December 31, 1863 (Wednesday): Defending the B&O

Camden Station-Baltimore, Maryland

CAMDEN STATION, Baltimore, Md., December 31, 1863.

Major General H. E. HALLECK, General-in-Chief, and
Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War:
     General Sullivan has information that the enemy is at Winchester, under command of Early, and General Averell advise us to keep our rolling stock in hand to move if necessary. I trust the forces that can be concentrated will be sufficient to prevent the enemy destroying our communications. I know your interest in doing all that is possible for the protection of this important line.


     J. W. GARRETT,
     President Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.


WAR DEPARTMENT, December 31, 1863-3.45 p.m.
JOHN W. GARRETT, Esq.,
Baltimore:
       Please have your trains, &c., in readiness for rapid movement of troops from Washington and Baltimore west, if necessity should require. Suspend everything that may interfere with his object within the next twelve hours.


       EDWIN M. STANTON,
       Secretary of War.

Official Records, Series I., Vol. 29, Part 2, Page 591.

Early had been sent to the Valley to stop the advance of Averell.  Now the raid was over, Early's force (which the Union command overestimated in size) was perceived as a threat to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the key link between Washington and western Pennsylvania and Ohio.