Summary:
In this April, 1862, letter, Robert E. Lee, acting as military advisor to
Jefferson Davis and functioning as a Chief of Staff, gives movement orders to
Confederate General Henry Heth. Lee fears Union troops will occupy Staunton and
suggests that, in that event, Heth use the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad for
communications. Lee's fear illustrates the importance of Staunton as a center of
railroad communication.
Brig. Gen. HENRY HETH,
Cmdg., &c.,
Lewisburg, Va.:
Richmond, Va.,
April 18, 1862.
GEN.:
The report of the strength of the enemy in Shenandoah Valley renders it probable that he may succeed in occupying Staunton. Your communication by that route will in that event be cut, and you must rely on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. It will depend upon the ability of the enemy and his further movements whether you may not be obliged to fall back toward Lynchburg. In that event you must endeavor to hold the passage of the Blue Ridge. To this end have your army in a movable condition, and keep in communication with Gen. Edward Johnson, who, if compelled, will retire through Waynesborough to the Blue Ridge. All surplus ammunition and stores should be sent to Lynchburg, the movements of the enemy carefully watched, and every preparation made to make your army effective and formidable. You must also keep Gen. H. Marshall advised of your movements and of the necessities which govern them, who, under similar contingencies, will move to Abingdon, and, if unable to form a junction with you, will retire east of the Blue Ridge into North Carolina, probably through Taylorsville. Should you have any suggestions to make as to the proposed movements under the necessity supposed, I shall be pleased to receive them.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. E. LEE,
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 855, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
