Philip ST. Geo. Cocke to P. St. George Cocke, May 8, 1861

Richmond, Va., May 8, 1861.

Col. P. St. GEORGE COCKE, Commanding Potomac Division:

COLONEL: I am instructed by Major-General Lee to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 6th instant, with accompanying papers, in relation to the evacuation of Alexandria, asking whether you shall arrest Colonel Taylor, Virginia Volunteers. The general commanding directs that you will not arrest Colonel Taylor, but require from him an explanation.

Respectfully, &ec., J. M. BROOKE, Virginia Navy, Acting Aide-de-Camp.

No. . Col. A. 8. Taylor, Va. Vols., transmitted by General Cocke.

HEADQUARTERS PoToMAC DEPARTMENT, Culpeper Court-House, Va., May 13, 1861. Major-General LEE, Commander-in- Chief:

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith the reply of Col. A. S. Taylor to my call on him, at your suggestion, for a statement of the causes and reasons which induced him to evacuate the post of Alexandria on Sunday, May 5, as reported by me to headquarters some time since.

Very respectfully, your most obedient,

Commanding Potomac Department.
[Inclosure.]
CULPEPER CouRT-HovusgE, VA., May 9, 1861.
Sir: I have just received your communication of this date, calling
upon me, by order of the general-in-chief, to give in writing my “reasons” and “ causes” why I retired from Alexandria with the troops under
my command. ;
In the first place, because of the inefficient condition of a large proportion of the troops and my exposed and indefensible position. Under my command there were two companies of raw Irish recruits, numbering about one hundred and twenty privates in both, armed with the