Summary:
Union Assistant Adjutant Edward D. Townsend writes General Robert Patterson, commanding at Chambersburg in June, 1861, to discuss the Confederate defenses at Harper's Ferry.

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Maj.-Gen. PATTERSON, Chambersburg, Pa.:

WASHINGTON,

June 13, 1861.

GENERAL:

Information has been given the Gen.-in-Chief that Ben McCulloch has two regiments of sharpshooters coming from Texas, and that he is now on the spot preparing to meet your column, and then to fall back on Harper's Ferry.

Indications received from this side confirm the impression you seem to have that a desperate stand will be made at Harper's Ferry by the rebels. The Gen. suggests that sharpshooters be met by sharpshooters.

This will be handed to you by Lieut. Babcock, Corps of Engineers, ordered to report to you.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen.

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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 680-681, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.