Unknown, May 29, 1862
Our advance occupies to-night the bridge at Lost River, 16 miles ahead. The scouting party of Maryland cavalry, sent out last evening under charge of Lieutenant-Colonel Downey, drove the enemy’s pickets through Wardensville this morning, killing 2. Colonel Downey’s horse was shot under him. My command is not yet in marching order. It has been necessary to halt to-day to bring up parts of regiments and to receive stragglers, hundreds of whom from Blenker’s division strewed the roads. You can conceive the condition of the command from the fact that the medical director this morning protested against its farther advance without allowing one day’s rest, the regiments being much reduced, and force diminished accordingly. I could not venture to proceed with it in disorder, and cannot with safety undertake to be at the point you mention earlier than by 5 o’clock on Saturday afternoon. At that hour I will be at or near it, according to position of the enemy. Companies in the rear are marching night and day to bring up the entire force. Will be on the road early to-morrow morning, and couriers
, will be provided to bring on your answer, which please send to-night, ‘and let me know if General McDowell’s force can be so controlled as to make this combinatéon. J. O. FREMONT,
Major-General. The PRESIDENT. (Copy to McDowell May 30.)
” Next preceding.
MOOREFIELD, May 30, 1862. (Received 11.30 a. m.)
Scouts and men from Winchester represent Jackson’s force variously at 30,000 to 60,000. With him Generals Ewell and Longstreet. J. O. FREMONT, Major-General. ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President.
Washington, May 30, 1862—11.30 a. m. Major-General FREMONT, Moorefield, Va. :
Yours of this morning from Moorefield just received. There cannot be more than 20,000, probably not more than 15,000, of the enemy at or about Winchester. Where is your force? It ought this minute to be near Strasburg. Answer at once.
Washington, May 30, 1862—2.30 p. m. Major-General FREMONT, Moorefield, Va.:
Yours, saying you will reach Strasburg or vicinity at 5 p. m. Saturday, has been received and sent to General McDowell, and he directed to act in view of it. You must be up to time you promised, if possible. Corinth was evacuated last night and is occupied by our troops to-day; the enemy gone south to Okolona, on the railroad to Mobile.