Merritt, Wesley, 1834-1910 to unknown
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06461 Author/Creator: Merritt, Wesley, 1834-1910 Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: January 27, 1865 Pagination: 4 p. : Height: 20.8 cm, Width: 25.7 cm Order a Copy
Marked Confidential at top of first page. Addressed only to Major. Detailed instructions for a secret cavalry movement in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. "The enemy has a force of... not more than two hundred men... picketing across the valley.... The object is to capture this force.... No officer or private must know your real destination." Instructs the Major to march by way of Wardensville, continuing on to Devil's Hole and Columbia Furnace. Advises him to dispatch Major Jones to the valley pike south of Edinburg to capture the enemy there. Writes "It is very important that this picket force of the enemy should be captured or dispersed. The greatest secrecy as to the destination of yr. expedition must be used." Instructs that he is to tell the troops they are going to Romney, but they will really move from Columbia Furnace to Edinburgh.
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