Summary:
Francis Smith, superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute, writes
Confederate General John C. Breckinridge in May, 1864, to offer the services of
the cadets during any campaigning in the Shenandoah Valley. Smith also mentions
General John Imboden's efforts to set up a telegraph line between Staunton and
VMI for close contact and planning.
Maj. Gen. JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE,
Cmdg. Dept. of
Western Virginia, Dublin Depot:
May 2, 1864.
GEN.:
I have the honor to inclose herewith a letter from Gen. R. E. Lee, commanding Army of Northern Virginia, addressed to the adjutant-general of Virginia, also a copy of instructions from the Governor of Virginia, communicated by the adjutant-general, defining my duty as superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute. Under these instructions and suggestions, I now respectfully report to you for such orders as the emergencies of the approaching campaign may call forth. The Corps of Cadets numbers an aggregate of 280, of whom 250 may be relied upon for active duty, leaving 30 as necessary guard to the Institute and as disabled. The command is organized as a battalion of infantry of four companies, and is usually accompanied by a section of artillery. It is fully equipped, except in horses, and these are impressed in case of need. We have abundance of ammunition, tents, knapsacks, shovels, and picks, and will be prepared to march at a moment's notice. Brig.-Gen. Imboden is about constructing telegraphic communication between the Institute and Staunton. This he hopes to have in operation by the middle of May. In the mean time he will communicate with us by signals. Any orders or intelligence from Dublin Depot had better be forwarded to Gen. Imboden, at Staunton, with instructions to be immediately transmitted to me.
I remain, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
FRANCIS H. SMITH,
Brevet Maj.-Gen. and Superintendent.
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 707-708, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
