Summary:
In this July, 1862, letter, George D. Ruggles, General Pope's Chief of Staff, informs Union General Franz Sigel of Confederate movements toward Staunton along the Virginia Central Railroad. Ruggles orders Sigel to send out scouts in the Staunton area.

---

Maj.-Gen. SIGEL,
Commanding First Corps d'Armee, near Sperryville, Va.:

Washington, D. C.,

July 21, 1862.

Information has been received that a considerable force of troops of the enemy has passed up the Virginia Central Railroad toward Gordonsville. It is stated that their probable destination was Staunton; some believe it was Lynchburg. Push your cavalry out as far as possible toward Staunton. Send out scouts and spies to ascertain if there is a considerable force of the enemy in the neighborhood of, or east of Staunton. Spare no expense in this regard. Keep these headquarter, fully advised of such information as you may be able to obtain.

By command of Maj.-Gen. Pope:

GEO. D. RUGGLES,
Col. and Chief of Staff.

---

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 494, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.