[Indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
October 23, 1863.

Respectfully forwarded and recommended; but I fear that as soon as the order is issued it will give rise to a report of an advance by the enemy, and the operation of the order be again suspended.

R. E. LEE,

General.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF WESTERN VA. AND EAST TENN.,
Dublin, October 25, 1863.

Major General R. RANSOM, Jr.,

Abingdon:

Send the Sixtieth Regiment Virginia Infantry to Wytheville without delay. I would like it to start at night so as to attract as little attention as possible. A force of cavalry with three pieces of artillery is moving from below Charleston on the Kanawha toward Logan Court-House; will probably strike at the railroad or salt-works.

SAM. JONES,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WESTERN VIRGINIA,
Dublin, October 25, 1863.

Colonel W. H. BROWNE,

Commanding, &c.:

A large body of the enemy's cavalry are reported passing up Coa. River toward Wyoming Court-House, with three pieces of artilleryl It is supposed they are moving to Logan Court-House after Colonel Beckley, and thence into Tazewell, or else to the rear of Colonel McCausland. The commanding-general directs you to have your forces read for any movement that circumstnaces may require, and to forward the inclosed dispatch* to Colonel Bowen without delay.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

CHAS. J. STRINGFELLOW,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

(Copy of above sent to Major-General Ransom and Colonel H. S. Bowen.)

DUBLIN, October 25, 1863.

Colonel W. H. FRENCH,

Commanding, &c.:

COLONEL: The major-general commanding directs you to proceed with your command to Abb's Valley without delay, to repel a reported advance of the enemy. You will go by the shortest route, and report your move to Colonel McCausland immediately. He further instructs me to say that he has receied information of many depredations having been committed by your men between Crab

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*Not found.

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51 R R-VOL XXIX, PT II