Joseph Eggleston Johnston to S. Bassett French

Joseph Eggleston Johnston to S. Bassett French

Letter from Joseph Eggleston Johnston to S. Bassett French, January 29, 1862
Headquarters Department of Northern Virginia,

Centreville, January 29, 1862.

Colonel S. Bassett French,

Aide-de-camp of Governor of Virginia.

Sir: Your letter of the 25th insf., in relation to arms, the property of the Commonwealth of Virginia, not in the hands of the troops of this army, and desiring me to take measures for their return to the State authorities so far as they can be found within this Department of the Army of the Confederate States, has been duly received.

I am sorry that I can afford little information and less aid in relation to the important and interesting object of your communication.

The troops under my command have generally come into my department with arms in their hands. I had and have no means of ascertaining by whom the arms were furnished. I understand that Virginia does not wish to reclaim arms now in actual use. As arms have become disposable by the deaths or discharges of soldiers, they have been withdrawn from my control under orders of the War Department of the Confederate States. These orders have been repeatedly issued by the Department and executed by me. Of late they have gone to the length of taking the arms of the sick. When removed from the army, the arms,
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of course, passed under the direct control of the Department of War. To that Department I must refer you for the information which you seek of me.

There are no flint-lock muskets in the hands of my soldiers, nor have there been any since I assumed the command here. There were five hundred such in the depot at Manassas when I arrived here from the Valley. They were soon afterward sent to Richmond, in accordance with the general practice in such matters above specified.

Do me the favor to express to the Governor my grateful acknowledgments of his kind and patriotic message. Nothing earthly could afford me higher gratification than the fulfillment of his good wishes by the army striking a great blow for the freedom and independence of Virginia and the South.

Most respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

J. E. Johnston, General.

Colonel S. Bassett French,

Aide-de-camp to the Governor of Virginia.