Thursday, November 8, 2012

1862 November 9 Cowin's cross roads 2.20 P.M.

[from the dispatch book of General Alfred  Pleasonton]

Hd. Qrs. Cav: Division
Amissville, Nov 9. 2.20 P.m

To Major General Parke
   Chief of Staff--
General--
                     An intelligent negro
has just come in from Jackson's
Army, he left it yesterday--
He says Jackson is posted
at Chester Gap with his
troops on this & the other
side of the mountain--
& cannon posted all thro' the
Gap--Gen. Ewell is within
  The balance of the Army is at
Culpepper, covering the shipping
off of the produce from this
upper country--There is two
weeks supply at Culpepper=
yet to be hauled off, &
a large quantity in the

[page 2]
valleys beyond yet to be
hauled to Culpepper- &
the rebels are terribly frightened
lest we push thro' & get their
stuff & cut them off--
   He says that these
supplies are being sent to
Charlottesville, Petersurg &
Lynchburg, & that the rebels
if cut off intend to make
their last stand in the
mountains about Lynch=
burg--He says our army
is from two to three weeks
ahead of the time the rebels
expected us--He says Jackson
is very much alarmed at our
rapid advance & expects  Lee
to come back if we attack
him--Jackson has about
40,000 men with him &

[page 3]
He further says, to cut off
their supplies we must
push a force to Woodville--
Jackson thinks we will
attack him in Chester
Gap--that if we do not
he will come in our rear
from there after we pass--
     This negro knows all
this country--has been with
Jackson from the start, as
servant to Surgeon Campbell--
I shall keep him as a guide-
  He tells the same talk about
the soldiers being tired, unclad,
& strictly guarded.--he says
many would gladly be
paroled if they could
get the chance--
   This programme
agrees with the suggestions
I submit this morning

[page 4]
My advance yesterday created
great alarm with the rebels
& they thought their com=
munication was going to
be cut off immediately--
   Last night they pushed
down five hundred wagons
to Culpepper--
         I send this by a
fast express--please acknowledge
its receipt--& send me some
note paper & envelopes for I
am nearly out--& then
my dispatches will stop
for want of a supply--
This is the most important
information we have yet received--
& I trust it is in time for
the General to turn it to good
account--

           Very respectfully
              A. Pleasonton
                   Brig. Genl.

MSS 945
              

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