Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia,
June 15, 1863—8.30 p.m.
Lieut. Gen. James Longstreet, Commanding &c.:
General: A dispatch from Ewell, dated 5 a. m. to-day, states that Early’s division stormed the enemy’s works at Winchester, capturing their cannon, &c., with little loss on our side. He was pushing on. I have as yet received no particulars.
I have been waiting for the arrival of Stuart, or of information from him, but as yet have received none. If anything, of importance is received, I will write again. Should nothing render it inadvisable within your knowledge, I wish you would advance Hood on the road by Barbee’s Cross-Roads, &c., to Markham, as arranged today. Your reserve artillery, trains, &c., may be sent, if you think proper, by Chester Gap. Let McLaws and Pickett follow you as rapidly as they can, and should the roads or other circumstances make it advantageous that they should proceed by Front Royal, give them the proper directions accordingly. You can threaten as much as you please an attack upon the enemy’s right flank, so as to throw them back upon the Potomac, but advance as rapidly as you can with propriety. Anderson encamped this evening 2 miles this side of Germanna, and will pass beyond this place to-morrow evening. Heth left Fredericksburg to-day. Hill wrote that Pender was ready, and would move as soon as he heard from his scouts that he had sent north of the Rappahannock. As far as heard from, the enemy had all gone.
I am, &c.,
R. E. Lee
General
Source: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Vol. 27, Part 3, p. 890
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2016 June 14
