HDQRS. ADVANCED FORCES, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Fairfax Court-House, Va., July 15, 1861.
Col. THOMAS JORDAN,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General:
SIR: The enemy send out large bodies of scouts, so that it becomes more and more difficult to get news of his approach and of the strength of his advancing forces. In view of the fact that the enemy will probably advance in large force, and of the further fact that I must retire by Germantown by a road which is directly along my line of battle, I respectfully inquire whether I shall fall back to Centreville on receiving reliable information of his advance, or shall I first engage him to test his strength? If I engage him I will scarcely, then, be able to know his force till his column from Falls Church by Flint Hill shall be so far advanced as to endanger the safe retirement of Williams’ and Kershaw’s regiments and Kemper’s battery. I do not propose to move till the enemy come, but I would be glad to have explicit instructions as to whether I shall wait to engage him or not when I find him moving on the three approaches to Fairfax Court-House and Germantown.
I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
M. L. BONHAM,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.
P. S.—I have this moment heard from a citizen near Accotink that the enemy have moved down three regiments to Dogue Run, on the Telegraph road. Two miles lower on the same road they had a force of 300 on yesterday morning, a few of whom went down as far as Accotink, as it is said.
M. L. B.
Sources
The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Series I, Vol. LI, Part II. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1897.
Spirit of '61 