Summary:
In May, 1861, new Confederate volunteers from Western Virginia mustered into service in Staunton. In this letter, Robert E. Lee orders Colonel John Echols, overseeing operations in Staunton, to send newly mustered troops to Harper's Ferry.

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HEADQUARTERS VIRGINIA FORCES,

Lieut. Col. JOHN ECHOLS, Virginia Volunteers, Staunton, Va.:

Richmond, Va.,

1861-05-10

COLONEL:

It is desired that you send the troops you were directed to muster into the service of the State at Staunton to Harper's Ferry, by companies, as fast as mustered in, with their descriptive list, to Col. Jackson, without waiting to organize them into regiments, with such arms as they may have. You will report the companies sent, their number, condition of arms, &c., to these headquarters.

Very respectfully, &c.,

R. E. LEE,
Maj.-Gen., Commanding.

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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 826, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.