Summary:
In this June 1862 letter, General Lee, now commanding the Confederate army defending Richmond, informs Secretary of War Randolph of General Thomas J. Jackson's plans to attack Federal troops in the Shenandoah Valley. Lee discusses reinforcements for Jackson. He also reports that he urged Major Harman, commanding in Staunton, to raise troops from the community to send to Jackson's aid.

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Hon. GEORGE W. RANDOLPH,
Secretary of War:

Near Richmond, Va.,

June 5, 1862.

SIR:

I wrote to His Excellency the President this morning about re-enforcements for Gen. Jackson. The troops from Georgia you propose sending him I believe form a part of Gen. Lawton's brigade. I wish they were mine, but with the North Carolina battalion, if they can join him, will fill up his ranks. He ought to have more, or these will not materially aid him. His plan is to march to Front Royal and crush Shields. It is his only course, and as he is a good soldier, I expect him to do it.

I telegraphed yesterday to Maj. Harman, at Staunton, to collect all the troops in that vicinity, raise the community, magnify their numbers, and march down the valley and communicate with Jackson. It will shake Shields and make him pause.

Very respectfully,

R. E. LEE,
Gen.

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Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 11, Serial No. 14, Pages 575, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.