MONOCACY BRIDGE, MD., August 5, 1864—8
p.m.
Maj. Gen. D: HUNTER:
GENERAL: Concentrate all your available force without delay
in the vicinity of Harper's Ferry, leaving only such railroad guards and
garrisons for public property as may be necessary. Use, in this concentration,
the railroad, if by so doing time can be saved. From Harper's Ferry, if it is
found that the enemy has moved north of the Potomac in large force, push north,
following him and attacking him wherever found; follow him if driven south of
the Potomac as long as it is safe to do so. If it is ascertained that the enemy
has but a small force north of the Potomac, then push south with the main
force, detaching under a competent commander a sufficient force to look after
the raiders, and drive them to their homes. In detaching such a force, the
brigade of cavalry now en route from Washington, via Rockville, may be
taken into account.
There are now on the way to join you three other brigades of
the best of cavalry, numbering at least 5,000 men and horses. These will be
instructed, in the absence of further orders, to join you by the south side of
the Potomac. One brigade will probably start to-morrow. In pushing up the
Shenandoah Valley, where it is expected you will have to go first or last, it is
desirable that nothing should be left to invite the enemy to return. Take all
provisions, forage, and stock wanted for the use of your command; such as
cannot be consumed destroy. It is not desirable that the buildings should be
destroyed; they should rather be protected, but the people should be informed
that so long as an army can subsist among them recurrences of these raids must
be expected, and we are determined to stop them at all hazards. Bear in mind
the object is to drive the enemy south, and to do this you want to keep him
always in sight. Be guided in your course by the course he takes.
Make your own arrangements for supplies of all kinds, giving
regular vouchers for such as will be taken from loyal citizens in the country
through which you march.
U.S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
34, Part 1 (Serial No. 61), p. 26
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