Summary:
Confederate General Samuel Anderson reports to Secretary of War Leroy P. Walker
in July, 1861, on the progress and status of his men travelling to Staunton,
VA.
Hon. L. P. WALKER,
Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.:
LYNCHBURG,
July 24, 1861.
SIR:
I have the honor to report to you that in obedience to orders from Governor Harris I arrived in this city to-day. One of my regiments (Col. Hatton's) has gone forward to Staunton. Col. Maney will go up to-morrow or soon as transportation can be furnished; Col. Forbes' regiment, Capt. Hart's rifle company, and Capt. Alexander's cavalry company are still behind. We expect them forwarded here in a day or so. This, with Capt. Rutledge's artillery company of six guns, 6-pounders, now at Knoxville, will constitute my command. Capt. Rutledge will come forward as soon as he is fully equipped. I am without orders from headquarters as to what I am to do or under whose command I am to be placed. I have received no commission; to all of which I desire to call your attention. Connected with my command I ordered, and they are now at Bristol, Tenn., a baggage and ammunition train of some seventy-five or eighty wagons and teams of two mules each, with wagons and wagon-master. What am I to do with them? Shall I cause them to be brought forward, or let them remain at Bristol for further orders? I take pleasure in saying to you that my command is well drilled, armed, and equipped, and composed of the best material of the State. I do not hesitate to say that they will render good service whenever opportunity offers. We have some 300,000 rounds of ammunition with us, and will soon receive some 400,000 more. What shall I do with it? It should be in striking distance of the command. This will be handed to you by Col. Maney, who will explain to you other matters connected with the command.
I am, yours, respectfully,
S. R. ANDERSON,
Brig.-Gen. of the Provisional Army, C. S.
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 197, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
