NOTES OF INTRODUCTION.
At Gordonsville I left the train in order to send the foregoing dispatches to Major Dabney, who at that time was Jackson's chief of staff, and who, by the general's order, had remained behind at Charlottesville, the rest of the staff, with the exception of Colonel Jackson, the general's cousin, and myself, having been sent on duty at other points along the line of march from the Valley. In consequence of a groundless rumor which met us at Gordonsville, that the enemy was approaching that place from the Rappahannock, Jackson himself stopped there with a part of Lawton's Brigade until the following evening, and on the morning of the 20th, Friday, he gave me the following orders, as I find them entered in my note book from his dictation, viz:
June 20, 1862. Go to Charlottesville, see the superintendent Central Railroad, Mr. Whitcomb, and have the troops forwarded in the following order, to-wit:
1. General Whiting's Division.
2. Remaining part of Lawton's Brigade—to stop at Gordonsville.
3. Jackson's Brigade—Martin, Taliaferro, Fulkerson, etc.
4. General Winder's Brigade.
All the above troops except Lawton's to proceed to Louisa Courthouse.
The troops coming on foot will continue marching until the cars are ready to take them up at the nearest depot.
Wagons of the troops gone by the cars will march in their proper place until those in front have gone into camp; then, taking advantage of the night, they will proceed.
The troops to march so as not to be distressed, say some fifteen miles per day.
Note. The general requests that the cars continue to run constantly and carefully until tomorrow midnight, as he does not wish them to run on Sunday.
Mem. Inquire of Mr. Whitcomb the capacity of the cars.
