General Jones, saying, "Letter referred to in your indorsement on General Imboden's letter not yet received here." As I have not recently made any indorsement on any letter from General Imboden, I conclude the telegram was intended for Brigadier General W. E. Jones. I knew nothing of what telegram referred to.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

SAM. JONES,

Major-General.

[Indorsement.]

ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, May 26, 1863.

Respectfully returned to General S. Jones, commanding Department of Western Virginia. The inclosed paper* is the one alluded to in the telegram of the 18th instant. No letter from you of the 13th has been received.

By command of the Secretary of War:

JNO. WITHERS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WESTERN VIRGINIA, Dublin, Va.,
May 27, 1863.

Respectfully returned with a copy of my letter of the 13th instant, above referred to.

SAM. JONES,

Major-General.

WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A., Richmond, May 13, 1863.

General R. E. LEE:

Your letter+ is conclusive against the suggestion made. Information believed to be reliable reports General Dix, with at least 5,000 men, landed and intrenching formidably at West Point, with what view I know not. You may better judge. Small forces only said to be left at Suffolk and Yorktown.

J. A. SEDDON,

Secretary of War.

WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A., Richmond, May 13, 1863.

General SAMUEL JONES, Dublin, Va.:

The salt-works are your especial charge, to be defended in all contingencies; how, whether by aid to East Tennessee or otherwise, your judgment can best determine. I leave with confidence the disposition of your forces to your own discretion.

J. A. SEDDON,

Secretary of War.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WESTERN VIRGINIA, Dublin, May 13, 1863.

Colonel JOHN McCAUSLAND, Princeton:

COLONEL: Brigadier-General Imboden is reported returning from the northwest, by way of Summervile, to Lewisburg, with a large train,

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*Not found.

+See Lee to Seddon, May 10, p.790.

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