12/11 War Dept to S Jones-I have today caused to be telegraphed to you a telegram, just received from Gen Lee, informing us of the attempted advance of the enemy in force across the Rappahannock, and likewise of the movements of their forces in the valley and Northwestern Va. A copy* of that telegram is enclosed, and should any others be received before this letter is mailed, copies of such will likewise be sent. From them and your own sources of information you will have further elements of decision in regard to the desire expressed by the Dept on yesterday that, if deemed by you safe, you would either dispatch from you command two regts to re-enforce Gen Smith's command here or hold them on the RR in preparation to be forwarded if called for by telegram.
After writing you on yesterday, I addressed, to avoid the loss of time, direct to Gen Marshall, a letter substantially of like import with the letter to you, directing if in his opinion consistent with the safety of his force, that two Va regts with him should likewise be either forwarded here or held prepared to move if called for...
12/15 H Marshall to Sec of War- I received your telegram, requiring me to send two Va regts from my command to report for duty at Richmond City. Accordingly, I have ordered the 54th and 29th Va Regts and the 27th Bn (dismted) to move. The whole should give, rank, and file, 1,800 men, though absentees may diminish this number. If so, they shall be sent forward as soon as practicable.
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12/16 Sam Jones, Dublin Depot, W Va to Sec Seddon-Your letters of the 10th and 11th have been received. Your telegram of yesterday was received at Wytheville, where I had gone to meet and confer with Gen Marshall, and to examine the country as far as Rocky Gap.
Gen Marshall received and showed me your telegram, calling for two Regts. I immediately ordered Cols [A. C.] Moore's and [R. C] Trigg's Regts (the 29th & 54th Va Vols), and Col [H. A.] Edmundson's [27th Va] Bn, temporarily dismounted, of Gen Marshall's command, and Cols [Thomas] Poage's and McMahon's Regts, of Gen Echol's brigade, to proceed to Richmond as soon as transportation can be provided.
Trigg's Regt is at Wytheville, and transportation for it passed up this morning. I telegraphed you this morning, suggesting that you designate a Brig Gen to command the four Regts and Bn temporarily detached from this department. If the senior Col is allowed to command the whole, it will, I believe, produce much dissatisfaction.
12/20 Richmond, Sec of War orders-
XVI Gen Colston will report to Gen Elzey, cdig, &c., in this city, for duty in command of a Bgde, to be composed of the following Regts, &c.:
Colston
29 Va
50 Va
54 Va
63 Va
27 Bn Va
2/19/63 Edmundson with his Bn [27th Va Bn DC] will report to Gen Marshall