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and taking all things into consideration, he cannot perceive how it can by any possibility be carried into effect.
You will doubtless learn, before this reaches you, that the enemy has again assembled in force on the peninsula, estimated between 20,000 to 30,000 men, from 6,000 to 10,000 of whom are reported to be in the vicinity of the
White House, the remainder at
Yorktown.
It is impossible to say whether this estimated number is correct, as the several accounts vary, and are not deemed altogether reliable.
But the estimate, making due allowances for errors, is quite near enough to satisfy even the most incredulous that the enemy is in the vicinity in sufficient force in cavalry, artillery and infantry, to do much harm, whether his purpose be to make a demonstration on
Richmond, or to confine himself to raids in breaking up your communication and devastating the country.
His efforts in the last case may prove more successful than the first, if we may judge by what took place at
Hanover only two days ago, where about 1000 or 1200 of his cavalry suddenly appeared there, and did some execution in breaking the railroad to some extent, and in burning a bridge, some buildings, public stores, etc. It is unfortunate that this raid took place only about two days after
General Corse's brigade had left there for
Gordonsville.
Had it remained at
Hanover Junction, it is reasonable to suppose that most of the enemy's cavalry would have been either destroyed or captured, and the property saved from injury.
Every effort is being made here to be prepared for the enemy at all points, but we must look chiefly to the protection of the capital; in doing this we may be obliged to hazard something at other points.
You can easily estimate our strength here, and I would suggest for your consideration, whether in this state of things you might not be able to spare a portion of your force to protect your line of communication against attempted raids by the enemy.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
