Via Hanover Court-House VA.,
August 5, 1862
General Lee:
Struck the enemy’s line of march at this place, Massaponax Church, and Lee’s brigade is charging his baggage train in both directions, capturing wagons and prisoners, who are thronging already my presence.
Two brigades (Hatch and Gibbon), 6,000 men, [and] twelve pieces of artillery, have gone toward Richmond on Telegraph road; encamped at Gerald’s Mill, 12 miles from Fredericksburg, last night. Prisoners say Burnside is at Fredericksburg, with 16,000 men, to follow on same route. One brigade went up by Spotsylvania Court-House last night. These facts are all corroborated by individuals separately questioned. Yankees say Hanover Court-House is their destination. I think Verdon and the Junction. Colonel Drake is in front of the enemy with First Virginia Cavalry, with one howitzer. He will delay their march. I will not trust my course to paper. I send this to Hanover Court-House to be telegraphed to Jackson and yourself. The Ninth Virginia Cavalry, in advance yesterday, caught 11 Yankees near Port Royal. The First Virginia Cavalry caught 4 and wounded several while repulsing the enemy’s cavalry in front. I will watch the enemy.
J. E. B. Stuart
Major-General
Source: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Vol. 12, Part 3, pp. 924-925
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2016 July 19
