HEADQUARTERS ARMY
NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
June 26, 1864.
HIS EXCELLENCY JEFFERSON DAVIS,
President Confederate States.
MR. PRESIDENT: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
of your letter of the 25th instant. General Hunter has escaped Early, and will
make good his retreat, as far as I can understand, to Lewisburg. Although his
expedition has been partially interrupted, I fear he has not been much punished
except by the demoralization of his troops and the loss of some artillery. From
his present position he can easily be reorganized and re-equipped, and unless
we have sufficient force to resist him, will repeat his expedition. This would
necessitate the return of Early to Staunton. I think it better that he should
move down the Valley if he can obtain provisions, which would draw Hunter after
him, and may enable him to strike Lew Wallace before he can effect a junction
with Hunter. If circumstances favor, I should also recommend his crossing the
Potomac. I think I can maintain our lines here against General Grant. He does
not seem disposed to attack, and has thrown himself strictly on the defensive.
I am less uneasy about holding our position than about our ability to procure
supplies for the army. I fear the latter difficulty will oblige me to attack
General Grant in his intrenchments, which I should not hesitate to do, but for
the loss it will inevitably entail. A want of success would, in my opinion, be
almost fatal, and this causes me to hesitate, in the hope that some relief may
be procured without running such great hazard.
I should like much to have the benefit of your Excellency's
good judgment and views upon this subject.
Great benefit might be drawn from the release of our
prisoners at Point Lookout if it can be accomplished. The number of men
employed for this purpose would necessarily be small, as the whole would have
to be transported secretly across the Potomac where it is very broad, the means
of doing which must first be procured. I can devote to this purpose the whole
of the Marylanders of this army, which would afford a sufficient number of men
of excellent material and much experience, but I am at a loss where to find a
proper leader. As he would command Maryland troops and operate upon the
Maryland soil, it would be well that he should be a Marylander. Of those
connected with this army, I consider Col. Bradley Johnson the most suitable. He
is bold and intelligent, ardent and true, and yet I am unable to say whether he
possesses all the requisite qualities. Everything in an expedition of this kind
would depend upon the leader. I have understood that most of the garrison at
Point Lookout is composed of negroes. I should suppose that the commander of
such troops would be poor and feeble. A stubborn resistance, therefore, may not
reasonably be expected. By taking a company of the Maryland artillery armed as
infantry, the dismounted cavalry, and their infantry organization, as many men
would be supplied as transportation could be procured for. By throwing them
suddenly on the beach with some concert of action among the prisoners, I think
the guard might be overpowered, the prisoners liberated and organized, and
marched immediately on the route to Washington.
The artillery company could operate the guns captured at the
Point. The dismounted cavalry with the released prisoners of that arm could
mount themselves on the march, and the infantry would form a respectable force.
Such a body of men, under an able leader, though they might not be able without
assistance to capture Washington, could march around it and cross the upper
Potomac where fordable. I do not think they could cross the river in a body at
any point below Washington, unless possibly at Alexandria. Provisions, etc.,
would have to be collected in the country through which they pass. The
operations on the river must be confined to an able naval officer, who I know
will be found in Colonel Wood. The subject is one worthy of consideration, and
can only be matured by reflection.
The sooner it is put in execution the better if it is deemed
practicable. At this time, as far as I can learn, all the troops in the control
of the United States are being sent to Grant, and little or no opposition could
be made by those at Washington.
With relation to the project of Marshal Kane, if the matter can
be kept secret, which I fear is impossible, should General Early cross the
Potomac he might be sent to join him.
Very respectfully,
your Excellency's obedient servant,
R. E. LEE,
General.
SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of
Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 333-4
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