General Robert E. Lee to James A. Seddon, December 23, 1864

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,        

December 23, 1864.

On the 20th General Early reported one division of enemy's cavalry, under General Custer, coming up the Valley, and two divisions, under General Totbert, moving through Chester Gap, with four pieces artillery and thirty wagons. On the 22d Rosser attacked Custer's division, nine miles from Harrisonburg, and drove [him] back, capturing forty prisoners. This morning Torbert attacked Lomax near Gordonsville, and was repulsed and severely punished. He is retiring and Lomax preparing to follow.

R. E. LEE.

Hon. J. A. SEDDON.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 43, Part 1 (Serial No. 90), p. 679-80

Diary of Private Louis Leon: July 24, 1863

Marched two miles up Chester Gap, when we were about faced and marched through Front Royal again. We here took the Strasburg road at daylight. We resumed our march, and halted at 3 in the evening. We have been on a forced march three days and nights, waded rivers, fought skirmishes, and marched in that time forty-five miles. We are camped in an apple orchard in a village called Milford.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 42-3