Summary:
In March, 1863, Confederate general John Imboden planned a raid to destroy the Cheat River Bridge. In this letter, Confederate General Samuel Jones writes General William E. Jones concerning plans for the operation. Samuel Jones mentions sending engineers to report at Staunton to participate in the raid.

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Brig. Gen. W. E. JONES,
Cmdg., &c., Edenburg, Va.:

Dublin,

March 19, 1863.

GEN.:

Lieut. Thomas Dolan handed to me to-day your letter of the 16th instant. Lieut. Hart, of the Engineers, will report at Staunton on the 23d instant with 8 or 10 men and the necessary tools and materials; but, as at present advised, I shall direct him to report to Gen. Imboden, who informs me that he has on foot an expedition embracing Capt. McNeill's, but there seems to be some misapprehension between you and Capt. McNeill and Imboden. The latter expects you to do something more than you indicate, and he does not expect to start as soon as you say McNeill will be ready to start. I advise by all means that you communicate with Imboden before the expedition starts, otherwise there may be some unfortunate confusion, causing failure.

I do not understand Imboden's position exactly. Is he under you, or does he receive orders directly from Gen. Lee or the War Department? I will write to Imboden by Lieut. Dolan.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

SAM. JONES,
Maj.-Gen.

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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 25, Serial No. 40, Pages 677, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.