Summary:
On May 8, 1862, Confederate General Thomas J. Jackson attacked and defeated a portion of General John C. Fremont's command under Robert Milroy at McDowell. In this letter, Fremont informs Secretary of War Stanton of Jackson's subsequent movements. He reports on intelligence gathered by scouts concerning the arrival in Staunton of more Confederate troops by train.

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

PETERSBURG, VA.,

May 11, 1862

Gen. Schenck reports from 2 miles south of Franklin certain information that the rebels have a strong picket advanced to within 9 miles of this camp, on the road from Monterey, and near the place where he encamped last night. Three of Gen. Milroy's best scouts sent in direction of Staunton have just returned. They ascertained that Jackson's and Johnson's forces amounted to 14,000, and were being re-enforced three days ago by troops arriving in trains at Staunton. They know of three long trains full.

In the fight at McDowell Friday enemy had a prominent rebel officer killed, probably a general, and there is some reason to believe it is Johnston [E. Johnson].

J. C. FREMONT,
Maj.-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 12, Serial No. 18, Pages 171, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.