Narrative of Military Operations directed, during the late war between the States, by J. E. Johnston ... Illustrated, etc

Front matter

$ £ ,Jt^u^£% NARRATIVE OP MILITARY OPERATIONS, DIRECTED, DURING THE LATE "WAR BETWEEN THE STATES, BY JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON, GENERAL, C. S. A. 'I ILLUSTRATED BY STEEL-PLATES AND MAPS. NEW YOEK: D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, 649 AND 551 BROADWAY. 1874. Ekt-HU-D, according to Act os Congress, in the year 1874, by D. APPLETON & CO., In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. I offer these pages as my contribution of mate rials for the use of the future historian of the War between the States. CONTENTS.

Chapter I

Passage of Ordinance of Secession by Virginia Convention. — Resign office of Quartermaster - General of the United States. — Defense of West Point Officers, who resigned, from Unjust Attack. — Assigned to Duty of organizing Virginia Troops. — Ordered by President Davis to take command at Harper's Ferry. — Convinced, on Examination, that it was untenable. — Correspondence, on the Subject, with General Lee and the Confederate Authorities. — General Beauregard assigned to command of Confederate Army at Manassas. — Movements of General Patterson. — Withdrawal from Harper's Perry. — Affair near Romney. — General Patterson again marches on Martinsburg. — Battle offered at Darkesville. — General McDowell advances on Manassas. — Precautions preparatory to assisting General Beauregard pace 9

Chapter II

Movement of Troops to Manassas. — Discouragements of the March. — Arrival at Manassas. — President Davis's Telegram. — General Beauregard's Proposed Plan of Attack approved. — General McDowell anticipates it. — Battle of Manassas. — Arrival of President Davis. — Reasons why an Advance on Washington was impracticable 36

Chapter III

The Summer spent in observing the Enemy and preparing for Active Service. — Mason's and Munson's Hills occupied. — Colonel J. E. B. Stuart. — General McClellan in command of the Federal Forces. — Consequences of Want of Preparation for the Struggle beginning to be seriously felt. — The President appoints Five Generals. — Correspondence with him on the Subject. — Organization of the Confederate Army. — President invited to Headquarters of the Army for Consultation. — He visits Fairfax Court-House. — Account of the Conference and its Result. — Battle of Leesburg. — Affair at Drainsville. — Effective Total of the Confederate Army at the End of the Year 1861.— Allusion to Events in the West 69

Chapter IV

General Jackson proposes to resign. — Interference of Secretary Benjamin with the Army. — Proposition to exchange Prisoners. — Summoned to Richmond for Conference. — Preparations for withdrawal from Manassas. — Sceretary Benjamin continues his Interference with the Discipline of the Army. — Movement to the Rappahannock. — Orders to General Jackson. — Battle of CONTENTS. 6 Kernstown.— Army moved to the Rapidan.— Appointment of General Ran dolph Secretary of War.— Movements of General MeClellan.— Another Con ference with the President.— Its Result PAGE 8?

Chapter V

Take Command on the Peninsula.— General Magruder's Defensive Preparations. — Inform War Department of Intention to abandon Yorktown. — Battle of Williamsburg. — Affair nearEltham. — No further Interruption to the March. — Army withdrawn across the Chickahominy. — Disposition of the Confederate Forces in Virginia at this Time. — Advance of General McClellan. — Reported Movement of McDowell.— Battle of Seven Pines 117

Chapter VI

Report for Service at the War-Office. — Received Orders on November 24th. — Correspondence with the War Department. — Colonel Morgan's Achievement at Hartsville. — Meet the President at Chattanooga, and accompany him to Mississippi. — Battle of Murfreesboro'. — Van Dorn attacked at Franklin. — While en route to Mississippi, ordered to take direct Command of General Bragg's Army. — Events in Mississippi. — General Pemberton's Dispatches. — Battle near Port Gibson. — Ordered to Mississippi to take " Chief Command" . 147

Chapter VII

Start for Mississippi. — Dispatch from General Pemberton. — Arrival at Jackson. — Movements of the Enemy. — Orders to General Pemberton. — Battle of Baker's Creek. — Retreat of General Pemberton across the Big Black to Vicksburg. — Letter from General Pemberton. — Order him to evacuate Vicksburg. — Investment of Vicksburg by the Enemy. — Port Hudson invested. — Siege of Vicksburg. — Telegraphic Correspondence with the President and Secretary of War. — Move to the Relief of General Pemberton. — Receive News of the Fall of Vicksburg. — Army retires to Jackson 174

