Lieutenant-General James Longstreet to General Robert E. Lee, March 1, 1865

HEADQUARTERS FIRST ARMY CORPS,

March 1, 1865.

General R. E. LEE,

Commanding:

GENERAL: I had another interview with Major-General Ord yesterday and expressed the opinions that were spoken of in our interview at the President's mansion on Sabbath last. He acceded promptly to my proposition that the war must cease, if we are to go to work to try to make peace, and to the proposal for a military convention. I further claimed that we could not go into convention upon any more favorable basis than an earnest desire to arrange plans for peace that should be equally honorable to both parties. To this, also, I understood him to give his unqualified consent. He says that General Grant has the authority to meet you, if you have authority to appoint a military convention, and proposes that you should indicate your desire to meet General Grant, if you feel authorized to do so. As he made this proposition before mine, to the effect that General Grant should express his desire to meet you, and as the interview between General Ord and myself had been brought on at the request of General Ord, I did not feel that I could well do otherwise than promise to write to you of the disposition on their part to have the interview. If you think it worth your time to invite General Grant to an interview it might be upon some other as the ostensible grounds, and this matter might be brought up incidentally. I presume that General Grant's first proposition will be to go into convention upon the basis of reconstruction; but if I have not misunderstood General Ord's conversation; General Grant will agree to take the matter up without requiring any principle as a basis further than the general principle of desiring to make peace upon terms that are equally honorable to both sides. I would suggest that the interview take place on this side and at the place of meeting between General Ord and myself, because there are several little points upon which you should be posted before the interview, and I do not see that I can well do this by writing. Besides, as “the ice has already been broken” on this side, your interview would be relieved in a measure of the great formality incident to such occasions. If it should be on this side I hope that you will give me two or three days' notice.

General Stevens is of the opinion that 1,000 negro laborers on this line during this month will so strengthen our position that we will be able to spare a division, and I am satisfied we can do so if we can have the work proposed completed and can get the aid that General Ewell promises us.

I remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

 J. LONGSTREET,

Lieutenant-General.

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. 1275-6; James Longstreet, From Manassas to Appomattox, p. 647-8

General Robert E. Lee to James A. Seddon, December 11, 1864

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,

December 11, 1864.

HON. JAMES A. SEDDON,

Secretary of War, Richmond.

SIR: I have been informed by General Stevens that you have consented to the retention of our present negro force until Christmas. This will prove to be some relief, but not sufficient for our wants. My original request was for 5,000 laborers: 2,200 is the greatest number which ever reported, and those in small bodies at different intervals. The period for which they were first called was thirty days, and subsequently extended to sixty days. A large number of them have deserted, many not serving the first thirty days. Since the expiration of this period the desertions have greatly increased. I cannot state the present strength of the force, but think it cannot exceed 1,200. I consequently have not been able to accomplish half I desired. In our present extended line, requiring the troops to be always on duty and prepared for any movements of the enemy, I cannot use them, as formerly, for any work requiring them to leave their trenches. This is the reason why a laboring force is necessary, and unless I can get it for the completion of interior lines of defense, construction of roads, and other work necessary to the existence of an army, I shall be unable to hold my position. Of the negroes called for under the act of February 17, 1864, I have not yet received enough to replace the white teamsters in the army. In fact, we have not received more than sufficient to supply teamsters for the Third Corps and a portion of one division. Not one has yet been received for laboring purposes, and to any inquiries on the subject I get no satisfactory reply. I beg, therefore, to call your attention to this matter, which I deem of the greatest importance, and request that prompt measures may be taken to supply this demand.

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. 345