Summary:
Robert E. Lee writes General John C. Breckinridge concerning the defense of Staunton against a possible May, 1864, Union advance.

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Gen. BRECKINRIDGE, Dublin:

ORANGE COURT-HOUSE,

May 4, 1864.
(Received 4 a. m. 5th.)

I do not know whether Staunton is the threatened point, but all the force sent west seem to have returned east, and are now coming up by Front Royal or the Valley. These are the forces I wish you to meet, or by some movement to draw back before they get on my left. Imboden reports Sigel with 7,000 men approaching Front Royal. Communicate with him, and try and check this Valley movement as soon as possible.

R. E. LEE.

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