May 18, 1862 (Sunday): Jackson and Ewell Collaborate

General Richard S. Ewell

HEADQUARTERS VALLEY DISTRICT,
Mount Solon, May 18, 1862. 

Major General R. S. EWELL,
Commanding Third Division, Army of the Peninsula;
    GENERAL: Your letter of this date, in which you state that you have received letters from Generals Lee, Johnston, and myself requiring somewhat different movements, and desiring my views respecting your position, has been received. In reply I would state that as you are in the Valley District you constitute part of my command. Should you receive orders different from those sent from these headquarters, please advise me of the same at as early a period as practicable.
    You will please move your command so as to encamp between New Market and Mound Jackson on next Wednesday night, unless you receive orders from a superior officer and of a date subsequent to the 16th instant.
    I am, general, your obedient servant,


    T. J. JACKSON, 
    Major-General.

Official Records, Series I., Vol. 12, Part 3, Page 897.

Ewell was part of Magruder's "Army of the Peninsula", but his troops were important to Jackson's strategy in the Valley.  Ewell was agreeable to working with Jackson to strike a blow against Banks, but he did not have the authority to ignore orders from Johnston to move east when Shields Division moved to join McDowell.  Jackson solved the problem by asserting authority over Ewell (which he readily accepted) to buy time to appeal through Lee to Jefferson Davis and Johnston.  Ultimately, both saw the value of Ewell's troops was greater in combination with Jackson than in reinforcing Richmond.  The partnership of Ewell and Jackson was an effective one, and the ability of all parties concerned (Davis, Johnston, Lee, Jackson, and Ewell) to sort through the situation and come up with the best solution was one of those rare cases during the war when multiple command levels effectively cooperated to achieve broader objectives.