June 13, 1862 (Friday): The True Rule for Cavalry

Brig. General Thomas T. Munford

NEAR MOUNT MERIDIAN, June 13, 1862.
[Colonel T. T. MUNFORD]:

    COLONEL: It is important to cut off all communications between us and the enemy. Please require the ambulances to go beyond our lines at once and press our lines forward as far as practicable. It is very desirable that we should have New Market and that no information should pass to the enemy.
    I expect soon to let you have two companies of cavalry from the Army of the Northwest.
I will not be able to leave here to-day, and probably not for some time, so you must look out for the safety of your train. Please impress the bearers of the flag of truce as much as possible with an idea of a heavy advance on our part, and let them return under such impression. Whilst it is desirable for us to have New Market, yet you must judge of the practicability. The only true rule for cavalry is to follow as long as the enemy retreats; beyond that of course you can, under present circumstances, do little or nothing, but every mile that you advance will probably give you additional prisoners, and especially so as far as New Market, where you will get command of the roads from Keezeltown and Columbia Bridge. I congratulate you upon your continued success.
     Respectfully, your obedient servant,


T. J. JACKSON,
Major-General.

Press our lines as far as you otherwise would have done before the flag of truce is permitted to pass them.

T. J. J.

Jackson was justifiably intent on keeping the enemy unaware of his plans.  Here he instructs Munford, temporarily in charge of his cavalry, to put as much distance between his lines and the enemy as possible and to mislead any Union officers coming into his lines under a flag of truce as to his intentions, assuming as threatening a posture as possible.