Summary:
In March, 1863, Confederate General John Imboden planned an expedition to destroy
the Cheat River bridge. In this letter, Confederate General Samuel Jones writes
Imboden, commanding at Staunton, concerning preparations for the expedition.
Jones promises to send engineers to Staunton to aid Imboden's plans.
Brig. Gen. J. D. IMBODEN,
Cmdg., &c.,
Staunton, Va.:
Dublin,
March 19, 1863.
GEN.:
I received to-day a letter, of the 16th instant, from Brig. Gen. W. E. Jones, informing me that he would exert himself to have everything in readiness for the movement of Capt. McNeill on the 22d instant, and requesting me to send my engineer and his party to that place.
From your letter of the 14th instant, it seems that your proposed expedition embraces that of McNeill. Surely there cannot be in contemplation two expeditions, starting and for the same points, and about the same time, under separate and independent commanders. I take it for granted that the entire expedition is to be under your direction, and shall order Lieut. Hart, of Engineers, on his arrival at Staunton with his party, to report to you. But I am afraid there is some misapprehension between you, W. E. Jones, and McNeill. I earnestly recommend that you communicate with both of the officers, and act in concert; otherwise some confusion may arise, leading inevitably to failure.
If I knew exactly when you would move, I might in all probability be able to aid you at Beverly with a good regiment of infantry, but I cannot withdraw it from its present post and send it by way of Staunton to you.
You need, I think, apprehend no interruption from the enemy's troops in the Kanawha Valley. I think I shall be able to fix their attention on this side of the river.
I regret that I did not know sooner of your proposed expedition. I might then have aided you more effectually than I can now. Keep me informed of your movements, and I will give you all the aid I can.
Have you heard from Gen. Lee in regard to the two regiments you desire since I wrote him in regard to them?
Very respectfully, &c.,
SAM. JONES,
Maj.-Gen.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 25, Serial No. 40, Pages 676-677, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