Chapter VIII

General Sherman advances on Jackson with Large Force. — Dispositions made for its Defense. — Correspondence by Telegraph with the President. — Daily Skirmishing. — Enemy expected to attack. — Instead of attacking, begin a Siege. — Evacuation of Jackson. — Army withdrawn to Morton. — Enemy, after burning much of Jackson, retire to Vicksburg. — Relieved of Command of Department of Tennessee. — General Bragg's Telegram ; Suggestion too late. — Review of the Mississippi Campaign. — Visit Mobile to examine its Defenses. — Letter from the President, commenting harshly on my Military Conduct. — My Reply to it. — Congress calls for the Correspondence. My Letter not furnished. — Both Letters. — Events during the Fall. Ordered to take Command of the Army at Dalton. — Arrive on 26th and assume Command on 27th of December 205

Chapter IX

Find Letter of Instruction from Secretary of War at Dalton. — My Reply. Letter from the President.— Mine in reply.— Condition of the Army.— General CONTENTS. 7 Hardee ordered to Mississippi to repel General Sherman's Advance. — Movements of the Enemy in our Front. — Dispositions to meet them. — General Hardee and his Troops return to Dalton. — Correspondence with General Bragg. — Effective Strength of the Army of Tennessee. — Advance of General Sherman page 262

Chapter X

Disposition of the Confederate Troops. — Affair at Dug Gap. — Cavalry Fight at Varnell's Station. — Fighting at Resaca. — General Wheeler encounters Stoneman's Cavalry. — Army withdrawn to Resaca to meet Flanking Movement of the Enemy 287

Chapter XI

Skirmishing at Resaca along our whole Lines. — The Enemy cross the Oostenaula. — Our Army put in Position to meet this Movement. — Causes of leaving Dalton. — The Dispositions there of the Confederate Army. — The Army at Cassville. — The Position a strong one. — In Line of Battle. — Generals Hood and Polk urge Abandonment of Positions, stating their Inability to hold their Ground. — General Hardee remonstrates. — Position abandoned, and Army crosses the Etowah. — Losses up to Date. — Affairs near New Hope Church. — Manœuvring of Federal Troops. — Kenesaw. — General Assault. — Battle of Kenesaw. — Army crosses the Chattahoochee. — Visit of General Brown. — Relieved from Command of the Army of Tennessee. — Explain my Plans to General Hood. — Review of the Campaign. — Grounds of my Removal — Discussion of them. — General Cobb's Defense of Macon . . 304

Chapter XII

Again ordered to the Command of the Army of Tennessee in North Carolina. — Interview with General Beauregard. — Movement of the Federal Forces in North Carolina. — General Bragg attacks the Enemy successfully near Kinston. — General Hardee attacked by Two Corps near Averysboro'. — Battle of Bentonville. — Events in Virginia. — Evacuation of Richmond, and Surrender of General Lee's Army. — Negotiations begun with General Sherman. — Details of the Conference. — Armistice and Convention agreed on. — The latter represented by Washington Authorities. — The Army surrenders. — Farewell Order to the Confederate Troops 371

Chapter XIII

Causes of Failure. — Misapplication of Means. — Inefficient Financial System. — Bad Impressment Laws. — No Want of Zeal or Patriotism. — Refutation of Charges against Secretary Floyd. — Facts of the Case. — Deficiency of Small- Arms at the South 421

Chapter XIV

Mr. Davis's Unsent Message. — Letters of Governor Humphreys and Major Mims. — Synopsis of Unsent Message. — Reply to Unsent Message . 430

Appendix

LIST OF MAPS AND PORTRAITS. PAGE Map of Peninsula . . . . . .to face page 119 Map op Vicksburg . . . . 169 Map op Dalton, North Georgia, No. 1 277 Map op Adairsville, North Georgia, No. 2 . . , " 321 Map op Marietta, North Georgia, No. 3 . . . " 327 Map op Atlanta, ...... " 347 General Joseph E. Johnston . . . . Frontispiece. General G. T. Beauregard .... to face page 38 Major-General Irwin McDowell .' "42 Lieutenant-General T. J. Jackson ... " 106 General George B. McClellan . . . . "110 Lieutenant-General James Longstreet . . . "120 Lieutenant-General R. S. Ewell . . . I "128 General Braxton Bragg .... " 148 Lieutenant-General William J. Hardee ..." 156 Lieutenant-General Leonidas Pole . . . "158 Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant . . " 166 Major-General W. T. Sherman ... " 302 General John B. Hood . . . ... « 306 Lieutenant-General A. P. Stewart ... " 328 Lieutenant-General Wade HAMP^oS-fi]?^. . . » g90 JOHNSTON'S NAEEATIVE.

