Summary:
Early in the war, Staunton, VA, served as an important rendezvous point for Confederate recruits. In this May, 1861, letter, Robert E. Lee writes Colonel George Porterfield concerning his command at Grafton, VA. Lee refers to companies of new recruits sent to that point.

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HEADQUARTERS VIRGINIA FORCES,

Col. GEORGE A. PORTERFIELD,
Commanding, &c., Grafton, Va.:

Richmond, Va.,

May 24, 1861.

COLONEL:

I have just received your letter of the 18th instant, and regret that you have been unsuccessful in organizing the companies of volunteers that out expected. By this time the companies from Staunton must have reached you; also one from Harper's Ferry, and I hope that the true men of that region have been encouraged to come out into the service of the State. I will write to the commanding officer of Harper's Ferry to give you all aid in his power, and I hope you will spare no pains to preserve the integrity of the State, and to prevent the occupation of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad by its enemies. In answer to your inquiry as to the treatment of traitors, I cannot believe that any citizen of the State will betray its interests, and hope all will unite in supporting the policy she may adopt.

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 873-874, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.