Summary:
Confederate Colonel Johnston writes to Colonel C. L. Stevenson, Assistant
Adjutant for the Army of the Northwest, in December, 1861, to report on
information gathered from scouts regarding Union movements. He discusses the
threat the Union troops pose to Staunton.
Col. C. L. STEVENSON,
Assistant Adjutant Gen., Army
Northwest, Staunton:
CAMP ON ALLEGHANY,
December 7, 1861.
SIR:
If it is intended to abandon entirely this position, under the impression that the enemy have left Cheat Mountain, or that if they have not, the roads and climate, &c., will prevent their making incursions into this country, a grave mistake has been committed. The enemy are still on Cheat Mountain. Their scouts are almost daily seen. To-day my scouts they were in the vicinity of Green Bank, and stole a horse or two. If this post is abandoned there will be nothing to prevent their march to Staunton, and my opinion is that they will improve the opportunity thus offered them. Moreover, if they get possession here it will be difficult to dislodge them. Our own entrenchments will afford them shelter, and additional works will make this point very strong. The cavalry to be here will be, in my opinion, of no avail against the forces of the enemy. Little reliance can be placed in the cavalry I have thus far seen. Infantry and artillery I consider essential in order to hold this position.
I have deemed it my duty thrown out these hints without making any suggestions, and without knowing upon what information in regard to the enemy the contemplated abandonment of this place is predicated. I only state what I know in regard to the immediate presence of the enemy. They have created commodious and comfortable buildings on Cheat Mountain, as I hear from a prisoner captured a few weeks since. He furthermore states that they will annoy us all winter.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. JOHNSTON,
Col., Cmdg. Monterey Line.
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 989-990, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
