HEADQUARTERS OF THE FORCES, July 23, 1861
Richmond, Va., July 23, 1861.
Brig. Gen. H. R. JACKSON, Army of the Northwest, Monterey, Va. :
GENERAL: I have received your two letters of the 20th,* reporting the state of military operations in the northwest. You have done all under the circumstances that was proper, and all will yet be well.
Our brave troops must bear up against misfortune. Reverses must happen, but they ought only to stimulate us to greater efforts. Iregret my inability to repair to your assistance, but events occurring in our front prevented. I am sure the glorious victory there achieved will cheer the hearts of your troops.
_ At the first report of the retreat from Beverly, anticipating your _ wants, I ordered ammunition, tents, blankets, cooking utensils, and shoes to be sent to you. But, unfortunately, they were sent, by mistake, to General T. J. Jackson, at Winchester. A duplicate supply of the articles have been forwarded to Staunton. General Loring, an officer of experience, has been assigned to the command of the Army of the
Northwest, and he is accompanied by officers who have served years on
the frontier.
__ Four Virginia regiments, one Arkansas, three Tennessee, and two _ Georgia regiments, and two field batteries are ordered to join the Northwestern Army. This force, with what ought to be organized from the hardy mountaineers, will be sufficient to drive back theinvaders. There ‘is a necessity for repelling them, and it must be done. Every assistjance will be afforded in this quarter. ur) Respectfully, &c.,
STAUNTON, VA., July 23, 1861. Maj. Gen. R. BE. Len:
__ Your dispatch received. The Twelfth Georgia Regiment, Colonel Johnson, is on top of the Alleghany Mountains near Yager’s ; the First
. s \ 2 * Not found. 4 63 RB R—VOL IL at.
, : ” ¢ i anal ie 994 OPERATIONS IN MD., PA. VA., AND W. VA. [Cuar. 1K. North Carolina Regiment has been ordered to Elk Mountain; Fortyfourth Virginia Regiment, Colonel Scott, is at Monterey; Twenty-third — Virginia Regiment, Colonel Taliaferro, is at McDowell’s, for recruits; First Georgia Regiment, Colonel Ramsey, is at McDowell’s, to recruit; Major Jones, with five iron pieces of artillery, is with the Twelfth Georgia Regiment; Captain Shumaker’s battery, with two companies of the Twentieth Regiment, Captains Jones and Bruce, is at Monterey; six ‘remnants of companies of the Twentieth Regiment have been ordered to general headquarters, and are on the march for Staunton. This was the position of the army yesterday at 4 p.m., when Major Tyler left Monterey. I would suggest that our forces are now so much seattered that the three Tennessee regiments be sent to Monterey. If you desire to re-enforce Elk Mountain, it could be done from Monterey, or be used to oppose the advance from Cheat Mountain, if it should be attempted. M. G. HARMAN, Major, Commanding.