Summary:
During the Spring of 1862 Union forces under Nathaniel P. Banks, Irvin McDowell, and John C. Fremont, advanced in the Shenandoah Valley in conjunction with George B. McClellan's drive on Richmond. In this letter, General Banks informs Secretary of War Stanton of his progress in advancing toward Staunton, VA.

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Hon. E.M. STANTON,
Secretary of War:

NEW MARKET,

April 26, 1862.

Our advance is at Mount Crawford, 8 miles from Staunton; two brigades at Harrisonburg. Have information that Jackson waits arrival of Marshall with 6,000, and may make a stand at Swift Run Gap. Think Marshall must be from Rappahannock. Will know more to-morrow. Heavy rebel re-enforcements moving toward Yorktown reported. Five days' rain in six days. All streams impassable except by bridges. Thanks for telegram of information received to-day.

N.P. BANKS,
Maj.-Gen., Commanding.

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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 12, Serial No. 18, Pages 106, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.