| Headquarters Virginia Forces |
| Richmond, Va. June 7, 1861 |
| |
| General Joseph E. Johnston |
| Commanding &c. |
| Harper's Ferry, Va. |
| |
| General, |
| I have had the honor to receive your
letter of the 6th instant. 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 our 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. He does not think it probable that
there will be an immediate attack by troops from Ohio. |
| General R. S. Garnett, C. S. Army, with
a command of four thousand men, has been directed to Beverly, to
arrest the progress of troops towards the Shenandoah Valley. Col.
Angus W. McDonald has also been sent to interrupt the passage of
troops over the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. It is hoped by these means
that you will be relieved from an attack in that direction, and will
have merely to resist an attack in front from Pennsylvania. |
| **** |
| I am, general, &c. |
| R. E. Lee |
| General, Commanding |
|