Gls Porter, Al Acg to Charles P. Stone, July 4, 1861

Sin: The commanding general wishes you to join ‘ibas settee now temporarily halted for provisions to be brought up. Under the impression you have,crossed the river near Harper’s Ferry, he directs you to move up towards Charlestown and effect a junction in that direction. AS soon as provisions arrive he will advance to Winchester, if the foe have not evacuated that place. At present only small parties are known to be in our vicinity, hovering about to pick up stragglers and careless pickets.

If you have information which, in your judgment, renders the movement directed above injudicious. or hazardous, you are desired to communicate your information and act upon it till you hear from him again. When the force in front is scattered he designs moving east towards Leesburg. He wishes you to be cautious in all your movements, that no check to the execution of your plans may result.

very respectfully, your obedient servant,