Saturday, May 17, 2014

General Joseph E. Johnston to General Samuel Cooper, November 22, 1861

HEADQUARTERS,
Centreville, November 22, 1861.
General COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General:

SIR: I have received Major-General Jackson's plan of operations in his district, for which he asks for re-enforcements. It seems to me that he proposes more than can well be accomplished in that high, mountainous country at this season. If the means of driving the enemy from Romney (preventing the reconstruction of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and incursions by marauders into the counties of Jefferson, Berkeley, and Morgan) can be supplied to General Jackson, and with them those objects accomplished, we shall have reason to be satisfied, so far as the Valley District is concerned.

The wants of other portions of the frontier – Aquia District, for in-stance – make it inexpedient, in my opinion, to transfer to the Valley District so large a force as that asked for by Major-General Jackson. It seems to me to be now of especial importance to strengthen Major-General Holmes, near Aquia Creek. The force there is very small compared with the importance of the position.

Your obedient servant,
 J. E. JOHNSTON,
 General.
_______________


SOURCES: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 5 (Serial No. 5), p. 966-7

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