Summary:
Robert E. Lee writes General John D. Imboden, commanding at Staunton, concerning
the July, 1863, situation in the Shenandoah Valley. Lee gives Imboden command of
the whole Valley region.
Brig. Gen. J. D. Imboden,
Staunton, Va.:
One mile south of Winchester,
July 21, 1863.
Gen.:
I am obliged to withdraw the army east of the Blue Ridge. A portion of Gen. Sam. Jones' troops, under Col. Wharton, have reached the Valley, but Gen. Jones himself has not arrived, and circumstances may prevent his coming altogether. In his absence, I desire you to take command of the Valley District, and so dispose of your troops as to operate to the best advantage, covering from the depredations of the enemy, giving protection to the inhabitants, and damaging the enemy all in your power.
The forces of Gen.'s Mulligan, Kelley, and Averell were said to be in the neighborhood of Cherry Run and Back Creek, and Gen. Ewell with his corps moved down last evening to attack them this morning, but they escaped from him during the night.
It has been reported by scouts that all the troops have been withdrawn from Northwestern Virginia, leaving only a small guard at Grafton and New Creek, the rest being in the vicinity of Cherry Run. If this is true, this is a fine opportunity of damaging the road and destroying the workshops at Piedmont, which I hope you will take advantage of.
I desire Col. Wharton to remain in command of all of Gen. Jones' troops that are here or may arrive, until the arrival of Gen. Jones himself.
I am, most respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. E. LEE,
Gen.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 27, Serial No. 45, Pages 1032, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
