Summary:
Robert E. Lee took command of Confederate forces defending Richmond on June 1, 1862. In this letter to Secretary of War George Randolph, Lee discusses sending reinforcements to Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley. Lee also mentions his orders that Major Harman, commanding at Staunton, gather all available troops, raise the community in that vicinity, and march to Jackson's aid.

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Hon. GEORGE W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War:

Near Richmond, VA.,

June 5, 1862.

SIR:

I wrote to His Excellency the President this morning about re-enforcements for Gen. Jackson. The troops from Georgia you propose sending him I believe form a part of Gen. Lawton's brigade. I wish they were mine; but with the North Carolina Battalion, if they can join him, will fill up his ranks. He ought to have more, or these will not materially aid him. His plan is to march to Front Royal and crush Shields. It is his only course, and as he is a good soldier, I expect him to do it.

I telegraphed yesterday to Maj. Harman at Staunton to collect all the troops in that vicinity, raise the community, magnify their numbers, and march down the valley and communicate with Jackson. It will shake Shields and make him pause.

Very respectfully,

R. E. LEE,
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 905-906, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.