Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 9.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[647] from my own personal knowledge of all the facts stated. I neglected to state that whilst consulting with General Toombs in the morning, a courier brought to me news of the attack on the hill, and a request to the General from one of his officers there for reenforcements. I beg to call your attention to the very efficient manner in which Colonel Baker maintained his picket line, and to the timely information he furnished us as to the movements of the enemy. This information was always promptly communicated by Lieutenant Early, and these officers both proved themselves watchful and energetic. The report of Lieutenant-Colonel McGruder has not yet been sent in, though it has been called for. It shall be forwarded you as soon as it reaches me. Since the infantry have been withdrawn from the picket line, the enemy have made constant demonstration against me. These have always been promptly met, and our lines have been maintained. Of course the position cannot be held by cavalry alone against a serious attack; but orders have been given to hold it as long as possible.

I incline to the belief that the enemy are withdrawing, and I strongly recommend a forced reconnoissance with infantry, artillery, and cavalry. This is entirely practicable. Referring you for details to the accompanying reports,

I have the honor to be,

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant

General: The enclosed report of General R. E. Lee, in reference to the late advance of the enemy on Martinsburg, has just met my eye, and I beg most respectfully to call your attention, and, through you, that of the General commanding, to the injustice which (unintentionally, no doubt) has been done to the brigade I have the honor to command. The report says: “General Hampton's brigade had retired through Martinsburg on the Tuscarora road, when General Stuart arrived and made disposition to attack.” This phraseology implies that the enemy had advanced on Martinsburg through my lines, and had driven in my brigade. The following statement will show that such was not the case. As you are aware, my line extended on the Potomac from Black Creek to the mouth of the Opequon. When General Lee joined me, upon consultation with Colonel Lee, (who was in command of the brigade the day before the advance of the enemy,) he said that if his pickets were driven in, he would make a stand at Williamston's cross-roads, and, if forced to retire, would fall back to the Stone Bridge, which he would hold to the last extremity. On the morning of the first October, a courier from Colonel Lee informed me that the enemy were advancing on him, and, soon after, another courier notified me that Colonel Lee had fallen back to the cross-roads. Expecting an attack upon my own picket line, I ordered my brigade to be ready to move, and I sent a few men from the provost guard toward the stone bridge to procure information of the movements of the enemy. In a short time they returned, and, to my great surprise informed me that the enemy had crossed the bridge; and in a few moments they appeared between me and the town, not more than six hundred yards from the latter. This forced me to recall my squadron, and to send the gun into town, the only position in which it was available. Placing my guns in position here, I ordered my wagons to go by the Romney road (as I had agreed with Colonel Lee to do) to Darksville. The First North Carolina, with two guns, was sent as an escort for the wagons, and to hold the Winchester road, where the cross-road intersected it, in case I should have to fall back. After my wagons had all got off, and messages had been sent to bring in my pickets, (all of whom had to retire by Hedgesville, as the enemy had got completely in their rear,) I withdrew my two remaining guns from the town, as I was very unwilling to draw the fire of the enemy upon the village, and placed them in position on a hill commanding both the Winchester and Tuscarora and Romney roads, and between the two. All of the brigade, except the First North Carolina regiment and the squadrons on picket, was drawn up as a support to their guns on the Tuscarora road, in advance of the camp of the North Carolina and South Carolina regiments. From this position I wrote to Colonel Lee, telling him that we could retake the town; and the letter was given to one of his pickets, who failed to send it to the Colonel. As soon as I found the enemy retiring, I ordered up my command before receiving any order from yourself. My brigade went with Lee's to Flag's Mill, and were then sent to reestablish their picket line, while a section of my artillery proceeded to within two miles of Shepherdstown, the last position from which Lee's artillery fired that night. This is a full statement of this affair as far as my brigade was concerned, and I beg to refer you to Colonel Lee, who will, I am sure, corroborate the facts as far as they relate to his brigade. I do not attach any blame to him that the positions he had designated to hold were not held, nor that his pickets did not give me any notice of the approach of the enemy. I simply state the facts that none of my pickets were driven in; that the enemy did not advance on any road under my supervision; and that they were within six hundred yards of the edge of the town, on the Shepherdstown road, before I was aware of their proximity. I then took position in front of my camp, and held it till my pickets were withdrawn. In justice to my brigade, I beg that you will transmit this statement to the General commanding. I did not make a report to you, because, though I had been placed in a most critical position by the failure of Colonel Lee's pickets to communicate with me, still I met with no loss, and I did not desire to appear