Summary:
Army of the Potomac commander Alfred Pleasonton reports to General Parke on the
November, 1862, disposition of Thomas J. Jackson's troops. Pleasonton speculates
that, if attacked, Jackson will retreat to Staunton.
Maj.-Gen. PARKE.
Corbin's Cross-Roads,
November 10, 1862
GEN.:
I find there are four roads between this and Woodville that pass down to Culpeper from Chester Gap, each of which should be strongly guarded, to prevent the rebel trains passing down.
The rebels are now using Thornton's Gap for their trains, Chester Gap being guarded by Jackson. Jackson has no trains with him, but is supplied by the farmers in Page County. His trains are hauling supplies to Culpeper. Jackson's plan, when we move to Culpeper, is to stride for Warrenton Junction and Rappahannock Station. If we attack him in the gap, he will retreat up the valley toward Staunton. This is what he wants, to draw us off from Culpeper. His army, it is said, is composed of the picked fighting men of the whole. The army at Culpeper, I am told, is a good deal demoralized, and will not stand much of a shock.
The negro that came in from Jackson yesterday tells me that if we can get our army to Madison, we shall cut Jackson off from the road to Richmond, from its connection with Culpeper, and would break up the Culpeper army.
I learn that Joe Johnston, and Shanks [N. G.] Evans, and George E. Pickett are at Culpeper. Stuart is in front of me, at Hazel River, on the other side. There has been some picket firing, but I shall not disturb him until the general is ready to"let slip the dogs of war."
Jackson has no cavalry except some few for scouts. Leave a strong force to face Jackson, covering Warrenton and its junction with a corps of observation at Barbee's; push your forces down on Culpeper vigorously, inclining to the right, to take in Woodville and Madison. Give us ten days more good weather, and wind up the campaign in a blaze of glory.
Stuart told a lady that our rapid advance, was due to desperation;that we were forced to it, and that on reaching the Rappahannock we would get the soundest thrashing we have ever had. Nous verrons. Please let me know if you received my dispatch of 2.30 p. m. yesterday.
Very respectfully,
A. PLEASONTON,
Brig.-Gen.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 19, Serial No. 28, Pages 122-123, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
