Summary:
During the summer of 1861, Staunton served as a base of supply and rendezvous for Confederate troops defending western Virginia. In this letter, Robert E. Lee writes General William W. Loring concerning the arrival in Staunton of three Tennessee regiments. Lee instructs Loring to call upon Michael G. Harman, quartermaster at Staunton, to organize and direct troops and reinforcements.

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HEADQUARTERS,

Brig. Gen. W. W. LORING,
Commanding Northwestern Army, Virginia:

Richmond, Va.,

July 21, 1861.

GENERAL:

Three Tennessee regiments, expected at Lynchburg, are ordered to Staunton, to join the Northwestern Army. You are desired, in the event of their not reaching Staunton before you leave, to give orders to Maj. M. G. Harman as to their disposition. If you find it necessary to move troops on the Warms Springs road, to get them in position on the Huntersville and Huttonsville Turnpike, for the defense of Elk Mountain or the Middle Mountain, to prevent the enemy seizing that road, and thus reaching the Virginia Central Railroad, you may find it advantageous to send the Tennessee regiments to Millborough. Maj. M. G. Harman, at Staunton, will make arrangements on your order.

Very respectfully, &c.,

R. E. LEE,
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 987, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.