You are finally able to carefully draw in you command to the south eastern approaches to Staunton mid morning on the 16th June, avoiding detection by the yanks, deploying your regiments along the crest line of the Fisherville ridge.
You are confronted by an unexpected sight, Yankee wagons rolling north followed first by one infantry brigade and then later in the day by a second. Late afternoon you see some of the artillery pulling out.
At nightfall there are many campfires to be seen but significant levels of activity remain in and around Staunton, after dark Capt. Wellinton J. Finch leads a scouting party down to the town and returns with more news.
"General, Sir, looks like the yanks have done skiddadled, there’s plenty of campfires down there but not more than a handful of blue-belly stragglers to be seen. One strange thing is that there’s not much in the way of supplies left behind, usually them blue-bellies leave all sorts lying around.”
Gen’l BeckinridgeAs planned you march from Waynesboro to Staunton, arriving there after nightfall, nothing eventful happens on the way.
As planned you march from Lynchburg to Waynesboro, placing the artillery destined for Beckinridge’s corp at the lead of your column, to facilitate it’s rapid deployment when convenient, you arrive early evening on the 16th.
Information has come in from local sympathisers at Cross Keys that General Crook is located there, he has a strong division of 3 brigades but no artillery with him. Additionally a cavalry brigade was in the area on the 14th June.
Information has come in from local sympathisers at Jennings Gap, this indicates that there is a Yankee Corps based at McDowell under general John Kelley, 6 infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade and supporting artillery. These guys are mostly westerners and traitorous Virginians that have sided with the yanks.
