CAMP, 9th April, 1864.
MY DEAR CUSTIS:
I have delayed replying to your letter of the 5th to see
what action would be had upon my application for a chief engineer of this army.
By the order received last evening directing General Smith to report to me for
engineer duty, I conclude the President has decided against my application for
you.
I thought that position presented less objections to your
serving with me than any other. Though a member of the general staff of the
army, your operations, presence, etc., would have been with the Corps of
Engineers and as independent as any other commander, while your work would have
been obvious to all and spoken for itself. As chief of staff, your connection
with me would be more intimate, your work more a part of my own, your action
less distinct and separate, and assumed at least to be by my direction.
This would be very agreeable to me, but more open to all the
objections that could be brought against your holding the place of Chief of
Engineers. I presume, therefore, it would not be favorably considered. It is a
delicate matter to apply for any one on the staff of another. I am not certain
that it is proper to ask for one, serving with the President. In addition it is
more important that he should have the aid he desires than I should. Although,
therefore, anxious to have you, I am at a loss how to proceed. I know the kind
feelings of the President toward you, and to me, and to my wants he has always
shown the kindest consideration.
I want all the aid I can get now. I feel a marked change in
my strength since my attack last spring at Fredericksburg, and am less
competent for my duty than ever. I admire the sentiments that induced you to
decline the command around Richmond. But the reasons that operated in that case
will prevail in all similar, and are not likely to be changed by time, should
you continue where you are.
However, it is done, and I believe will turn out for the
best. I have a high opinion of Generals Kemper and Mahone in the positions in
which they have been tested. How they would do in others, it is difficult to
say. A single road I believe General M. would manage admirably. He could attend
to it personally and would see to everything himself. Over a more extended
field, the chain through all the Confederacy, it is also problematic.
Give much love to everybody, and believe me always,
Your devoted father,
R. E. LEE.
GEN. G. W. CUSTIS LEE.
SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of
Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 304
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