S. Williams to Nathaniel P. Banks, March 16, 1862
March 16, 1862.
Sin: 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 the 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 and Warrenton itself, and also some little more advanced point on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad as soon as the railway bridge is 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 towards the ^
Occoquan, and probably a fourth towards Leesburg.
To recapitulate, the most important points which should engage your attention are as follows : a
1. A strong force, well intrenched, in the vicinity of Manassas—perhaps even Centreville; and another force (a brigade), also well intrenched, near Strasburg.
9. Block-houses at the railway bridges. i
3. Constant employment of the cavalry well to the front.
4. Grand guards at Warrenton Junction, and in advance as far as the RappahanBee i posible : i
5. Great care to be exercised to obtain full and early informatio;
6. The general object is to cover the line of the Paaa and Washington: ares
The above is communicated
by command of Major-General McClellan.
Assistant Adjutant-General.
Commanding Fifth Corps, Army of the Potomac. © ~
CHAR, XIV.) GENERAL REPORTS.