Summary:
Union Secretary of War Edwin Stanton writes General Darius Couch in June, 1863, to enquire about the size of the Confederate force that entered Chambersburg during the Gettysburg campaign. Stanton suggests that information can be gleaned from the loyal population in addition to other sources.

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Maj.-Gen. COUCH:

Washington City,

June 16, 1863

What description of force is at Chambersburg; in what numbers, and under whose command? Such particulars are very necessary to be known here in determining the operations of Hooker's force. No pains should be spared to get accurate information in detail and report it here. The people being friendly, there would seem that with proper diligence and system accurate and full information might be had not only of the movements being made, but who and what number is making them.

EDWIN M. STANTON.

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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 51, Serial No. 107, Pages 1059, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.