Summary:
In this May, 1862, letter, General Nathaniel P. Banks discusses movements in the
Valley and his orders to fall back on Strasburg. He expresses his desire to take
a stand at Staunton, instead.
Col. JOHN W. GEARY:
New Market, Va.,
May 9, 1862.
MY DEAR SIR:
Your dispatch announcing that you were ordered to join McDowell was received a day or two since and the letter relating to the bands of rebels infesting the line of railway last evening.
I regret very much indeed that you are to be separated from us more than I ought to express in an official letter. I regret it because I feel that the policy of which this order is a part is to end in allowing the grand army of the rebels to escape unharmed from Virginia and to add another year to the war. But results are not for us to consider and orders are received to be obeyed.
We are to fall back to Strasburg. Gen. Shields has received orders similar to your own. There are not less than 17,000 men left in the vicinity of the valley in Jackson's and Ewell's command, and any small force left in the valley will of course receive their attention.
We were within a few miles of Staunton when ordered to halt. I only wish that with my whole force I could have held that place and co-operated with Fremont, who was then coming down from the mountains. The valley would have been cleared of the enemy from the Manassas Gap Railway to the Virginia Central between Staunton and Gordonsville. But that is not in the line of our orders.
I wish, colonel, you would, before you leave for McDowell's position, send us the artillery that belongs to Gen. Williams' division. It came from Abercrombie and was left with your command while on its way here. We are very short of artillery. Half our guns are 6-pounder smooth-bores.
It is impossible to anticipate what work lies before us, and I feel the imperative necessity of making preparations for the worst.
I congratulate you on your most deserved promotion, and regret only that your brigade is not to join us again. Our connection has been long and to me most pleasant, and I shall be glad at all times to acknowledge the efficiency, alacrity, and unsurpassed energy and ability with which you have discharged all your duties.
I am, general, with great respect, your obedient servant,
N. P. BANKS,
Maj.-Gen.
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 154-155, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
