S. Williams to Headquarters Army Of The Potomao, March 16, 1862
March 16, 1862.
Sir: You will post your command in the vicinity of Manassas, intrench yourself strongly, and throw cavalry pickets well out to the front.
Your first care will be the rebuilding of the railway from Washington to Manassas and to Strasburg, in order to open your communications with the valley of the Shenandoah. As soon as the Manassas Gap Railway is in running order, intrench a brigade of infantry, say four regiments, with two batteries, at or near the point where that railway crosses the Shenandoah. Something like two regiments of cavalry should be left in that vicinity to occupy Winchester and thoroughly scour the country south of the railway and up the Shenandoah Valley, as well as through Chester Gap, which might perhaps be advantageously occupied by a detachment of infantry, well intrenched.
Block-houses should be built at all the railway bridges.
Occupy by grand guards Warrenton Junction or Warrenton itself, and also some still more advanced point on the Orange and Alexandria Railway as soon as the railway bridges are repaired.
Great activity should be observed by the cavalry. Besides the two regiments at Manassas, another regiment of cavalry will be at your disposal to scout toward the Occoquan, and probably a fourth toward Leesburg.
To recapitulate: The most important points which should engage your attention are as follows:
1st. A strong force well intrenched in the vicinity of Manassas, perhaps even Centreville, and another force (a brigade), also wellintrenched, near Strasburg.
2d. Block-houses at the railway bridges.
3d. Constant employment of cavalry well to the front.
4th. Grand guards at Warrenton, and in advance as far as the Rappahannock, if possible.
5th. Great care to be exercised to obtain full and early information as to the enemy.
6th. The general object is to cover the line of the Potomac and Washington. mete foregoing is communicated
by command of Major-General Me.
ellan.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
D.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoTOMAO,
Steamer Oommodore, April 1, 1862.