Summary:
Union General Phil Sheridan writes to General John Rewlins concerning possible
November, 1864, Confederate troop movements in the Staunton area.
Brig. Gen. JOHN A. REWLINS,
Chief of Staff, City
Point, Va.:
KERNSTOWN, VA.,
November 21, 1864--9 a. m.
(received 8.30 p. m.)
I have not any positive information. Reports are very conflicting. It was reported to me on the 17th that Early's whole army moved from New Market to Staunton. On the 18th I heard that only one division moved (Breckinridge's old division, command by Wharton), and it moved to East Tennessee. On the 18th I received a letter from Early at New Market. Yesterday I heard that Early's army was moving to Richmond; then again I heard that he was going to Staunton to go into winter quarters. None of my scouts sent out have returned; they must have been captured. I move out this morning all the cavalry, and will be able to ascertain definitely. Kershaw's division, I think, is not more that 5,000 strong. It must have made very fast time to have gotten to Richmond. It was at Middletown on the 12th, and left that place on the night of the 12th. From Middletown to Staunton is seventy-seven miles, which it had to march. My impression is that Early has gone to Staunton, and will probably go to Richmond with a portion of his troops. If such is the case I will move the Sixth Corps as rapidly as possible. I would like to be a little more certain that I am at present before I send it off.
P. H. SHERIDAN,
Maj.-Gen.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 43, Serial No. 91, Pages 653, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