Chapter I

Passage of Ordinance of Secession by Virginia Convention. — Resign Office of Quartermaster-General of the United States. — Defense of West Point Officers, who resigned, from Unjust Attack. — Assigned to Duty of organizing Virginia Troops. — Ordered by President Davis to take command at Harper's Ferry. — Convinced, on Examination, that it was untenable. — Correspondence, on the Subject, with General Lee and the Confederate Authorities. — General Beauregard assigned to command of Confederate Army at Manassas. — Movements of General Patterson. — Withdrawal from Harper's Ferry. — Affair near Romney. — General Patterson again marches on Martinsburg. — Battle offered at Darkesville. — General McDowell advances on Manassas. — Precautions preparatory to assisting General Beauregard. Tile composition of the convention assembled in Richmond in the spring of 1861, to consider the ques tion of secession, proved that the people of Virginia did not regard Mr. Lincoln's election as a sufficient cause for that measure, for at least two-thirds of its members were elected as "Union men."

And they and their constituents continued to be so, until the determination to " coerce " the seceded States was proclaimed by the President of the United States, and Virginia required to furnish her quota of the troops to be organized for the purpose. War being then inevitable, and the convention compelled to decide whether the State should aid in the subju- 10- JOHNSTON'S NAERATIVE. [Mat, gation of the other Southern States, or join them in the defense of principles it had professed since 1789 — belong to the invading party, or to that standing on the defensive— it chose the latter, and passed its ordinance of secession. The people confirmed that choice by an overwhelming vote. The passage of that ordinance, in secret session on the 1 7th of April, was not known in Washing ton, where, as Quartermaster-General of the United States Army, I was then stationed, until the 19th.

I believed, like most others, that the division of the country would be permanent ; and that, apart from any right of secession, the revolution begun was justified by the maxims so often repeated by Ameri cans, that free government is founded on the con sent of the governed, and that every community strong enough to establish and maintain its inde pendence has a right to assert it. Having been edu cated in such opinions, I naturally determined to re turn to the State of which I was a native, join the people among whom I was born, and live with my kindred, and, if necessary, fight in their defense. Accordingly, the resignation of my commission, written on Saturday, was offered to the Secretary of War Monday morning. That gentleman was requested, at the same time, to instruct the Adjutant- General, who had kindly accompanied me, to write the order announcing its acceptance, immediately.

No other officer of the United States Army of equal rank, that of brigadier-general, relinquished his position in it to join the Southern Confederacy. Many officers of that army, of Southern birth, had previously resigned their commissions, to return 1861.] WEST-POINT OFFICERS. 11 to the States of which they were citizens, and many others did so later. Their objects in quitting the United States Army, and their intentions to enter the service of the seceded States, were well known in the War Department. Yet no evidence of disap proval of these intentions was given by the Federal Administration, nor efforts made by it to prevent their execution. This seems to me strong proof that they were not then considered criminal. Northern editors and political speakers accuse those who thus left the service of the United States for that of the Southern Confederacy, of perjury, in breaking their oaths of allegiance.

It is impossible that the inventors and propagators of this charge can be ignorant that it is false. The acceptance of an officer's resignation absolves him from the obligations of his military oath as completely as it releases the government from that of giving him the pay of the grade he held. An officer is bound by that oath to allegiance to the United States, and obedience to the officers they may set over him. When the contract between the government and himself is dissolved by mutual consent, as in the cases in question, he is no more bound, under his oafli, to allegiance to the government, than to obedience to his former commander. These two obligations are in force only during ten ure of office. The individual who was an officer has, when he becomes a citizen, exactly the same obliga tions to the United States as other citizens.

This principle was always acted upon by the United States. Whenever a military officer received a new appointment, either of a higher grade, or of an equal one in another corps, he was required to [Mat, JOHNSTON'S NARRATIVE. 12 repeat the oath of office, because the previous one, in cluding of course that of allegiance, was held to have expired with the previous office, although the in dividual had not ceased to be an officer of the army. When he left the army, as well as a particular office in it, the case was certainly stronger. Leaving all my property but personal arms and clothing, I set off to Richmond with my family, on Tuesday. In consequence of railroad accidents, however, we did not reach that place until day break, Thursday. General Lee had been appointed commander-in chief, with the rank of major-general.

