Summary:
Early in the war, Staunton, VA, served as an important rendezvous point for newly
recruited Confederate regiments. In this May, 1861, letter, Confederate General
John Echols writes to Robert E. Lee informing him of recruiting efforts in the
Shenandoah Valley, and his orders to send all new troops to Staunton for
training.
Maj. Gen. ROBERT E. LEE, Commanding, &c.:
LEWISBURG, GREENBRIER COUNTY, VA.,
May 9, 1861.
SIR:
I received at noon to-day your order authorizing me to call for two regiments of infantry and rifle volunteer companies. The order was received by me at my home in Monroe County, and I have ordered out one infantry company from Monroe County, two rifle companies from this county, and three companies from Allegheny County, which will reach Staunton on the 15th instant. I have also dispatched orders to the colonels of regiments in the counties of Pendleton, Bath, Highland, and Pocahontas, instructing them to order any volunteer infantry or rifle companies in their county to report to me at Staunton on the 15th. I shall reach Staunton on that day with the troops from Greenbrier, Monroe, and Allegheny, that being the earliest day upon which I can get transportation. As soon as I reach Staunton I will order out a sufficient number of additional companies from Augusta and Rockbridge to make up the two regiments. I would suggest the propriety of having drill officers in Staunton to instruct these troops, many of whom are entirely raw. I have instructed some of the companies of mountain men to bring with them their country rifles. Upon my arrival in Staunton I will report to you the number of troops reported and mustered into service, their arms, condition, &c.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
JON. ECHOLS,
Lieut.-Col. of Volunteers.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 51, Serial No. 108, Pages 76, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
