April 12, 1862 (Friday): Jackson Brings Up Ewell

General Richard S. Ewell

HEADQUARTERS VALLEY DISTRICT,
Near New Market, April 12, 1862-9.15 p. m.

Major General R. S. EWELL,
Commanding Potomac District:
    MY DEAR GENERAL: The enemy have advanced in force to Mount Jackson. I am falling back via Harrisonburg to Swift Run Gap. Please move early to-morrow morning to Swift Run Gap. I will send Lieutenant Meade to guide you; he will proceed via the Gap in the direction of the Rapidan. I hope that you will not make a forced marched, as it desirable that your command should come up in the best possible condition.
    Very truly, yours,



T. J. JACKSON,
Major-General.

[Indorsement.]
Received between 7.30 and 8.30 on the 18th April, 1862.
G. CAMPBELL BROWN,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

Official Records, Series I., Vol. 12, Part 3, Page 846.

Here Stonewall Jackson, despite his penchant for secrecy is clear in his intentions and instructions to Ewell.   At this stage of the Valley Campaign his force is hardly in sufficient strength to challenge the Federals, but by combining with Ewell at the right moment he has a chance to strike a blow.  His position in the Gap is a good defensive one, but because of supply issues the gaps cannot long be maintained.  Poor Meade, who brought the rather late arriving letter, arrived with the message just before another staff officer (Henry Kyd Douglas) brought the same message.  According to Campbell Brown (A staff officer under Ewell whose mother Ewell would marry), Meade arrived looking a bit used up.  Perhaps because of his slowness, Meade soon found himself (in July) as an aide-de-camp to Taliaferro.  He served on various staffs throughout the war, according to Robert E. L. Krick's "Staff Officers In Gray."