There were, however, several other officers of that grade. A few hours after my arrival, Governor Letcher gave me the appointment of major-general. The commander-in-chtef assigned me to the ser vice of organizing and instructing the volunteers then just beginning to assemble at the call of the Governor. He himself was then selecting the points to be occupied by these troops for the protection of the State, and determining the number to be as signed to each. Norfolk, a point near Yorktown, another in front of Fredericksburg, Manassas Junc tion, Harper's Ferry, and Grafton, seemed to be re garded by him as the most important positions, for they were to be occupied in greatest force. I was assisted in my duties by Lieutenant-Colo nel Pemberton, Majors Jackson and Gilham, and Captain T. L. Preston.

Near the end of April, how ever, the second named was promoted to a colonelcy and assigned to the command of Harper's Ferry held until then by Colonel Kenton Harper. 1861., HARPER'S FERRY. 13 I was employed in this way about two weeks. Then, Virginia having acceded to the Southern Confederacy, the government of which assumed the direction of military affairs, I accepted a brigadier gen eralcy offered me by telegraph by the President. It was then the highest grade in the Confederate army. The offer had been made in one or two previous telegrams sent to General Lee, for me, but not delivered. The Virginia Convention had abolished my office in the State service, and offered me the next lower. But, as it was certain that the war would be conducted by the Confederate Govern ment, and its officers had precedence of those having like State grades, I preferred the Confederate com mission.

The President had me called to Montgomery to receive instructions, and there assigned me to the command of Harper's Ferry. In my journeys from Washington to Richmond, from Richmond to Montgomery, and thence to Har per's Ferry, I saw in the crowds assembled at all the railroad-stations the appearance of great enthusiasm for the war against subjugation — so much as to give me the impression that all of the population fit for military service might have been brought into the field, if the Confederate Government could have furnished them with arms and ammunition — which, un fortunately, it had not provided. That government depended for arms, for the war then imminent, mainly upon those found in the arsenals at Fayetteville, Charleston, Augusta, Mount Vernon, and Baton Rouse: United States muskets and rifles of dis carded pattern, the number supposed to be about [Mat, .

JOHNSTON'S NARRATIVE. 14 seventy-five thousand ; above forty thousand muskets belonging to the State of Virginia in course of rapid conversion from "flint" to "percussion lock" by Governor Letcher's orders; and twenty thousand lately procured for the State of Georgia, by Gov ernor Brown. I reached Harper's Ferry soon after noon of the 23d of May, accompanied by Colonel E. Kirby Smith,1 acting adjutant-general, Major W. H. C. Whiting,' of the Engineer Corps, Major E. McLean, of the Quartermaster's Department, and Captain T. L. Preston, assistant adjutant-general. Within an hour the commanding officer, Colonel Jackson,3 visited me; learned the object of my coming, and read the order of the War Department, assigning me to the command he had been exercising. My order announcing the change of commanders, made by the President's authority, was sent to him next morning, with the request that he would have the proper number of copies made and distributed to the troops, as I had no office as yet.

He replied very courteously, in writing, that he did not " feel at liberty to transfer his command to another without further instructions from Governor Letcher or Gen eral Lee;" but offered me, in the mean while, every facility in his power for obtaining information relat ing to the post. Major Whiting, who had been his school-fellow, saw him at my request, and convinced him very soon that the President's authority was paramount in military affairs, and his action in the 1 Afterward lieutenant-general. 2 Who fell at Fort Fisher, a major-general. * Who became so celebrated as lieutenant-general. 1861.] HARPER'S FERRY. 15 case in accordance with military usage. This misunderstanding of military custom produced little more delay than the time consumed by the messenger in bringing me Colonel Jackson's note, and by Major Whiting in going to that officer's quarters from mine.

This little affair is mentioned, only because what seems to me a very exaggerated account of it has been published.' Governor Letcher had taken possession of Harper's Ferry as soon as possible, and had it occupied by a body of troops commanded by Colonel Kenton Harper — not soon enough, however, to prevent the destruction of the small-arms stored in the armory. The Federal commanding officer, when compelled by the approach of the Virginia troops to abandon the place, set fire to the buildings containing these arms," to destroy what he could not save for his government. Soon after being appointed commander-in-chief of the forces of the State, General Lee increased the garrison of Harper's Ferry, and placed Colonel Jackson in command there. On extending its control of military affairs over Virginia, the Confederate Government, as if equally impressed with the importance of the position, made another addition to the troops assembled there — of three regiments and two battalions of infantry.

