Summary:
In June, 1863, Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia invaded Pennsylvania in
what became the Gettysburg campaign. In this dispatch, dated June 20, Lee
reports to Jefferson Davis on the progress and locations of his troops. He
reports that General Richard Ewell's advance cavalry is at Chambersburg.
His Excellency Jefferson Davis,
Richmond, Va.
Berryville,
June 20, 1863.
Mr. President:
I have the honor to report, for the information of Your Excellency, that Gen. Imboden has destroyed the bridges on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, over Evart's Creek, near Cumberland; the long bridge across the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, below Cumberland; the iron bridge across the North Branch of the Potomac, with the wooden trestle adjoining it; the double-span bridge across the mouth of Patterson's Creek; the Fink's patent iron bridge across the mouth of the South Branch of the Potomac, three spans of 133 1/3 feet each, and the wooden bridge over Little Cacapon.
All the depots, water-tanks, and engines between the Little Cacapon and Cumberland are also destroyed, with the block-houses at the mouth of the South Branch and Patterson's Creek.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, about 2 miles above Old Town, where the embankment is about 40 feet high, has been cut, and Gen. Imboden reports that when he left it the entire embankment, for about 50 yards, had been swept away.
A similar crevasse, with like results, was also made in the canal, about 4 miles below Old Town.
Lieut.-Col. White, of the cavalry, has also cut the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad east of the Point of Rocks.
Gen. Milroy has abandoned the south side of the Potomac, occupying Harper's Ferry with a picket, and holds the Maryland Heights with about 8,000 men.
Gen. Ewell's corps is north of the Potomac, occupying Sharpsburg, Boonsborough, and Hagerstown. His advance cavalry is at Chambersburg, Pa.
The first division of Gen. A. P. Hill's corps will reach this vicinity to-day; the rest follow.
Gen. Longstreet's corps, with Stuart's cavalry, still occupy the Blue Ridge, between the roads leading through Ashby's and Snicker's Gaps, holding in check a large force of the enemy, consisting of cavalry, infantry, and artillery.
The movement of the main body of the enemy is still toward the Potomac, but its real destination is not yet discovered.
I have thought this a favorable time for Gen. Sam. Jones to advance into Western Virginia, and have so informed him. Should he not be able to accomplish anything more, he will fix the attention of the enemy in that region, and prevent re-enforcements being sent to other points. If any of the brigades that I have left behind for the protection of Richmond can, in your opinion, be spared, I should like them to be sent to me.
I am, with great respect, 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. 44, Pages 296-297, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
