Hd Qrs Cavy Corps
Sept 19 1863
General:
Major Andrews writes me that no move of importance took place on enemy’s right yesterday. Large numbers of the enemy are deserting, hiring negroes to pilot them out, mostly going towards Blue ridge & Madison CH. The outside picket of the enemy towards Madison CH from Culpeper is ¾ of a mile from Gaines Mill (30 cavalry) strong Infy picket on Sperryville pike 2 miles below Griffinsburg yesterday, and all the moving seems to be toward Culpeper. There were yesterday still large encampments on the sherryville pike. They (the enemy) say they intend to throw a large force to Madison CH to divert Lee’s front.” A regt of cavalry was scouting towards James city this morning.
I think the Fredericksburg flank movement the most probable, & the battle of Chancellorsville stands a good chance to be repeated, fought on change of front somewhat. I had previously written to mosby & white1 that now was their time for operating on the R.R. & that I certainly expected them to prevent the enemy’s using it, without keeping half the army to guard it. I have a regt near Madison C.H. & will keep the country toward the Blue ridge well watched. I have directed Major Gen Lee to communicate directly to you any important intelligence concerning the enemy, and in case the enemy attempt a flank movement on Fredericksburg to do what he could to thwart & delay the enemy
Mo Respectfully
J. E. B. Stuart
MajGenl
1. John Singleton Mosby and Elijah White. White was born in 1832 in Maryland. During the war, he served in regular and irregular units, the most famous of which was his unit known as “White’s Comanches.” By the time of this letter, White was a lieutenant colonel. After the war, White moved to Loudon County, Virginia. He died in 1907.
Source: Digital scan of original letter, The Papers of Robert E. Lee, 1830-1870, University of Virginia Special Collections, Charlottesville
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2017 November 10
