(Confidential.)
HEADQUARTERS,
PETERSBURG, February 21, 1865.
HON. J. C. BRECKINRIDGE,
Sec. of War, Richmond.
SIR: I have had the honor to receive your letter of
yesterday's date. I have repeated the orders to the commanding officers to
remove and destroy everything in enemy's route. In the event of the necessity
of abandoning our position on the James River, I shall endeavor to unite the
corps of the army about Burkeville (junction of Southside and Danville
Railroad), so as to retain communication with the North and South as long as
practicable, and also with the West.
I should think Lynchburg or some point west the most
advantageous place to which to remove stores from Richmond. This, however, is a
most difficult point at this time to decide, and the place may have to be
changed by circumstances.
It was my intention in my former letter to apply for Gen. J.
E. Johnston, that I might assign him to duty should circumstances permit. I
have had no official report of the condition of General Beauregard's health; it
is stated from many sources to be bad; if he should break entirely down, it
might be fatal. In that event I should have no one with whom to supply his
place. I therefore respectfully request that General Johnston may be ordered to
report to me, and that I may be informed where he is.
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. 355-6
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