Summary:
The railroad running out of Staunton served as a crucial supply route for
Confederate armies in Virginia. In this June, 1864, letter, General Grant writes
General George Meade discussing orders for a cavalry raid to Charlottesville and
Gordonsville. Grant orders that the cavalry go as far west as Staunton,
destroying rails all the way.
Maj.-Gen. MEADE,
Cmdg. Army of the Potomac:
Cold Harbor, Va.,
June 5, 1864.
GEN.:
The object of the cavalry expedition to Charlottesville and Gordonsville is to effectually break up the railroad connection between Richmond and the Shenandoah Valley and Lynchburg. To secure this, they should go as far as Charlottesville, and work upon the Lynchburg branch and main line to Staunton for several miles beyond the junction. This done they could work back this way to where the road is already destroyed, or until driven off by a superior force. It is desirable that every rail on the road destroyed should be so bent or twisted as to make it impossible to repair the road without supplying new rails. After the work is accomplished, herein directed, the cavalry will rejoin the main army, keeping north of the Pamunkey until the position of the army is known to them. It may be found necessary to keep on the north side as far down as West Point. Instructions will be sent to Gen. Hunter by the cavalry expedition. He will be required to join his force to Gen. Sheridan's and return with him to the Army of the Potomac. If it is found practicable, whilst the cavalry is at the most westerly point reached by it, to detach a brigade or more to go over to the James River and destroy the canal, it will be a service well repaying for three or four days' detention.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieut.-Gen.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 36, Serial No. 69, Pages 599, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
