HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF
THE CONFEDERATE STATES,
February 22, 1865.
Lieut. Gen. J. LONGSTREET,
Commanding, &c.:
GENERAL: Your letter
of the 14th instant is received. It arrived during my absence in Richmond,
and has not been overlooked. I agree with you entirely in believing that if we
had gold we could get sufficient supplies for our army, but the great
difficulty is to obtain the gold. It is not in the coffers of the Government or
the banks, but in principally hoarded by individuals throughout the country,
and is inaccessible to us. I hope under the reorganization of the Commissary
Department, if we can maintain possession of our communications, that the army
will be better supplied than heretofore, and that we can accumulate some
provisions ahead. As regards the concentration of our troops near the capital,
the effect would be to produce a like concentration of the enemy, and an
increase of our difficulties in obtaining food and forage. But this, whether
for good or evil, is now being accomplished by the enemy, who seems to be
forcing Generals Beauregard and Bragg in this direction. If Sherman marches his
army to Richmond, as General Beauregard reports it is his intention to do, and
General Schofield is able to unite with him, we shall have to abandon our
position on the James River, as lamentable as it is on every account. The want
of supplies alone would force us to withdraw when the enemy reaches the
Roanoke. Our line is so long, extending nearly from the Chickahominy to the
Nottoway, and the enemy is so clone upon us that if we are obliged to withdraw,
we cannot concentrate all our troops nearer than some point on the line of
railroad between Richmond and Danville. Should a necessity therefore arise I
propose to concentrate at or near Burkeville. The route for the troops north of
James River would have to be through Richmond, on the road to Amelia
Court-House, the cavalry passing up the north branch of the river and crossing
at some point above Richmond. Pickett's division would take the route through
Chesterfield Court-House, crossing the Appomattox at Goode's Bridge. With the
army concentrated at or near Burkeville, our communications north and south
would be by that railroad and west by the South Side Railroad. We might also
seize the opportunity of striking at Grant, should he pursue us rapidly, or at
Sherman, before they could unite.
I wish you to consider this subject, and give me your views.
I desire you also to make every preparation to take the field at a moment's
notice, and to accumulate all the supplies you can. General Grant seems to be
preparing to move out by his left flank. He is accumulating near Hatcher's Run
depots of supplies, and apparently concentrating a strong force in that
quarter. Yesterday and to-day trains have passed from his right to his left
loaded with troops, which may be the body of 8,000 which you report having left
Signal Hill yesterday. I cannot tell whether it is his intention to maintain
his position until his other columns approach nearer, or to anticipate any
movement by us which he might suppose would then become necessary. I wish you
would watch closely his movements on the north side of the river, and try and
ascertain whether he is diminishing his force. If he makes the move which
appearances now indicate he may draw out his whole force, abandoning his lines
of defense, or hold them partially and move with the remainder of his troops.
I should like very much to confer with you on these
subjects, but I fear it will be impossible for me to go north of James River,
and I do not know that it will be convenient for you to come here.
Very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
R. E. LEE,
General.
P. S. – Can you not return Pickett's brigade to him in order
that I may withdraw Grimes' brigade from his line, its division having been
ordered to our right.
R. E. L.
SOURCES: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
46, Part 2 (Serial No. 96), p. 1250-1; James Longstreet, From
Manassas to Appomattox, p. 643-4
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