Summary:
Confederate General William Loring, commanding at Staunton, writes Adjutant General Samuel Cooper in December, 1861, concerning plans for positioning troops in defense of western Virginia.

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HDQRS. NORTHWESTERN ARMY,

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

Staunton, Va.,

December 9, 1861.

GEN.:

I have the honor to inclose the letter of Col. Johnston, in command on Alleghany Pass. In consequence of the insufficiency of the cavalry on both lines I think it would be best to leave a regiment of infantry, with a section of artillery, on the Staunton line, in the vicinity of Monterey. It will also be advisable to call out some of the militia on the Millborough line, to aid the cavalry to be left at Huntersville. I think that proposed will be sufficient to keep back depredating parties. Unless you think otherwise, I shall order as above stated.

With respect, I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,

W. W. LORING,
Brig.-Gen., Cmdg., &c.

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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 5, Serial No. 5, Pages 989, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.