Summary:
Confederate General William Loring, commanding at Staunton, writes to Secretary
of War Judah P. Benjamin concerning actions in western Virginia. Loring
discusses moving sick and supplies to the rear, and mentions regiments at
Staunton.
Hon. J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War, Richmond:
Staunton, Va.,
December 1, 1861.
SIR:
I am now pushing the sick and munitions to the rear as rapidly as possible, and have given orders to all trains to go back lightly loaded with train and return with supplies a large amount having collected both at Monterey and Huntersville. Since my last letter I have heard of a movement of the enemy, except that they are sending their spare troops near the railroad to Romney. The information comes to me through a reliable spy, sent to Philippi and Laurel Hill. From what he could learn they sending any troops from Cheat or Beverly in that direction.
I came here to-day to carry into effect the proposed campaign, and find a telegram sending four regiments to Manassas. It is proper to state that, in consequence of movements made, in which I have been endeavoring to carry our your instructions, officers at a distance from my headquarters have been telegraphing without my authority to Richmond, the result of which has been a conflict or orders.
One of the objects I had in bringing the regiments to Staunton was that they should not only be ion the spot for the contemplated movement, but should be in readiness for any emergency.
With respect, I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,
W. W. LORING,
Brig.-Gen., Cmdg., &c.
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 975, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
