Summary:
Union General Franz Sigel reports to General David Hunter on July, 1864,
Confederate troop locations and strengths. Sigel includes estimates made by
scouts leaving Staunton.
Maj.-Gen. HUNTER,
Parkersburg, W. Va.
CUMBERLAND,
July 6, 1864.
The enemy attacked Sir John's Run this p. m., but were driven off, not, however, until they had fired the station-house, which was consumed. The iron-clad cars and guard also drove him from Big Cacapon bridge and prevented its destruction. The bridges at Patterson's Creek and South Branch will be repaired by to-morrow morning so as to admit the passage of trains. I have nothing definite from Martinsburg or neighborhood. Gen. Sigel, I understated, occupies Maryland Heights; the enemy are in force opposite. All my scouts and all refugees report the enemy's force about 20,000, in command of Gen.'s Early, Ransom, and others. This estimate was made when they left Staunton. Refugees say that it was the intention of Gen. Early's forces to entirely destroy the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Gen. Sullivan arrived this evening with a portion of his division, which will proceed to Patterson's Creek and debark. The cars will be ordered back at once to Parkersburg.
B. F. KELLEY,
Brig.-Gen.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 37, Serial No. 70, Pages 187, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
