Glen Alpine Bedford

                                                                        Va. Near Forest Depot V & T. R. R.

                                                                                    March 18^th 1866

Genl R. E. Lee

                        My dear Sir

                                                                        I have heard that you were writing your recollections of the War?  I beg that you will excuse one for asking your attention to a mistake in one of your reports?  Genl Stuart promised to give you the information but those things were lost sight of during the struggle!  I refer to a cavalry fight my Brigade had at Aldie in Loudon Co Va (In June 11^th 1863) I think, I have not your report before me, but I remember to have seen it.  I have frequently had it mentioned to me, since by officers of the Brigade.  In your report you say “Genl Stuart punished the enemy with heavy loss,” (or words to that effect) – but that the next day, Kilpatricks Corps  supported by two Div: of Infantry drove him through Middleburg etc etc.

            The facts are these, Genl Fitzhugh Lee, was quite sick & Genl Stuart ordered me to move from Paris to Aldie with the 2n & 3d Regiments of Va Cav, with instructions to go into camp near that place: & to Picket the road in my front & left, - and in the event of a demonstration on the part of the enemy, to cover Snickers Gap Road; - He sent Wickhams, Rossiers & Carters Regts, & Britheads old battery to report to me later, - They came to me just as the Picket was ran on by the enemy; I took up in a position on the west end of the town and resisted every effort of Kilpatricks Corps to dislodge me.

            Brithead silenced their guns, and every charge they made was repulsed & counter charged by the 3d, 2n, 5t & a part of the 4t regiments.  I held the field until dark when I was ordered away (through Lt Frank Robinson of Genl Sturats Staff).  Col Doughty 4t Main Cav was killed, (Cmdg his Brigade) Col “De As Nola” was captured cmdg his Brigade.  One hundred & sixty-eight prisoners & one hundered & thirty seven horses were captured - & I sent to the rear, they left between 30 & 40 dead & I moved all my dead & wounded when I retired-

            Genl Stuart dined with Genl Asa Rodgers in Middleburg & never saw the fight – Genl Robertsons Brigade was held in Middleburg picketing the Warrenton Road & Genl Stuart escaped from Genl Rodgers with difficulty the Zouhaves (?) having suddenly --?—Genl Robertsons Command out – This was the best fight I ever saw the Brigade make except perhaps the one at Kelly’s Ford. – My loss was small, theirs was very heavy, from their own papers we afterwards captured.

            It is all over with – as now, and of course can affect no one but it will be gratifying to my friends & little ones for me to get the credit, for a fairly won fight, when no one else can suffer by it.  And I am sure it will give you pleasure to correct the mistake.  I am well aware of the difficulties attending your reports, as they were based to a certain extent upon the reports of subalterns.  I am entirely responsible for the accuracy of this report.

            With my best wishes for your self and family, I am with highest respect – Yr obt svt

                                                                        Thomas T. Mumford