Summary:
General Robert E. Lee instructs General George Steaurt at Winchester to continue
sending the seriously sick and wounded to Staunton in this October, 1862,
letter.
Brig. Gen. GEORGE H. STEAURT,
Winchester, Va.:
Camp near Winchester, Va.,
October 18, 1862.
GEN.:
The enemy retired yesterday afternoon from Leetown and Charlestown, the points which their respective columns from opposite Shepherdstown and Harper's Ferry reached. From information received last night, I believe the former recrossed the Potomac at the ford below Shepherdstown, and the latter withdrew to Harper's Ferry. I wish you would persecute vigorously the police of Winchester and the hospitals. Continue to send back the serious cases of sick to Staunton. Convalescents must be returned to their regiments when able to resume duty. I have been informed that the medical is granting wholesale furloughs to men in hospitals. This is wrong; none ought to be furloughed but such as really require it. I have sent scouts to Wardensville, the Cacapon Bridge, and points in that direction, to give notice of any approach of enemy's cavalry from Hancock or Cumberland, with directions to communicative with you. I have thought it possible that an expedition similar to Stuart's might be attempted, passing near Front Royal and crossing the Blue Ridge. The enemy's cavalry yesterday came up as far as Paris and Snickersville from Loudon. I wish you would be on the alert, and keep your Maryland troops and others with you prepared for any emergency.
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 19, Serial No. 28, Pages 671, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
