Unknown to George B. McClellan, October 20, 1861

October 20, 1861.

; – Romney Va., October 20, 1861.

GENERAL: Inclosed you have my report of the conflict of the 24th and 25th ultimo. I regret the necessity which compels me to invite your perusal of so long a report of so unimportant an affair. Feeling deeply, however, the importance of holding this post, and anxious that the Department should appreciate the hazard of attempting to do so ‘ against greatly superior forces both in numbers and equipments, Ihave indulged in details combining action and description, that the great extent of my line of defense may be more strikingly manifest.

. You will perceive from my report that the two passes through which – my position was attacked are distant from each other some 6 miles. – Besides these, 2 miles below the Hanging Rock Pass there are three — fords and a bridge over the South Branch. The passage over any one of these would place the enemy within the portals of my line. Nine miles south of Romney is a third gap, through which the valley of the ` South Branch may be entered and the river forded. If my force sta_ tioned at any one of the passes or fords should be opposed by overwhelming numbers of the enemy, re-enforeements from either of the – other passes could only be received by a march of from 2 to 7 miles. ` This statement is, I am sure, sufficient to show by what a preearious tenure, with the handful of force I have, I now hold this place. The .priuted slip which I inelose, clipped from a Wheeling paper, is from the pen of one who well understands the subject upon which he has – written. I will add to it: From Romney to the mouth of Little Cacapon is 25 miles; to the mouth of the South Branch, 18 miles; to the town of Cumberland, 27 miles; to New Creek Station, 18 miles; to Piedmont and Bloomington, each 25 miles. All of these are points on the

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and any one of them may be attacked by a day’s march from Romney. The distance from the mouth of the Little Cacapon to Bloomington is about 60 miles. The mean distance — from Romney to the railroad is about 20 miles. : DESCENT UPON ROMNEY, W. VA., ETC. 201

y 7 . lt is, I presume, impossible that either army can winter on the top or at the foot of Cheat Mountain. Jackson’s force added to mine could hold the rich valleys of the South Branch and Patterson’s Creek, and draw from them abundant supplies during the winter, and always i have the power to prevent the use—safe use at least—by the enemy = lee the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad or Chesapeake and Ohio anal.

^ If my command is to winter here, it is time io provide quarters for them. Inless than fifteen days inclement weather will compel us to Strike our tents, if the cowardice of the enemy, now outnumbering us five times, will permit us so long to hold this post. Two-fifths of my regiment are now, by the requirements of the Department, in Berkeley and Jefferson. If I had a regiment of volunteers and three additional pieces of artillery my camp would be defended by them, whilst my mounted men could at any time strike some point on the railroad or

canal, and prevent their available use by the enemy.

I beg to be informed if I must prepare winter quarters at Romney. Ihave the honor to be, respectfully, yours to command, ANGUS W. McDONALD, s Colonel, Commanding Brigade, dic. General S. COOPER. 7