Summary:
Confederate Adjutant General Robert Chilton writes to John Imboden concerning his
October, 1862, efforts to procure cattle and horses in western Virginia. Chilton
instructs Imboden to send to Staunton all the leather he can gather.
Col. J. D. IMBODEN,
Cmdg., &c., Petersburg,
Va.:
October 23, 1862.
COL.:
Your letter to Gen. Jackson, of the 20th instant, just received by the commanding general, to whom it was referred. He has referred to the chief quartermaster and commissary of this army the portions relating to the procurement of horses and cattle. Proceed as you have done heretofore, procuring all of each as far as possible, not delaying to receive Federal money, which will, if to be obtained, be sent to you.
The commanding general wishes you, if news from Loring is corroborated satisfactory, to cross the mountains for co-operation with his forces, as preferable to any independent move, it being most important to damage, in every possible way, their lines of communication, by destroying bridges, tanks, tunnels, &c., on the railroads. This operation will not interfere with your prosecution of your present work, which may be continued upon your return, in which event it is hoped you will bring over all the horses and cattle to be procured west of the mountains. If Yankee money can be procured, a special agent will be sent forward to make, under your direction, the contemplated purchases. It is desired that you will send out of reach of the enemy all the leather which can be procured, advising Col. Davidson, commanding at Staunton, whenever sending it out, in order that he may, as instructed, send wagons to transport it to Staunton.
The commanding general desires me to renew to you this thanks for the activity and energy you have displayed in your operations, and to express his best wishes and hopes for your success in the anticipated enterprise.
I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. H. CHILTON,
Assistant Adjutant-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 678-679, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
