Summary:
Robert E. Lee writes General John Imboden, commanding at Staunton, to
congratulate him on some recent successes. He also discusses November, 1863,
Union movements in western and northern Virginia.
Gen. J. D. IMBODEN,
Cmdg. Valley District, Staunton,
Va.:
November 25, 1863.
GEN.:
I have been much gratified by the result of your recent operations, Maj. White's and Capt. McNeill's.
The reports have been forwarded to the War Department, and I beg to tender to you and to the officers and men of each command my high appreciation of their services. Similar success will always attend like efforts. It is only by constant watchfulness and labor that the invasion of the enemy can be prevented.
It is important that you impress upon you scouts the necessity of giving you correct information. I think the strength of the enemy's column is always greatly exaggerated. I need only refer to the number of Averell's troops and the expedition said to have advanced up the Kanawha in this last expedition. Proper dispositions cannot be made to repel these attacks unless the number of the enemy be correctly stated.
From the reports of scouts, I think it probable that the army of Gen. Meade is about to advance from the Rappahannock. Whether it will attempt to cross the Rapidan, there is nothing now to indicate. In the event of its advance, I have thought you might give material aid by sending a force east of the Blue Ridge to aid Maj. Mosby to break up the railroad north of the Rappahannock and interrupt its communications. Maj. Gilmor's battalion could at least operate advantageously in that way. I will telegraph you if an advance of Gen. Meade is made.
Very 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 29, Serial No. 49, Pages 846-847, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
