HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF WESTERN VIRGINIA,
Dublin, April 30, 1864.

Brigadier-General IMBODEN,

Mount Crawford, Va.:

GENERAL: I believe Major Poor, engineer of this department, by my direction has seen and conferred with you, but for certainty I send a few lines.

I observe that by authority from the War Department you are organizing the reserve forces in Allegheny, Botetourt, and certain other counties. I have had a work completed at the railroad bridge over the Cow Pasture, and have ordered another at the railroad bridge over New River, and rifle-pits at Island Ford. These latter should be done very soon. By this time I think the road through McGraw's Gap has been destroyed. Colonel Jackson's command is the only one I can rely on for sudden service in that region. He has been directed to look to the approaches to these points. I presume you will have the reserve forces of Allegheny, Botetourt, Rockbridge, &c., ready to occupy these positions if necessary.

I am, general, respectfully and truly,

JNO. C. BRECKINRIDGE,

Major-General.

Abstract from return of the Army of Western Virginia, Major General John C. Breckinridge, C. S. Army, commanding, for the mouth of April, 1864.

Present for

duty.

Command. Offi Men Effect Aggreg Aggrega

cers ive ate te

total presen present

presen t and

t absent

General staff 21 --- --- 21 21

Infantry:

Echol's brigade a 107 1,339 1,339 1,615 2,182

McCausland's brigade b 99 1,548 1,548 1,774 2,257

Wharton's brigade c --- --- --- --- ---

45th Virginia Regiment 42 749 749 840 971

Bosang's company --- 41 39 48 96

Total infantry 248 3,677 3,675 4,277 5,506

Cavalry:

Jackson's brigade d 89 810 810 1,010 1,994

Jenkins' brigade 115 1,315 1,332 1,616 3,008

(collecting) e

37th Virginia 4 67 67 71 99

Battalion, Company H

Total cavalry 208 2,192 2,209 2,697 5,101

Artillery (seven 30 642 597 675 822

batteries)

Engineer troops (one 3 57 57 61 73

company)

Grand total 510 6,568 6,538 7,731 11,523

a Three companies (aggregate 229) on detached service omitted from brigade return.

b Three officers and 33 men prisoners of war.

c Just reported, and being on the move, have not yet forwarded return.

d Six officers and 200 men prisoners of war. Forty-seventh Virginia Battalion (aggregate 315) not reported.

e One officer and 66 men prisoners of war.