Summary:
General William W. Loring reports to Confederate Assistant Adjutant General
George Deas on the July, 1861, strategic situation in western Virginia. Staunton
served as an important arrival point for Confederates sent to the front early in
the war as evidenced by Loring's reports of various regiments entering the
town.
Col. GEORGE DEAS,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Hdqrs. of the
Forces, Richmond, Va.:
Monterey, Va.,
July 28, 1861.
COLONEL:
I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the troops on this line since my arrival:
We occupy (with one regiment of infantry and two pieces of artillery, with two regiments of infantry at the base of the mountain) the pass in the Alleghany Mountains in front of this place. The enemy, with about the same force, hold the strong pass in the Cheat Mountain, distant from our position about eighteen miles. From the best information which we can obtain, they are at several points between the Cheat Pass and Beverly, distant about twenty-three miles. Before my arrival Gen. Jackson had marched a force to occupy the passes on the Huntersville and Huttonsville turnpike.
On yesterday Col. Lee's regiment of North Carolina volunteers was at the base of Elk Mountain, eleven miles in advance of Huntersville, and will soon be in position at the Elk Mountain Pass. The Bath Cavalry were still farther advanced, at the Big Spring, twenty-eight miles from Huntersville.
Col. Gilham, with two regiments, on yesterday at Huntersville will join Col. Lee as soon as he can get necessary supplies, which were en route for him from the depot recently established at Millborough.
About two hundred and fifty of the Pocahontas militia have been mustered into service. Eighty of them are now organized as spies and guides, and are watching closely all of the mountain roads, passes, and paths in the direction of the enemy. Capt. Marye's battery probably arrived at Huntersville to-day, and join Col. Lee without delay.
The re-enforcements arrive very slowly. Two of the Tennessee regiments arrived at Staunton on yesterday, and the third was expected to reach there to-day. Nothing has been heard of Gens. Floyd's and Wise's brigades, or of the two Georgia regiments of infantry, or the Georgia battery.
The very strong pass in the Cheat Mountain cannot be turned near by; but, as soon as I can concentrate the forces, will advance upon the enemy from the other quarter.
There is said to be a strong position in advance of the Alleghany Pass, at Yeager's, near the crossing of the Greenbrier River. A reconnaissance is being made to-day, with a view of advancing upon it.
I have reason to believe that the forces of the enemy have been reduced recently, and I will move against him as soon as it will be proper to do so.
I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. W. LORING,
Brig.-Gen.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 2, Serial No. 2, Pages 1006, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
