The wants of other portions of
the frontier--Acquia district, for instance--make it
inexpedient, in my opinion, to transfer to the Valley district
so large a force as that asked for by Major-General Jackson. It
seems to me to be now of especial importance to strengthen
Major-General Holmes, near Acquia Creek. The force there is very
small, compared with the importance of the position. Your
obedient servant,
"J. E. Johnston, _General_.
"[Endorsement.]
"Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War:
"S. Cooper, _Adjutant and Inspector-General_.
"_November 25, 1861_."
"Richmond, Virginia, _November_ 10, 1861.
"General J. E. Johnston, _Manassas, Virginia_.
"Sir: The Secretary of War has this morning laid before me yours
of the 8th instant. I fully sympathize with your anxiety for the
Army of the Potomac. If indeed mine be less than yours, it can
only be so because the south, the west, and the east, presenting
like cause for solicitude, have in the same manner demanded my
care. Our correspondence must have assured you that I fully
concur in your view of the necessity for unity in command, and I
hope by a statement of the case to convince you that there has
been no purpose to divide your authority by transferring the
troops specified in order No. 206 from the center to the left of
your department.
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