and would report accordingly. I suppose General Longstreet to be now in bivouac on the turnpike from here to Centreville, somewhere in the vicinity of Broad Run. I think it important for you to receive instructions from him to-night, as my train is beyond this place, my troops not yet up by several miles. General Longstreet's train is intended to be placed to-morrow in rear of my troops, and to avoid confusion there should be a definite understanding in advance. Our train is behaving badly; troubles and difficulties by the million; plenty of room for improvement, but no great promise of it. Hoping to see you soon, and rejoicing that we are likely to be thrown more together in future, I remain, as of old, your friend, General JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON, Centreville, Va.: G. W. SMITH. MARCH 10, 1862. Further assurance given to me this day that you shall be promptly and adequately re-enforced, so as to enable you to maintain your position and resume first policy when the roads will permit. JEFFERSON DAVIS. WARRENTON SPRINGS, March 10, 1862-11 p. m. Brig. Gen. D. H. HILL, on road from Warrenton to Sperryville: MY DEAR GENERAL: Your note of 8 p. m. is received. I am fairly launched on a sea of mud. Had great difficulty to-day in crossing a weak and shaky bridge. The rear of my division crossed about 8 o'clock, and we are camped on the right bank of the North Fork of the Rappahannock. I am glad you have a turnpike. The road is said to be very bad; some good judges say it is impracticable; it may be, but we will get through safely, I hope, in good time. At any rate can't turn back now even if I wished to. Yours, truly, G. W. SMITH. RICHMOND, March 11, 1862. Maj. Gen. T. H. HOLMES, Brooke's Station: GENERAL: Mr. Daniel, president of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad, has been advised by the Secretary of War to cause that part of the road between Aquia Creek and Fredericksburg to be broken up and the rails removed to some place of safety. You are requested to give such facilities in men and means as may be in your power to accomplish this object. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General. RICHMOND, VA., March 11, 1862. General T. H. HOLMES, Fredericksburg, Va.: Remove all your heavy guns and munitions, preserving in front only such light rifle guns as could be readily withdrawn on approach of enemy. J. P. BENJAMIN, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, March 12, 1862. Authority is hereby given to the Confederate generals commanding within the limits of Virginia to call for such militia as are within the bounds of their commands, and muster them into service, to meet any public exigency. JOHN LETCHER. RICHMOND, March 12, 1862. Major-General HOLMES, Fredericksburg, Va.: Assign Brig. Gen. J. B. Hood to the command of the Texas Brigade (late Wigfall's). S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General. RICHMOND, March 12, 1862. General T. H. HOLMES, Brooke's Station: Send anything in the way of arms and munitions you can at once. SPECIAL ORDERS, Į S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General. HDQRS. DEP'T OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, I. The depot quartermaster at Culpeper Court-House will take immediate steps for the removal of the ordnance, quartermaster, subsistence, and medical stores to Gordonsville, Va., and the chief quartermaster will make such arrangements with the railroad agent as will most speedily accomplish this object; the ordnance stores being moved first. II. A sufficiency of subsistence stores for the troops will be retained at this point by the chief commissary. III. The sick will be moved at once beyond Gordonsville, Va., under the direction of Surg. A. M. Fauntleroy, P. A. C. S. By command of General Johnston: A. G. MASON, Assistant Adjutant-General. RICHMOND, March 13, 1862. General HOLMES, Fredericksburg, Va.: Order General French to repair to this place for detached service. S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General. General WHITING: RAPPAHANNOCK BRIDGE, March 13, 1862. MY DEAR GENERAL: I have just had the pleasure to receive your note of yesterday. Your brigade certainly marched well. I am very glad your division is concentrated; it will gain rapidly. We were detained at Manassas until Sunday evening, late. The performance of the Winchester Railroad was pleasant to witness, compared with that of the Orange and Alexandria on this recent occasion. We destroyed nearly four days' rations for men and about as many for horses-of grain, that is to say. The depot had been filled far beyond my wishes, and some 10,000 bushels of corn were sent up just before we left. Four brigades following the railroad crossed the river day before yes terday here; G. W.'s division on the same day by the Warrenton road. Longstreet is looking for better roads farther west, or perhaps a smailer stream. Two brigades coming by Brentsville crossed here yesterday; about the same time G. W. encamped near Culpeper Court-House. Stuart is at Warrenton, his line running down to the Brentsville road and some 10 miles in our front. A reserve depot was established at Culpeper Court-House last fall. We shall remain here to empty it, then cross the Rapidan, and communicate with you by the plank road. D. H. Hill, with the Leesburg garrison, is with Longstreet; G. B. Anderson, with that of Manassas, is here. What is become of the Page? You should not be near Fredericksburg. Yours, truly, J. E. JOHNSTON. You have read Commodore Buchanan's exploits. May it not retard enterprises of the enemy by water? RAPPAHANNOCK BRIDGE, March 13, 1862. General S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General: GENERAL: I have just been informed by Major-General Jackson, whose letter was written yesterday morning, that he had left Winchester and was falling back to the neighborhood of Strasburg. He expected to encamp last night near Cedar Creek. General Jackson abandoned Winchester because threatened by greatly superior forces. Most respectfully, your obedient servant, J. E. JOHNSTON, General. RICHMOND, VA., March 13, 1862. Brig. Gen. H. HETH, Commanding, &c., Lewisburg, Va.: