to Middle Mountain. Fitzhugh [Major W. H. F. Lee--General Lee's second
son] with his squadron is between that point and this. I have not seen
him. I understand he is well. South of here again is another column
of our enemies, making their way up the Kanawha Valley, and, from
General Wise's report, are not far from Lewisburgh. Their object seems
to be to get possession of the Virginia Central Railroad and the
Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. By the first they can approach
Richmond; by the last interrupt our reinforcements from the South.
The points from which we can be attacked are numerous, and their means
are unlimited. So we must always be on the alert. My uneasiness on
these points brought me out here. It is so difficult to get our
people, unaccustomed to the necessities of war, to comprehend and
promptly execute the measures required for the occasion. General
Jackson of Georgia commands on the Monterey line, General Loring on
this line, and General Wise, supported by General Floyd, on the Kanawha
line. The soldiers everywhere are sick. The measles are prevalent
throughout the whole army, and you know that disease leaves unpleasant
results, attacks on the lungs, typhoid, etc., especially in camp, where
accommodations for the sick are poor. I travelled from Staunton on
horseback. A part of the road, as far as Buffalo Gap, I passed over
in the summer of 1840, on my return to St. Louis, after bringing you
home. If any one had then told me that the next time I travelled
that road would have been on my present errand, I should have supposed
him insane. I enjoyed the mountains, as I rode along. The views are
magnificent--the valleys so beautiful, the scenery so peaceful.
What a glorious world Almighty God has given us. How thankless and
ungrateful we are, and how we labour to mar his gifts. I hope you
received my letters from Richmond. Give love to daughter and Mildred.
I did not see Rob as I passed through Charlottesville. He was at
the University and I could not stop."