Summary:
William T. Sherman replies to June, 1864, news of the capture of Staunton, which he rates as one of the most militarily important towns in Virginia.

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Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War:

ACWORTH, GA.,

June 8, 1864--8 p. m.
(Received 10 a. m. 9th.)

Am rejoiced at Gen. Hunter's success on that line. Staunton, Charlottesville, and Lynchburg are points of as much military importance as any in Virginia. I cannot give an active command to Gen. Crittenden without displacing worthy incumbents, who started on the campaign, and are fairly entitled to see it out. I already have Gen.'s Schurz and Milroy on nominal duty, yet I wish Crittenden all honor and success, and will bear his case in mind should the accidents of war create a vacancy. Gen. Hovey, of Indiana, is very discontented that he has not been made a major-general. He has tendered his resignation, and though I esteem him as a man, I shall recommend the acceptance of his resignation. All well here.

W. T. SHERMAN,
Maj.-Gen., Cmdg.

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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 38, Serial No. 75, Pages 433, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.