Summary:
In November, 1862, General Thomas J. Jackson's Confederates guarded the
Shenandoah Valley against any possible advance by Federal forces. In this
letter, Lee discusses Jackson's movements and supply situation, including
blankets and shoes forwarded from Staunton.
Lieut. Gen. THOMAS J. JACKSON,
Cmdg., &c.:
November 10, 1862
GEN.:
Your letter of the 9th instant has been received, and I am glad to learn that your command is in condition to move whenever it becomes necessary. My letter of yesterday will have explained to you my views, and informed you that I rely upon your judgment and discretion in determining the time of your departure. As soon as you think that your presence in that portion of the valley will not retard or prevent the advance of the enemy east of the Blue Ridge, I wish you to advance with all celerity to unite with Longstreet's corps. You must inform yourself of the routes, prepare provision and forage for the occasion, and lose no time in executing your march when it is commenced. As stated in my previous letter, should you find yourself in danger at any time of being cut off from the route west of the Massanutten Mountains, you must move at once.
I am in hopes that the shoes and blankets forwarded by Col. Corley from Staunton will be sufficient for your wants.
I will endeavor to have the signal line through Thornton's Gap extended to these headquarters, but we are very deficient in men.
I have heard of no change in the disposition of the forces of the enemy since I wrote yesterday, except that their cavalry has retired from Washington, and the route through Chester Gap is supposed to be open. Gen. Stuart, who drove the enemy to-day the other side of Amissville, reports having seen large encampments beyond Warrenton.
I have the honor to be, &c.,
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 710-711, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