I was also instructed in Mont gomery to "take Lynchburg in my route, and to make arrangements there for sending forward to Har per's Ferry ' such force ' as I might deem necessary to strengthen my command." I found no available u force " there, however. ' In Dabney 's " Life of Jackson." * It was said that there were about seventeen thousand of them. [June, JOHNSTON'S NARRATIVE. 16 The forces thus assembled were, the Second, Fourth, Fifth, Tenth, Thirteenth, and Twenty-seventh Virginia, Second and Eleventh Mississippi and Fourth Alabama regiments of infantry, and a Mary land and a Kentucky battalion; four companies of artillery (Virginia), with four guns each, but with out caissons, horses, or harness ; and the First Regi ment of Virginia Cavalry — of about two hundred and fifty men, including Captain Turner Ashby's company, temporarily attached to it by Colonel Jack son — in all, about five thousand two hundred effective men.

Among the superior officers were several who subsequently rose to high distinction : " Stonewall " Jackson ; A. P. Hill, who won the grade of lieutenant general ; Stuart, matchless a3 commander of outposts ; and Pendleton, General Lee's commander of artillery. These troops were undisciplined, of course. They were also badly armed and equipped — several regi ments being without accoutrements — and were almost destitute of ammunition, and, like all new troops as sembled in large bodies, they were suffering very much from sickness ; nearly forty per cent.1 of the "total" being in the hospitals there or elsewhere, from the effects of measles and mumps. General Lee's command in Virginia, as major-general in the State service, was continued until Rich mond became the Confederate seat of government.

The law converting the Confederate brigadier-generals into generals, approved May 16th, had not been pub lished to the army in orders, by the War Department, but was known to be in existence, for it had appeared in the newspapers. 1 This proportion is given from memory. 1861.] HARPER'S FERRY. 17 My conversations with General Lee in Richmond, and the President's oral instructions to me in Mont gomery, had informed me distinctly that they regarded Haiper's Ferry as a natural fortress — com manding the entrance into the Valley of Virginia from Pennsylvania and Maryland — and that it was occupied in that idea, and my command not that of a military district and active army, but of a fortress and its garrison. Maps, and intelligent persons of the neighborhood, told me that the principal route into " the Valley " from Pennsylvania crosses the Po tomac at Williamsport, and the railroad at Martins burg, at least twenty miles west of this garrison, and of course beyond its control.

A careful examination of the position and its environs, made on the 25th, with the assistance of an engineer of great ability, Major Whiting, convinced me that it could not be held against equal numbers by such a force as then occupied it. Harper's Ferry is untenable against an army by any force not strong enough to hold the neighboring heights north of the Potomac and east of the Shen andoah, as well as the place itself. It is a triangle formed by the Potomac, Shenandoah, and Furnace Ridge, the latter extending from river to river, a mile and a half above their junction. Artillery on the heights above mentioned to the north and east could sweep eveiy part of this space. As the rivers are fordable at various points, it was easy to turn or invest the place, or assail it on the west (Furnace Ridge) side.

Two main routes lead from Maryland and Pennlg JOHNSTON'S NARRATIVE. [June, sylvania into the Valley of Virginia, meeting at Win chester : one passing through Frederick, and cross ing the Potomac at Harper's Ferry ; the other leading through Chambersburg, Williamsport (where it crosses the Potomac), and Martinsburg. These roads are met at Winchester by the principal one from Northwestern Virginia into " the Valley," and also by a good and direct one from Manassas Junction, through Ashby's Gap, which, east of the Blue Ridge, had the advantage of easy communication with the Manassas Gap Railroad. This road is, perhaps, lit tle shorter than that from Manassas Junction to Harper's Ferry ; but there were insuperable objections to the latter. Near Harper's Ferry it fol lows the course of the Potomac, and could be completely swept by artillery on the north bank of the river, so that it might have been closed to us by a few Federal batteries ; and, even if our troops following it escaped that danger, they might have been intercepted near Centreville by the Fed eral army.

