Summary:
Confederate General D. H. Hill writes Secretary of War James Seddon concerning
the location of Union troops following the battle of Gettysburg. Hill fears a
Federal advance on Staunton. He suggests sending information via the telegraph
line through Staunton.
Hon. James A. Seddon,
Secretary of War, C. S. A.:
July 5, 1863
I sent up a courier this morning to get all the information he could from the front. He says that a considerable battle was fought on the North Anna--musketry and artillery; on the South Anna a mere skirmish with cavalry; Yankees repulsed at both places. At the latter, however, they surprised and captured a dozen of our men. About 100 came to Ashland, and recrossed at Littlepage's, burning the bridge.
The trouble here seems to be in the want of a thoroughly organized system of scouts; those employed are not old soldiers, and are very timid.
I am troubled about the news from North Carolina. There was force enough at Magnolia to have whipped the cavalry, but, as they have broken through, they may go on and destroy the Fayetteville arsenal.
I wished to fortify Fayetteville some time ago, and urged the Governor to guard it with militia. If the Yankees would go up and catch the Legislature, they would do the State an infinite service.
Where have the Yankees gone? The design on Richmond was not a feint but a faint. I fear that they may go up to Gordonsville and Staunton, and down the Valley, doing much mischief. It may be, however, that they will march direct for Washington, via Aquia Creek; if so, some of our force ought to go up to Lee, who is, doubtless, hard pressed.
In spite of their boast of numbers, I doubt whether the Yankee force has ever exceeded ours. It is mortifying to have them play around us as they have done; but with our imperfect information and defective system of scouting, I know not how it is to be stopped, especially as the Yankees have control of the water.
Could you learn by telegraphing to Gordonsville, via Staunton, what is known of the direction of the Yankees? I presume they hear from Stuart's men at Gordonsville.
I would suggest that Colquitt be placed on the Meadow Bridge road, where he could relieve the clerks, &c.
D. H. HILL,
Maj.-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 974-973, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
