Seth Williams to Williams, April 26, 1863

General WILLIAMS:

A man by the name of George W. Lake, a resident of Maine, and townsman of Colonel Sawtelle, quartermaster, and a very intelligent and apparently a very reliable gentlemen, has just arrived within our lines from Staunton, via Harrisonburg, New

arket, and Thornton’s Gap. He reports that on Tuesday, the 21st instant, Jones was at Harrisonburg, and Imboden not far off. Their whole force about 6,000, mostly cavalry. They had just been issued ten days’ rations, and it was understood that they were intending to turn Milroy, and destroy possibly the railroad bridge on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at the mouth of South Branch of the Potomac and Cacapon Rivers, which has heretofore been done by Imboden. The people of the country are expecting an advance of Hooker’s army on Gordonsville, via Culpeper, and it was rumored that pontoon bridges had been thrown across the river for that purose. He estimates the Confederate army at 600,000 strong, and, from what he has eard, should judge that we had a large force in front of us at Fredericksburg.

Hill had 50,000 in North Carolina when Mr. Lake left there, six weeks ago; from 50,000 to 60,000 at Charleston during the recentengagement. Two iron-clads at Wilmington, N. C., one at least completed by this time, built to run the blockade, which is run with great regularity. Danville Railroad not completed yet.

GEORGE STONEMAN, Major-General, Commanding Cavalry Corps.

To which the following answer has been sent:

That we have much more reliable information than this man has furnished. We know the strength of the enemy in front, and he is looking for us to advance in this vicinity. Jones has an irregular force of not to exceed 3,000. His intentions we know nothing of.

The foregoing is sent for your information. DANL. BUTTERFIELD, Major-General, Chief of Staff.

BALTIMORE, Mp., April 26, 1863. Major-General HALLECK, General-in-Chief :

General Hooker is certainly mistaken about the small number of troops with Jones and at the west; but Jones has not yet advanced on New Creek. I think hecan have little with him but cavalry. Scouts report that he could not get his artillery across the South Branch at Moorefield, and Elliott may arrive in time to capture it. Then I hope wé may capture his entire force. Colonel Smith, with re-enforcements, will reach New Creek from Martinsburg by 5 o’clock to-day. Nothing more from Roberts. Colonels Wilkinson and Mulligan go to his support from Grafton and Clarksburg. I think his communication by telegraph has been interrupted.

ROBT. C. SCHENCK, Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE Potomac, April 26, 1863—9.10 a. m. Major-General STONEMAN, Commanding Cavalry Corps:

I am directed by the major-general commanding to request that you will use all possible means of obtaining information in regard to the different routes leading from the Rappahannock Station into the interior and leaving Culpeper and Gordonsville to the right, the best place of crossing the Rapidan, the best roads, &c. He desires that he may be informed of this as early as practicable. Also what information, if any, of the forces at Culpeper and Gordonsville. He desires that you will keep up your line of pickets, but have the main body of your command along the railroad. You can make requisitions for supplies, if you can carry them, for six days from Wednesday morning.

S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General.

APRIL 26, 1863. Commanding Officer Cavalry Corps, Warrentun Junction :

Your dispatch received. The commanding general wishes you to gather all the information you can about the routes to the east of Culpeper and Gordonsville, and furnish him with the same as soon as practicable, He directs that you do not move until further orders.

S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant General.

CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, V. A., April 26, 1863.

Commanding Officers, Eleventh and Twelfth Corps:

I am directed by the major-general commanding to inform you that the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps, in the order named, will begin their march at sunrise to-morrow morning, the former to encamp as near Kelly’s Ford as practicable, without discovering itself to the enemy, and the latter as nearly in its rear as circumstances will permit. They will be established in their camps on or before 4 p. m. on Tuesday, the 28th instant. Corps commanders will be held responsible that the men

256 N. V. A., W. V. A., M. D., AND P. A. (CHar. XXXVIL

are kept in camp and do not go to the river. Each corps will march with one battery and two ambulances to division and the pack train of small ammunition. If necessary, a small number of wagons can accompany the column to the camp with forage for animals. The balance of the trains will be parked in the vicinity of Banks’ Ford, off the road and convenient to crossing the river at that point, the ammunition wagons and ambulances being in readiness to take the lead in the train. No extra guards for this part of the train will be required. Corps commanders can leave behind such men of those whose term of service is about to expire as they think proper, with such instructions for the safety of the camps and preservation of the public property as they may deem necessary. All property not removed with the troops must be turned in to the quartermaster.

Corps commanders will consider so much of the above as relates to the destination of their commands as strictly confidential.

Very respectfully, &c.,