The United States had, at that time, three armies threatening Virginia. The principal one at Wash ington, commanded by Major-General McDowell ; the second at Chambersburg, under Major-General Patterson's command ; and the third in Northwest ern Virginia, under that of Major-General McClellan. We supposed that these armies would cooperate with each other, and that the Federal general-in chief would direct their combined forces against Richmond. This supposition was partially sustained by our scouts and friends in Maryland, who reported that the armies of Generals Patterson and McClel- 1831.] HARPER'S FERRY. 19 Ian were to unite at Winchester ; and this report was confirmed by the Northern press. It was necessary, of course, that the Confederate troops in the Valley should always be ready to meet this invasion, as well as to unite quickly with the army at Manassas Junction, whenever it might be threatened by General McDowell's. At Harper's Ferry, they were manifestly out of position for either object, for Patterson's route from Chambersburg lay through Williamsport and Martinsburg — a long day's march to the west ; and the only direct road thence to Manassas Junction was completely under the enemy's control.

Winchester was obnoxious to neither objection, but, on the contrary, fulfilled the conditions desired better than any other point. The commanders on both sides, in the subsequent mili tary operations in that region, seem to have appre ciated its importance, and to have estimated its value as I did, except those who disposed the forces of the United States in September, 1862, when eleven thousand men, placed at Harper's Ferry as a garrison, were captured, almost without resistance, by General Lee's troops, coming from Maryland. My objections to Harpers Ferry as a position, and to the idea of making a garrison instead of an active force of the troops intrusted with the defense of that district, were expressed to the proper au thorities in letters dated May 26th and 28th, and June 6th, and replied to by General Lee lon the 1st and 7th of June.

These letters of his express the 1 After Richmond became the seat of the Confederate Government, General Lee performed a part of the duties of the Secretary of War, and of the Adjutant-General. dissent of the authorities from my views, and their opinion that the maintenance of the existing arrange ment was necessary to enable us to retain the com mand of the Valley of Virginia, and our communications with Maryland, held to be veiy important. General Lee wrote in his letter of June 1st: "I received, on my return from Manassas Junction, your communications of the 25th and 28th ult., in refer ence to your position at Harper's Ferry. The difficulties which surround it have been felt from the beginning of its occupation, and I am aware of the obstacles to its maintenance with your present force.

Every effort has been made to remove them, and will be continued. But, with similar necessities pressing on every side, you need not be informed of the diffi culty of providing against them. . . ." And in that of the 7th: "I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 6th inst. The importance of the subject has induced me to lay it before the President, that he may be informed of your views. He places great value upon the retention of the command of the Shenandoah Valley, and the position at Harper's Ferry. The evacuation of the latter would interrupt our communication with Maryland, and injure our cause in that State. . . ." The objects of the Confederate Government, ex pressed in these letters, were not to be accomplished by the concentration of its forces at Harper's Ferry ; for General Patterson's invasion was to be from Chambersburg, and therefore by Williamsport and Martinsburg, a route beyond the control of Harper's Ferry.

Notwithstanding this determination on the part 1861.] HARPER'S FERRY. 21 of the Executive, I resolved not to continue to occupy the place after the purposes for which the troops were sent to it should require them elsewhere. About the 9th of June, however, I again repre sented to the Government the objections to its plan, and urged it to change the character of my command.1 General Beauregard came to Manassas Junction and assumed command on that frontier, a week after my arrival at Harper's Ferry. We communicated with each other at once, and agreed that the first attacked should be aided by the other to his utmost. We were convinced of our mutual dependence, and agreed in the opinion that the safety of the Confed eracy depended on the cooperation of the armies we commanded. In the mean time the Potomac was observed by the cavalry from the Point of Rocks to the western part of the county of Berkeley, as had been done un der my predecessor.

The manufacture of cartridge boxes and belts was ordered in the neighboring towns and villages. Cartridges were made of powder furnished by Governor Letcher, and lead found at the place, or procured in the neighborhood. Caps (in small quantities only) were smuggled from Baltimore. Cais sons were constructed at Captain Pendleton's suggestion, by fixing roughly-made ammunition-chests on the running-parts of farm-wagons. Horses, and harness of various kinds, for the artillery, and wagons and 1 In my report of the military operations, ending in the battle of Manassas, published by the Government, I briefly reminded the War Department of these views, and of the expression of them by me at the time, and that " the continued occupation of the place was deemed by it indispensable." {See fourth and fifth paragraphs of that report.) teams for field-transportation, were collected in the surrounding country; and the work of removing the machinery of the armory, begun by Governor Letcher's orders, was continued.