Summary:
Confederate Captain H. M. Bell, Assistant Quartermaster at Staunton, reports to Adjutant General Samuel Cooper on January, 1862, Union advances in western Virginia. Bell says he has a wagon train ready with reinforcements, but that he is short of corn.

---

Gen. S. COOPER,
Adjutant-Gen.

STAUNTON, VA.,

January 5, 1862

GEN.:

I send you inclosed copies of dispatches just received from Monterey by special express from Whitely. It appears that the enemy in considerable force have advanced upon and taken possession of Huntersville, our small force retiring before them and offering but small resistance. I have no further information upon the subject, but suppose Monterey will be their point of destination, as I suppose they will hardly risk an advance upon the Central road at Millborough with that force, although the movement would be entirely practicable.

I will hold the force of wagon trains here to carry up any re-enforcements that you may send until I hear from you. I want corn.

In haste, yours, respectfully,

H. M. BELL,
Capt. and Assistant Quartermaster, Cmdg. Post.

---

Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 5, Serial No. 5, Pages 500-501, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.