Summary:
Union General William Averell reports to General Darius Couch, commanding at Chambersburg, regarding the situation in the Shenandoah Valley as Confederate forces under Jubal Early advanced toward the Potomac in July, 1864.

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Maj.-Gen. COUCH, Chambersburg, Pa.:

HAGERSTOWN, MD.,

July 27, 1864.

The enemy seems determined to hold Shenandoah Valley. Whether he intends to cross the Potomac again we shall be able to say to-morrow. Crook is at Sharpsburg to-night; one division of cavalry guards the river from Harper's Ferry to Downsville; the other from the latter point to Cherry Run. After Wright retired, the enemy gathered his forces and attacked Crook at Winchester on Sunday. The loss was heavy on both sides. The enemy had not less than 30,000. Prisoners were taken who had just arrived from Richmond. Early was able to renew the fight next morning. We could not continue it much longer against such odds, and withdrew without the loss of any material. I will notify you of any movement of the enemy, or of my division.

WM. W. AVERELL,
Brig.-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. 71, Pages 478, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.