Summary:
Union General John C. Fremont reports on the progress of the April, 1862,
offensive in the Shenandoah Valley. In this letter, he reports to Secretary of
War Stanton on the collapse of Confederate militia, and the movement of sick on
railroads from Staunton, Virginia.
Hon. E.M. STANTON,
Secretary of War:
Wheeling,
April 26, 1862.
Gen. Milroy reports that his scouting parties at different times on the 23rd attacked parties of enemy's infantry and cavalry 10 miles beyond Shenandoah Mountain. Killed 1 lieutenant and 2 men, and captured 1 man of Churchville Cavalry; also captured a lieutenant of Thirty-first Virginia, without loss or injury to us. Militia impressed are deserting by hundreds, taking oath of allegiance, and returning to their homes. The latest reports from Staunton are that on the 24th the enemy were moving their sick on cars eastward, and that large trains loaded with soldiers, supposed to be Johnson's were passing eastward. No soldiers in or about Staunton and none this side, except one regiment and one battalion of infantry and four companies of cavalry at Buffalo Gap. He also reports that communication has been cut off between him and Gen. Schenck by the high water. Snow fell 18 inches deep day before yesterday at Monterey.
J.C. FREMONT,
Maj.-Gen., Commanding.
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 108, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
