Summary:
Confederate General William Loring writes from Staunton to Adjutant General Samuel Cooper in December, 1861, to discuss the movement of troops, sick men, and supplies. He asks that the Virginia Central Railroad furnish cars for his project.

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HDQRS. NORTHWESTERN ARMY,

Gen. S. COOPER, Adjutant-Gen., &c.:

Staunton, Va.,

December 9, 1861.

GEN.:

I am moving the sick, supplies, &c., as rapidly as possible to the rear, and will in a few days commence the movement of troops on the Millborough line. I respectfully ask that the Central Railroad from Millborough here be directed to furnish an engine, eight cars, and two flats, to facilitate at once the movement of munitions, &c. We are in great need of them. The necessity for the rapid movement of the command from here requires the use of the rail through to Strasburg. I am unable to say to-day precisely when; it is probable about the 16th of the month. I write in order to know whether we shall be furnished or not.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. W. LORING,
Brig.-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 51, Serial No. 108, Pages 407-408, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.