Jefferson Davis, The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government

[391] the roads connecting the advance posts with the armies of the Potomac and of the Acquia, as well as with each other, and to have the requisite teams to move heavy guns with celerity. . . .

Very respectfully yours,

Jefferson Davis.

In November, 1861, reports became current that the enemy were concentrating troops west of the valley of the Shenandoah with a view to a descent upon it. That vigilant, enterprising, and patriotic soldier, General T. J. Jackson, whose steadiness under fire at the first battle of Manassas had procured for him the sobriquet of “Stonewall,” was then on duty as district commander of the Shenandoah Valley.

He was a West Virginian; though he had not acquired the fame which subsequently shed such luster upon his name, he possessed a wellde-served confidence among the people of that region. Ever watchful and daring in the discharge of any duty, he was intensely anxious to guard his beloved mountains of Virginia. This, stimulating his devotion to the general welfare of the Confederacy, induced him to desire to march against the enemy, who had captured Romney. On November 20, 1861, he wrote to the War Department, proposing an expedition to Romney, in western Virginia. It was decided to adopt his proposition, endorsed by the commander of the department, and further to insure success, though not recommended in the endorsement, his old brigade (then in the Army of the Potomac) was selected as a part of the command with which he was to make the campaign. General Johnston remonstrated against this transfer and the correspondence is subjoined for a fuller understanding of the matter:

headquarters, Valley District, November 20, 1861.
Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War.

sir: I hope you will pardon me for requesting that, at once, all the troops under General Loring be ordered to this point. Deeply impressed with the importance of absolute secrecy respecting military operations, I have made it a point to say but little respecting my proposed movements in the event of sufficient reinforcements arriving, but, since conversing with Lieutenant-Colonel J. L. T. Preston upon his return from General Loring, and ascertaining the disposition of the General's forces, I venture to respectfully urge that, after concentrating all his troops here, an attempt should be made to capture the Federal forces at Romney. The attack on Romney would probably induce McClellan to believe that the Army of the Potomac had been so weakened as to justify him in making an advance on Centreville; but, should this not induce him to advance, I do not believe anything will during the present winter. Should the Army of the Potomac be attacked, I would be at once prepared to reenforce it with my present volunteer force, increased by General Loring's. After repulsing the enemy at Manassas, let the troops that marched on Romney return to the Valley and move