Summary:
Confederate General John C. Breckinridge writes Robert E. Lee concerning May, 1864, preparations to defend Staunton, VA, against a Union advance.

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Gen. R. E. LEE,
Orange Court-House, Va.:

DUBLIN DEPOT,

May 4, 1864

Your dispatch directing me to take command of Imboden, &c., just received. The only information I have is a dispatch from the President to-day telling me to confer with you and Imboden on propriety of my joining the latter to repel movement toward Staunton. I then sent you my dispatch of this afternoon. Is Staunton the point threatened? Shall I push the forces named in my dispatch to Jackson River Depot to take cars? I can add small force of Col. Jackson. This will leave Jenkins and William E. Jones with some 4,000 cavalry and 600 infantry, and good supply of artillery, to meet the Kanawha force. My First Brigade could reach Jackson River Depot Friday evening. Have not heard from Imboden. Will sit up to-night to hear from you.

JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE,
Maj.-Gen.

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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 712-713, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.