BRECKINRIDGE, Major-General. LYNCHBURG, June 8, 1864-6 p. m. Brigadier-General VAUGHN, In front of Charlottesville: I think the force of the enemy is overrated. Try to hold the line of the Blue Ridge. I will be up to-morrow. You say you are short of artillery ammunition, but do not tell me what kind you need. JNO. C. BRECKINRIDGE. P. S.-Inspire the troops. We will soon drive the enemy out or destroy them. J. C. B. ROCKFISH GAP, VA., June 8, 1864-4.45 p. m. Major-General BRECKINRIDGE : The enemy advancing, and are one mile from Waynesborough. I have not over 2,500 muskets. I wish you to come soon. General Wharton telegraphs he has forty rounds of ammunition. Send forward as much ammunition as your division will need. I have only a tolerable supply for my force. My commissaries [?] is limited. Crook, Averell, and Hunter have, I think, united their forces at. Staunton. They have twenty-three regiments of infantry, and ten to twelve regiments of cavalry, and forty pieces of artillery. General Wharton requires ammunition, .58 caliber. I have sixteen pieces of artillery, but short supply of ammunition. I will hold this position as long as possible, but it is liable to being flanked. I wish you would come immediately, if you have to come on an engine. McCausland and Jackson, I fear, are cut off.* [J. C. VAUGHN.] BLUE RIDGE TUNNEL, June 8, 1864. Major-General BRECKINRIDGE: Most of the infantry has reached here. I can get no very definite information from the front. You are very much needed here if the enemy should advance in this direction. Hope you will get here in the morning. The train with McLaughlin's artillery left Beaver Dam at 7.15 this evening. G. C. WHARTON, Col. G. B. CRITTENDEN, LYNCHBURG, June 8, 1864-9 p. m. Glade Spring, Va.: I have applied to Richmond for Morgan to report at once to assist in repelling Crook and Hunter. General Bragg answers that you * Original incomplete, are in temporary command in my department. Morgan should report to me at once. If he is moving toward mouth of Sandy, he might sweep up Kanawha Valley and attack enemy now at Staunton in flank and rear. Telegraph me at Charlottesville. J. C. BRECKINRIDGE, Major-General. LYNCHBURG, VA., June 8, 1864. Major KING, Chief Commissary, Salem or Dublin, Va.: Collect all the supplies you can and forward to this place and Charlottesville. Communicate with me here and at Charlottesville. JNO. C. BRECKINRIDGE, Major-General. Maj. Gen. J. C. BRECKINRIDGE : GLADE SPRING, June 9, 1864. Your telegram received and has been forwarded to Colonel Witcher, who is picketing toward Pound Gap, with instructions to forward it to General Morgan at once. I do not think his command can be made available toward Staunton, as he passed through Pound Gap six or seven days since, intending to move to the interior of Kentucky. G. B. CRITTENDEN, Colonel, Commanding. CHARLOTTESVILLE, June 10, 1864. Major-General BRECKINRIDGE: WADE HAMPTON, Major-General. All the forces from here have gone up to you. What shall I do? GEO. J. MALLORY, Lieutenant and Commanding Post. RICHMOND, June 11, 1864. General BRECKINRIDGE : Following dispatch from Lynchburg: General BRAGG: I have just received the following dispatch, which I forward: "General BRECKINRIDGE: HEADQUARTERS VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE, "I have just left McCausland's camp two miles below Lexington. He has been fighting Averell's cavalry, estimated at 5,000 strong, all day, from one and a half miles this side Staunton to Brownsburg, and his scouts report that Crook entered Fairfield this afternoon with upward of six regiments of infantry and 200 cavalry. If pursued by either column, McCausland. will not be able to hold Lexington. The plans of the enemy are developed; they camp to-night at Cedar Grove, nine miles from Lexington, and at Fairfield, twelve miles from Lexington. 66 F. H. SMITH, Hon. JAMES A. SEDDON, Secretary of War: Averell's cavalry, reported 4,000 strong, crossed the North River, eight miles above Lexington, at 12 o'clock last night, and it is presumed entered and occupied the town before daybreak this morning. McCausland, with 1,500 cavalry, skirmished with them several times during the day, but could not impede their advance materially. Averell came from Staunton by the Middlebrook and Brownsburg road, and Crook's infantry force is reported to be advancing by the Greenville and Fairfield road, with no Confederate forces between him and Lexington. Doubtless the Virginia Military Institute is now a heap of ruins. Can you send a force to intercept them and co-operate with the heavy force of Breckinridge in their rear? Buford's Depot, on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, is but twelve miles from Buchanan and nearer, too, to the route of the enemy than any other. JOHN W. BROCKENBROUGH. LYNCHBURG, June 11, 1864. General S. COOPER: The enemy cut the road at Arrington, between Charlottesville and this point, to-day. I think this reliable. I think they are in small force. FRANCIS T. NICHOLLS, Brigadier-General. LYNCHBURG, June 11, 1864. General S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General: A telegram has been received by operator here stating that the mail train on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad had been turned back to Rockfish Depot, within four miles of Arrington Depot, and that Major Bell's train had been captured and burned. FRANCIS T. NICHOLLS, Brigadier-General. HEADQUARTERS, Lynchburg, June 11, 1864. General BRECKINRIDGE: Following dispatch just received from Rockfish, dated this morning: Capt. J. B. Jones, commanding infirmary cavalry camps, near Rockfish Valley, ten miles above this place, near turnpike, from Rockfish Gap to Howardsville via this place, arrived here at 12 o'clock with Captain Jones' papers, and reports that a |