Summary:
Union General Robert Schenck updates General in Chief Henry Halleck on January, 1863, action
in the Shenandoah Valley. The movement of Confederate troops from Staunton is mentioned in the
dispatch.
Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK,
Gen.-in-Chief.
BALTIMORE, MD.,
January 3, 1863.
GEN.:
I have just received the following telegram from Gen. Kelley:
HARPER'S FERRY, W. VA., January 3, 1863.
Col. WILLIAM D. WHIPPLE,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Baltimore:
I have just received a dispatch, dated this a.m., from Col. Washburn, commanding at Moorefield, that he was attacked this morning. Thought there was a large force approaching him by way of Petersburg. He had withdrawn his force from the latter place, and sent his train to New Creek. I have ordered a force from New Creek to meet and protect the train. Have ordered Milroy to send a force from Winchester, to support Washburn. I fear the enemy has sent a force from Staunton down the Potomac Valley, to cut the railroad west of us. A dispatch, just received from Capt. Keys, at Romney, reports cannonading this afternoon in the direction of Moorefield. Washburn has two small infantry regiments, a battery, and one company of cavalry.
B. F. KELLEY,
Brig.-Gen.
I have telegraphed Gen. Kelley that if he thinks that now, or on the receipt of further intelligence, he must have re-enforcements, I can send him at once, from here, a regiment of infantry and a field battery. I have nothing else to spare him. I have also directed him to keep a lookout, lest the enemy approach the river or the railroad from the direction of Leesburg.
ROBT. C. SCHENCK,
Maj.-Gen., Cmdg.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 21, Serial No. 31, Pages 745, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
