Summary:
Confederate General Robert S. Garnett reports to Adjutant General Samuel Cooper
regarding the state of troops under his command in what is now West Virginia
during June, 1861. Garnett reports having ordered munitions and supplies from
Staunton.
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT NORTHWESTERN VIRGINIA,
Gen. S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector Gen.:
Beverly,
June 18, 1861.
SIR:
As already reported, I have four companies of cavalry under my command. I find that beyond Laurel Hill and the Buckhannon Pass there are so many country by-roads and cross-roads that this force is not quite sufficient to keep my command properly guarded. I therefore request that I may be supplied at the earliest practicable with two companies of well-armed and well-instructed cavalry.
The force which I found here is in a miserable condition as to ammunition and equipments. As regards the latter, they are actually suffering. Many are without blankets, and I may say nearly all without tents. The nights are cold, and there is much rain in this mountainous region. Sickness is therefore to be apprehended. In addition to this, they are obliged to carry their ammunition in their pockets, and that which escapes the rain is ruined by the perspiration of the men and the wearing out of the paper cartridges. I asked before leaving Staunton for one thousand cartridge-boxes, but I suppose it will be some time before I shall see them. I shall ask to-day for five hundred tent flies, as it will take too much time to make tents. I simply want something to protect arms and ammunition from rain.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R.S. GARNETT,
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 938-939, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
