Saturday, November 16, 2013

General Robert E. Lee to Jefferson Davis, June 27, 1862

HEADQUARTERS, June 27, 1862.

HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT DAVIS.

MR. PRESIDENT: Profoundly grateful to Almighty God for the signal victory granted to us, it is my pleasing task to announce to you the success achieved by this army to-day.  The enemy was this morning driven from his strong position behind Beaver Dam Creek, and pursued to that behind Powhite Creek, and finally, after a severe contest of five hours, entirely repulsed from the field.  Night put an end to the contest. I grieve to state that our loss in officers and men is great.  We sleep on the field, and shall renew the contest in the morning.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully,

R. E. Lee,
General.

SOURCES: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 11, Part 3 (Serial No. 14), p. 622; John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 172-3.

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