Summary:
In March, 1864, three refugees from Staunton, Gabriel Hirsch, Lizzie Hirsch, and
Lizzie Haggaden, passed into Union lines. Union General Jeremiah Sullivan
forwards Captain William Boone's write-up of the information the refugees
provided. Boone reports that he was told that Confederate General Thomas Rosser
left Staunton, leaving only a provost guard. The refugees also discussed the
lack of food in the Confederacy, meat prices, discontent among civilians, and
Unionist sentiment in the Shenandoah Valley. The refugees also asserted that
Staunton was second in importance only to Richmond because Lee received most of
his supplies from the Valley. Boone speculates that capture of the town and
disruption of the railroad would deal the Confederacy a major blow.
Capt. T. Melvin,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen.:
Harper's Ferry, W. Va.,
March 18, 1864.
CAPT.:
The following has been received from Martinsburg, Va., and respectfully forwarded for the information of the general commanding the department:
HDQRS. SECOND BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION, DEPT. OF WEST VIRGINIA,
Martinsburg,
Va., March 17, 1864.
CAPT.: I have the honor to report the arrival to-day
of 3 refugees from Staunton. They report that Rosser has gone to Gordonsville to
join Lee; that Early is no longer in that region; that there is nothing in
Staunton but a provost guard; that Imboden only is in the valley, and with
Gilmor and Mosby, has not more than 2,000 men. They say that Staunton is
regarded as second in importance only to Richmond, the supply for Lee's army
coming in a great measure from the valley, and that if the commissary stores
there were seized, the bridge burnt, and railroad torn up, so as to sever
communication, it would be fatal. They report a raid contemplated some days
since to throw the train containing Kilpatrick's horses off the track; they
report great scarcity of provisions. Rebel meat rations are 1 pound to 8 men;
forage mostly gone; cattle, what there are, in very bad condition-meat fairly
blue after being killed; that the scarcity is so great that Lee's army must
break into our lines or starve; that there is much discontent among the soldiers
and desire to desert at the first opportunity; that there are very many loyal
men in the valley who pray for the Union army to come in; that the force which
went up the valley last greatly strengthened the Union sentiment by their good
treatment of the inhabitants. They obtained a pass to Strasburg and thence came
through without difficulty. They heard Gilmor was wounded, but saw him last
night in Winchester on horseback. A supper was given him there that night. He
came into Winchester immediately after our forces left. Citizen say Gilmor got
no booty this last raid and lost 15 men. It is reported that Imboden has been
ordered to report to Lee. Their names are Gabriel Hirsch, Mrs. Lizzie Hirsch,
and Lizzie Haggaden. They are very fearful lest their names shall be mentioned,
as Mrs. Hirsch leaves three children behind.
WM. W. BOONE,
Capt. and
Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
I remain, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. C. SULLIVAN,
Brig.-Gen., Cmdg.
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 697-698, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
