Letter

Unknown to Robert Patterson, July 5, 1861

Washington

General R. PATTERSON : If necessary, call up the regiment left at Frederick, and I will replace it. In an extreme case, order Colonel Wallace to join you. Colonel Stone was yesterday opposite Harper’s Ferry, with greater part of his force. : Your telegrams of the 3d and 4th received with satisfaction.

Washington, July 5, 1861—10 p. m, Major-General PATTERSON, Martinsburg:

Your letter of the 4th is received. Orders were sent this morning to Madison for the Third and Fourth Regiments from Wisconsin to repair

* Probably Townsend to Patterson, July 1, p. 157.

to Williamsport via Chambersburg and report to you. The Nineteenth and Twenty-eighth New York Regiments leave here for Hagerstown to-morrow at half past 2 p.m. You will have to provide transportation for them thence to the post you may orderthemto. If any three-months’ men will re-engage for the long term, designate a Regular officer of your command to muster them, provided a sufficient number to form a regiment can be obtained. Having defeated the enemy, if you can continue the pursuit without too great hazard, advance via Leesburg (or Strasburg) towards Alexandria; but consider the dangerous defiles, especially via Strasburg, and move with great caution, halting at Winchester and threatening a movement by Strasburg; or the passage of the Potomac twice, and coming down by Leesburg, may be the more advantageous movement.

Editor's Notes
From: Operations in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, 1861. Location: Washington. Summary: Military leadership instructs General Patterson to reinforce Union regiments, coordinate troop movements near Harper's Ferry, and pursue Confederate forces cautiously during early Civil War operations.
Sources
The War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 2 View original source ↗