Headquarters Virginia Forces
| Richmond, Va., May 19, 1861 |
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| Lieut. Col. George H. Terrett |
| Commanding at Alexandria, Va. |
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Colonel,
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| Major-General Lee instructs me to
acknowledge the receipt of your letter of May 16. It is very
important to secure the rolling stock of the Loudoun and Hampshire {Alexandria,
Loudoun & Hampshire} Railroad, but
General Lee thinks it would be quite as much exposed to seizure by
the enemy at any point on that road near Alexandria as in the town
itself. If taken up that road for safety, it should be taken to
Leesburg or its vicinity. General Lee thinks it would be better (if
practicable) to obtain the cooperation of the Alexandria, Loudoun
& Hampshire and the Alexandria and Orange {Orange
& Alexandria} Railroad Companies in
the construction of a temporary track connecting the two roads, to
run the cars of the Loudoun and Hampshire Road out on the track of
the Orange & Alexandria Road at night, as a precautionary measure.
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| I am, etc.
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| Jno. A. Washington |
| Aide-de-Camp |
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