,
"Jefferson Davis."
After General Jackson commenced his march, the cold became unexpectedly
severe, and, as he ascended into the mountainous region, the slopes were
covered with ice, which impeded his progress, the more because his
horses were smooth-shod; but his tenacity of purpose, fidelity, and
daring, too well known to need commendation, triumphed over every
obstacle, and he attained his object, drove the enemy from Romney and
its surroundings, took possession of the place, and prevented the
threatened concentration. Having accomplished this purpose, and being
assured that the enemy had abandoned that section of country, he
returned with his old brigade to the Valley of the Shenandoah, leaving
the balance of his command at Romney. General Loring, the senior officer
there present, and many others of the command so left, appealed to the
War Department to be withdrawn. Their arguments were, as well as I
remember, these: that the troops, being from the South, were
unaccustomed to, and unprepared for, the rigors of a mountain winter;
that they were strangers to the people of that section; that the
position had no military strength, and, at the approach of spring, would
be accessible to the enemy by roads leading from various quarters.
After some preliminary action, an order was issued from the War Office
directing the troops to retire to the Valley. As that order has been the
subject of no little complaint, both by civil and military
functionaries, my letter to the General commanding the department, in
explanation of the act of the Secretary of War, is hereto annexed:
"Richmond, Virginia, _February_ 14, 1862.
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