General Robert E. Lee to Brigadier General G. W. Custis Lee, September 27, 1863

Camp, 27th September, 1863.

I rejoice over Bragg's victory. It is a great success and will be of great service to us every way; though from the reports in yesterday's paper it looks as if Rosecrans had made a stand at Chattanooga. I hope Bragg will be able to cross the Tennessee below him and force him out.

His cavalry ought now to break up his communications and force him out. I see Rob, Fitz, John, and Henry occasionally; the cavalry is near me now. They are all well.

No advance has yet been seriously made, though all the preparations of General Meade indicate that purpose. Generals King, Heintzelman, etc., have been brought up to Culpeper, and the pontoon trains have again been brought forward from Centerville. I am glad to hear that there is some prospect of a general exchange of prisoners. If Bragg has captured any of importance, it will facilitate matters. Good-by, my dear son. Remember me in your prayers and always keep in your heart,

Your devoted father,

R. E. LEE.

GEN. G. W. CUSTIS LEE.

SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 284

From Western Virginia

Times’ Special.

HEADQUARTERS MOUNTAIN DEPARTMENT,

NEAR HARRISBURG, May 8.

A dispatch from Fayetteville, announcing the advance of Gen. Cox, composed of a part of the 33d, under Maj. Cawley, occupied Giles C. H., and Darrows, on New river, yesterday.  The rebels ran, and did not burn the town as intended.  Abundant commissary stores, a Lieut., Major and 20 privates were captured.  The citizens remained, and seemed loyal.

The defeat of the rebels at Camp Creek, was more important than at first supposed.

Gen. Milory is now fighting, and Gen. [Schenck] is advancing.  Particular[s] of this movement are forbidden.

HEADQUARTERS MOUNTAIN DEPARTMENT,

May 8, 1862.

To E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War:– Gen. Cox telegraphs that his advance, consisting of part of the 23d Ohio, occupied Giles Court House and the narrows of New River yesterday, driving away the rebels, who were taken by surprise.  A large quantity of commissary stores and 20 privates were captured.  Our surprise prevented the burning of that place as the rebels intended.  Most of the citizens seem loyally disposed.

Signed.

J. C. FREMONT.

WASHINGTON, May 8.

Information has been received here that a cavalry reconnoissance was recently made to Culpepper C. H.  Seven prisoners were captured as they were attempting to escape – they have been sent to Washington.  Our troops were favorably received by the people, and only temporarily occupied the town.

Minister Adams has presented a claim to the British Government for the restoration of the Emily St. Pierre, the Captain of which rose on the prize crew and conveyed her to Liverpool, after her capture by the United States fleet, for a violation of the blockade.

An order from the War Department says: “Upon requisitions made by commanders of the armies in the field, and authority will be given by the Department to the Governors of the respective States to recruit for regiments now in the service.”

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, May 10, 1862, p. 1

Specials to the New York Papers

(Special to Times.)

WASHINGTON, March 12. – The statement published that account in council of war in Washington decided by 6 to 4 that the army of the Potomac could not be moved against the enemy at present, is entirely untrue.  The Generals were decisive that an advance was possible and probably the only difference was as to the plan of proposed attack.

A correspondent of the Times who accompanied the advance upon Centreville and Manassas, has just come in.  It was only recently that the retreat of the rebels from Centreville commenced.  General Johnson left Friday morning, General Smith left Saturday afternoon, and Colonel Stewart last Monday, the day our army left camp on the Potomac.  The retreat was conducted very orderly at first.  Nothing was left at Centreville that could be useful to us. – The forts were well planned and very formidable.  They commanded the roads and the fire of not less than a hundred guns could be converged upon any approach to the defences.  The guns were never brought from Manassas to mount the Centreville works.  A railroad track is extended from Manassas to Centreville, and a telegraph line.  The rebel Generals had their headquarters at Centreville.  Although a more convenient and complete military armament could not be found in Washington than they had at Manassas.  The enemy carried off all their heavy guns from Manassas, forty to fifty in number, part of their army marching by turnpike to Warrenton and part to Gordonville, where it is said they would make a stand.  It was announced that the first sign of panic was noticed at Manassas.  A part of Stewart’s rear column was preparing a train to move southward by railroad, when they learned that some excited rebels had set fire to the bridges.  Then they immediately began to burn and destroy and run away in general confusion.  500 barrels of flour were stove in.  Barrels of molasses suffered the same way.  160 barrels or kegs of powder were left, which they did not know how to destroy in safety to themselves.

It seems to be confirmed that the enemy had two weeks since, between 50,000 and 60,000 troops at Centreville and Manassas, and that they had began their retreat last Friday.  Why they went is a mystery, as that number of our men in their fortifications would have been equal to three times their forces assembling there.  They must have feared to trust their men whose enlistments were expiring, or their powder, which many accounts agree, is of very inferior quality.

The strangest news brought by the Times correspondent is, that Gen. Jackson and one half his army, whom Gen. Banks yesterday supposed he was closely watching in Winchester, went down the Railroad to Manassas one week ago, and quietly marched off southward.  The other half are said to be moving southward in the valley of the Shenandoah.

(Special to Tribune.)

The Naval Committee of the Senate agreed today to recommend an appropriation of $25,000 for the construction of furnaces for the manufacture of 20 inch Dahlgreen guns.

The ––– of this evening says we have positive information that the rebels have retreated to as far as Gordonville.  Our scouts have probably penetrated the country as far as Culpepper C. H., 35 miles in the rear of Manassas.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 15, 1862, p. 3

Chicago Specials

CHICAGO, March 13            . – The Times Washington special of the 12th says our scouts have arrested seven rebel bridge burners caught in the very act near Manassas.

Refugees say the rebels had no very heavy guns mounted in earthworks at Centreville.  The forts all commanded the approaches from Washington.  There were more to prevent our forces coming on either flank.  Ten days ago the rebels had sixty thousand troops there.  The rear guard did not leave until Monday.  Five caissons, five hundred barrels of flour, several hundred barrels molasses were found to-day, all damaged.

The Tribune specials says that it is now estimated that the rebel army has gone to Gordonsville Junction, ninety-three miles from the Potomac and fifty-nine from Manassas.

Our scouts have penetrated as far as Culpepper Court House.  The country around Gordonsville is represented to be well adapted for defences and the railroad connection being vastly more important than those at Manassas.

Evidence before the Committee on the Conduct of the War to-day, shows that the whole rebel army army [sic] opposite less than thirty thousand – fifteen thousand at Centreville and ten thousand and Manassas.

The Committee of investigation at St. Louis has finished sitting the aggregate of claims passed on was upward of ten millions.  The amount was much reduced.

The Naval Committee of the Senate to-day agreed to appropriate twenty five thousand dollars for the manufacture of twenty inch Dalghgreen [sic] guns.  The committee was brought to this conclusion by a telegraph from Assistant Secretary Fox now at Fortress Monroe, urging that orders for their manufacture should be given at once.  He adds that the Monitor can sink the Merrimac but that it will be a terrible struggle.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 15, 1862, p. 3