Summary:
Confederate General John Echols writes General John C. Breckinridge in April, 1864, to inform him that a large Union force is gathering at Beverly, West Virginia, with the intention of moving on Staunton.

---

Maj. Gen. J. C. BRECKINRIDGE:

April 28, 1864

One of my scouts and spies, perfectly reliable, is just in. Averell's command reached Camp Piatt on Monday evening. Three or four infantry regiments have also reached the valley. The force now there is estimated at 8,000 men. My impression is that the main force will go through Raleigh, as large quantities of hard bread have been taken to Fayette Court-House in last few days. Their intention is to strike Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. This information was obtained direct from one of Averell's colonels. Large force at Beverly collecting; their object is Staunton. I will write you fully.

JNO. ECHOLS,
Brig.-Gen.

---

Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 33, Serial No. 60, Pages 1324, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.