This indecisive and unimportant movement has been the subject of various comment; the official reports were burned in the conflagration at Richmond, or captured, and the elaborate plans drawn up by Lee of his intended movement against General Reynolds, at Cheat Mountain, have in the same manner disappeared.

Under these circumstances, and as the present writer had no personal knowledge of the subject, it seems best to simply quote the brief statement which follows.

It is derived from an officer of high rank and character, whose statement is only second in value to that of General Lee himself: "After General Garnett's death, General Lee was sent by the President to ascertain what could be done in the trans-Alleghany region, and to endeavor to harmonize our movements, etc., in that part of the State.

He was not ordered to take command of the troops, nor did he do so, during the whole time he was there.
"Soon after his arrival he came to the decided conclusion that _that_ was not the line from which to make an offensive movement.
The country, although not hostile, was not friendly; supplies could not be obtained; the enemy had possession of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, from which, and the Ohio River as a base, he could operate with great advantage against us, and our only chance was to drive him from the railroad, take possession, and use it ourselves.

We had not the means of doing this, and consequently could only try to hold as much country as possible, and occupy as large a force of the enemy as could be kept in front of us.