| Headquarters Virginia Forces |
| Richmond, Va. |
| June 1, 1861 |
| |
| General Joseph E. Johnston |
| Commanding, &c.
|
| Harper's Ferry, Va.
|
|
|
| General,
|
| In answer to your
letter of the 31st ultimo. ***** With this re-enforcement, and such
as you may be able to obtain from the valley, you may probably hold
your position and prevent the passage of the Potomac by hostile
troops until further troops can reach you. ***** Should you,
however, be opposed by a force too large to resist, I can only
repeat what is contained in my letter of this morning, viz, destroy
everything that cannot be removed which may be of advantage to the
enemy. Deprive them of the use of the railroad, take the field,
and endeavor to arrest their advance up the valley.
|
| I
am, general, with great respect, your obedient servant,
|
| R. E. Lee
|
| General, Commanding
|
|