June 11, 1862 (Wednesday): Lee's Plan Comes Together

Dabb's House  http://www.co.henrico.va.us/rec/recreation-centers-facilities/dabbs-house-museum.html

HEADQUARTERS,
Near Richmond, Va., June 11, 1862.

Brigadier General THOMAS J. JACKSON,
Commanding Valley District:
    GENERAL: Your recent successes have been the cause of the liveliest joy in this army as well as in the country. The admiration excited by your skill and boldness has been constantly mingled with solicitude for your situation. The practicability of re-enforcing you has been the subject of earnest consideration. It has been determined to do so at the expense of weakening this army. Brigadier-General Lawton with six regiments from Georgia is on the way to you, and Brigadier-General Whiting with eight veteran regiments leaves here to-day. The object is to enable you to crush the forces opposed to you. Leave your enfeebled troops to watch the country and guard the passes covered by your cavalry and artillery, and with your main body, including Ewell's division and Lawton's and Whiting's commands, move rapidly to Ashland by rail or otherwise, as you may find most advantageous, and sweep down between the Chickahominy and Pamunkey, cutting up the enemy's communications, &c., while this army attacks General McClellan in front.   
    He will thus, I think, be forced to come out of his intrenchments, where he is strongly posted on the Chickahominy, and apparently preparing to move by gradual approaches on Richmond. Keep me advised of your movements, and, if practicable, precede your troops, that we may confer and arrange for simultaneous attack.
    I am, with, great respect, your obedient servant,


R. E. LEE,
General.

HEADQUARTERS,
Dabb's House, Va., June 11, 1862.
Honorable GEORGE W. RANDOLPH,
Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.:
    SIR: It is very desirable and important that the acquisition of troops to the command of Major General T. J. Jackson should be kept secret. With this view I have the honor to request that you will use your influence with the Richmond newspapers to prevent any mention of the same in the public prints.
     I am, most respectfully, your obedient servant,


R. E. LEE,
General.

HEADQUARTERS,
Dabb's Farm, Va., June 11, 1862.
Brigadier General J. E. B. STUART,
Commanding Cavalry:
    GENERAL: Your are desired to make a secret movement to the rear of the enemy, now posted on Chickahominy, with a view of gaining intelligence of his operations, communications, &c.; of driving in his foraging parties, and securing such grain, cattle, &c., for ourselves as you can make arrangements to have driven in. Another object is to destroy his wagon trains, said to be daily passing from the Piping Tree road to his camp on the Chickahominy. The utmost vigilance on your part will be necessary to prevent any surprise to yourself, and the greatest caution must be practiced in keeping well in your front and flanks reliable scouts to give you information.
    You will return as son as the object of your expedition is accomplished, and you must bear constantly in mind, while endeavoring to execute the general purpose of your mission, not to hazard unnecessarily your command or to attempt what you judgment may not approve; but be content to accomplish all the good you can without feeling it necessary to obtain all that might be desired.
    I recommend that you only take such men and horses as can stand the expedition, and that you take every means in your power to save and cherish those you do take. You must leave sufficient cavalry here for the service of this army, and remember that one of the chief objects of your expedition is to gain intelligence for the guidance of future operations.
    Information received last evening, the points of which I sent you, lead me to infer that there is a stronger force on the enemy's right than was previously reported. A large body of infantry, as well as cavalry, was reported near the Central Railroad. Should you find upon investigation that the enemy is moving to his right, or is so strongly posted as to render your expedition inopportune-as its success, in my opinion, depends upon its secrecy-you will, after gaining all the information you can, resume your former position.
    I am, with great respect, your obedient servant,


R. E. LEE,
General.

Official Records, Series I., Vol. 11, Part 3, Page 591.

Lee had fixed in his mind the basic problem in front of him and a solution (to reinforce Jackson for a hammer blow on the reinforced Union right wing.  To validate his thinking he would use Stuart's reconnaissance (the famous "ride around McClellan").  In all these movements secrecy and rapidity were greatly desired.  It is interesting, in light of what would happen 13 months later in the Gettysburg Campaign, to see how careful Lee is to ensure Stuart understands the need to take care not to allow opportunity to blind him to risk or remove him an awareness of the underlying objective of the endeavor.
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