HEADQUARTERS, February
18, 1864.
President Confederate States, Richmond.
MR. PRESIDENT: I have received the dispatch forwarded to me
today from General Longstreet requesting 10,000 men to insure the capture of
Knoxville. I have no information of the practicability of the plan. I think it
may be assumed that its defenses are stronger now than when it was last
attacked, and an attempt to capture it by assault would not only be hazardous,
but attended with great loss of life. To reduce it by approaches would require
time, and, it seems to me at this distance, render necessary an army sufficient
to defeat a relieving force that, now the railroad to Chattanooga has been
opened, could be quickly sent from Grant's troops. If a movement could be made
to cut off supplies from Knoxville, it would draw out the garrison; and this
appears to me the wiser course. Could supplies be sent if troops were? For
without the former the latter would be unavailing. I wrote today to the
Secretary of War suggesting that Pickett's division be sent to him in the
spring, and that a brigade of Buckner's now at Dalton be returned to its
division at once. . . .
I am, with great
respect, your obedient servant,
R. E. LEE,
General.
SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of
Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 326
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