GENERAL: As far as I can ascertain from the records in the AdjutantGeneral's Office, the force under your command consists of the Twentysecond and Forty-fifth Virginia Regiments and the Eighth Regiment Virginia Cavalry. Please inform me of your actual force and whether you cannot increase it from the adjoining counties. Under the procla mation of the governor the present regiments must be filled up to the number designated before additional regiments can be received. I inclose authority from the governor to call out the militia in case of neces sity, and you are desired to report what may be the prospect of recruiting your army in the Kanawha Valley and the counties west of the Alleghany. I am, &c., R. E. LEE, General, Commanding. P. S. Should the militia be called out, you will take measures not to interfere with the counties in which General H. Marshall is operating. Official: W. H. TAYLOR, Assistant Adjutant-General. GENERAL ORDERS, ADJT. AND INSP. GEN.'S OFFICE, No. 14. General Robert E. Lee is assigned to duty at the seat of government; and, under the direction of the President, is charged with the conduct of military operations in the armies of the Confederacy. By command of the Secretary of War: S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General. RICHMOND, VA., March 14, 1862. Maj. Gen. T. H. HOLMES, Commanding, &c., Fredericksburg, Va.: GENERAL: At the time the position of Fort Lowry was selected it was supposed to be the lowest point at which the river could be defended with the guns then available. I do not know what may be its present strength, or whether there may not be other points above better calculated to arrest the ascent of the Rappahannock by the enemy's boats. I request, should you not already have done so, that you will cause examinations to be made as to the best point that can be taken for this purpose. All other things being equal, the lowest point ought, in my opinion, to be preferred. But I think, in addition to the batteries that may be erected, a barrier should be placed in the bed of the river below, and close under their guns. The locality should therefore be chosen with this view. Please advise me of the condition of affairs on the river and what, in your opinion, can be done to close its navigation to the enemy. I am, &c., R. E. LEE, General, Commanding. RICHMOND, VA., March 14, 1862. Maj. Gen. T. H. HOLMES, Commanding, &c., Fredericksburg, Va.: GENERAL: The retirement of your defensive line to the Rappahannock River causes me to call your attention to the propriety of securing all provisions, &c., in your front, and particularly that exposed in the Northern Neck of Virginia. I think it probable that you have already made arrangements for that purpose; but as I have experienced how difficult it is for the farmers to procure the necessary transportation to effect this object, at a time when it becomes necessary to forward their families and property to places of security, I thought, it might be necessary for you to render them every facility in your power. Should it be determined to rest your right at Fort Lowry, supplies of provisions could be accumulated there for the troops in that direction, and a depot could also be formed at Fredericksburg. As to the quantity of provisions at each point you must judge; but none ought to be allowed to fall into the hands of the enemy, and to prevent which, when necessary, they must be destroyed. I presume General Johnston has informed you of his plans, and you will be able to regulate the amount of supplies by the number of troops, time, &c., he may expect to occupy that line. I am, &c., General [LEE:] R. E. LEE, General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS AQUIA DISTRICT, Your letter is received. There is already in depot at Fredericksburg a large supply of commissary and quartermaster stores, and I will give direction for all that remains in the Northern Neck to be forwarded with the utmost dispatch, though I am almost certain that it will be unnccessary, as there is little doubt that the status of this part of Virginia will be fixed long before the present supply is consumed. There appears to be no doubt that Hooker's division has crossed the river at Evansport, and that a column of 5,000 or 6,000 men have reached Brentsville from the direction of Manassas. Dumfries is also occupied in force, whether from Evansport or via the Occoquan, I can't say. All of which seems to indicate a concentration by the enemy for an attack on Fredericksburg; and I am clearly of opinion that they should be met and given battle before they reach this city. I have directed Colonel Maloney to concentrate his forces for the defense of Fort Lowry, and I have also caused a battery of four guns to be placed on the Rappahannock 4 miles below here. I am, general, very respectfully, TH. H. HOLMES, Major-General. MARCH 16, 1862. I open my letter to communicate information obtained last night. Lieutenant-Colonel Lee, who has charge of my cavalry picket of observation, reports that the enemy landed a part of their force below the Chopawamsic and marched up that creek to the point where the Telegraph road crosses it. This indicates a concentration of their forces before marching on Fredericksburg, and if they are not met before reaching here the fate of the town and depot is sealed, for they cannot be held an hour after the enemy have taken possession of the heights which command them on the opposite bank of the river. General Johnston was yesterday at the Rappahannock Station, more than 40 miles from here. I know nothing of his plans, and have received no instructions for my guidance. I sent him an express last night with a letter from myself and one from General Whiting, urging the necessity of a concentration of our forces here to enable us to give battle before the enemy reaches here. If this town is abandoned you may expect an utter demoralization of the people, which I greatly fear will be reflected on the troops. These at present are in a high state of discipline and are most anxious to meet the enemy, but they are not veterans and cannot be relied on in a retreat. The object of the enemy |