Summary:
In May, 1864, Union General Franz Sigel planned an advance up the Shenandoah
Valley to threaten Staunton. In this dispatch, Sigel sends the U. S. Army
Adjutant Confederate telegrams captured at Woodstock that reveal the strength of
the Confederate force at Staunton.
ADJUTANT-GEN. U. S. ARMY:
NEAR WOODSTOCK, VA.,
May 13, 1864--5 p. m.
(Received 12 m. 14th.)
The following dispatches were found with many others in telegraph papers by Mr. McCaine, cipher operator at Woodstock, after we enter the town. It shows that Breckinridge is at Staunton, and has sent 4,000 men there. Capt. Davis now commands Gilmor's battalion, and is in our front:
LA FAYETTE STATION, May 5, 1864--4 p. m.
Brig.-Gen. IMBODEN:
Can't make out your dispatch in cipher of this date. I have 4,000 men en route for Jackson River Depot to take cars. I --. (Here the dispatch stops.)
STAUNTON, May 10, 1864.
Capt. DAVIS:
Try and find out real force of enemy, and proportion of infantry, artillery, and
cavalry. There is a report of a column of cavalry at Madison Court-House, moving
toward Charlottesville. Can this be part of Sigel's force? I want to know at
earliest moment any movement toward Grant. Communicate often with me.
BRECKINRIDGE.
My principal object in advancing up the Shenandoah Valley was to threaten Staunton, to divide the forces of Breckinridge, and to assist by these means Gen. Crook, whose object is to destroy New River bridge. I have no later news from him than to the 6th instant, when he entered Princeton. My forces are insufficient for offensive operations in this country, where the enemy is continuously on my flank and rear. My intention, therefore, is not to advance farther than this place with my main force, but have sent out strong parties in every direction. Skirmishing is going on every day. If Breckinridge should advance against us I will resist him at some convenient position. My cavalry is at Mount Jackson to-day.
FRANZ SIGEL,
Maj.-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 446-447, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
