Robert E. Lee to William W. Loring, July 21, 1861

General W. W. LORING, Commanding Army of the N Seats GENERAL: In my letter of yesterday I directed your attention to the importance of occupying the strong passes on the roads leading to Staunton and Millborough, to prevent the enemy reaching the Virginia Central Railroad. The selection of those passes is, of course, left to your judgment; but, should General McClellan not have advanced beyond the Ty gart’ 8 River Valley, the occupation of the Cheat Mountain, on the Staunton and Parkersburg Turnpike, and the Middle Mountain, on the Huttonsville and Huntersville Turnpike, will hold those roads, from such information as I am able to get, against a large force. The route to Middle Mountain, I am told, is best by! Millbor ough Depot, Pocahontas Court-House, &c., and you are authorized to call upon Pocahontas and Greenbrier Counties for volunteers to hold Middle Mountain, or other passes, and to aid you in driving back the invaders. Iam, &c.,

R. E. LEE,