At this time Floyd and Wise were actively operating in the Kanawha
country, confronting Rosecrans, who was commanding there in person,
their special purpose then being to prevent reinforcements going
to Reynolds, upon whom the heavy blow was to fall; Lee in person
directing it.

Lee was accompanied to Valley Mountain by two aides-de-camp, Colonels
John A. Washington and Walter H. Taylor.

General Loring, who retained the immediate command on this line,
had the 1st North Carolina and 2d Tennessee, under General Donnelson;
a Tennessee brigade, under General Anderson; the 21st and 42d
Virginia and an Irish Virginia regiment, under Colonel Wm. Gilham;
a brigade under Colonel Burke; a battalion of cavalry under Major
W. H. F. Lee; three batteries of artillery, and perhaps other
troops. On the Staunton pike at Greenbriar River, about twelve
miles in front of Kimball's camp on Cheat Mountain, General Jackson
had the 1st and 2d Georgia, 23d, 31st, 37th, and 44th Virginia,
the 3d Arkansas, and two battalions of Virginia volunteers; also
two batteries of artillery and several companies of cavalry.

Though conscious of superior strength, Lee sought still further to
insure success by grand strategy, hence he caused Loring to issue
a confidential order detailing a plan of attack, which is so
remarkable in its complex details that it is given here.

"(_Confidential_.)

"Headquarters, Valley Mountain,
"September 8, 1861.
"(Special Order No. 28.)
"1. General H. R. Jackson, commanding Monterey division will detach
a column of not more than two thousand men under Colonel Rust, to
turn the enemy's position at Cheat Mountain Pass ('summit') at
daylight on the 12th inst. (Thursday). General Jackson, having
left a suitable guard for his own position, with the rest of his
available force, will take post on the Eastern Ridge of Cheat
Mountain, occupy the enemy in front, and co-operate in the assault
of his attacking column, should circumstances favor. The march of
Colonel Rust will be so regulated as to attain his position during
the same night, and at the dawn of the appointed day (Thursday,
12th) he will, if possible, surprise the enemy in his trenches and
carry them.

"2. The 'Pass' having been carried, General Jackson with his whole
fighting force will immediately move forward towards Huttonville,
prepared against an attack from the enemy, taking every precaution
against firing upon the portion of the army operating