(Confidential.)
HEADQUARTERS, ORANGE
COUNTY, February 3, 1864.
HIS EXCELLENCY JEFFERSON DAVIS,
President Confederate States.
MR. PRESIDENT: The approach of spring causes me to consider
with anxiety the probable action of the enemy and the possible operations of
ours in the ensuing campaign. If we could take the initiative and fall upon
them unexpectedly, we might derange their plans and embarrass them the whole
summer. There are only two points east of the Mississippi where it now appears
this could be done. If Longstreet could be strengthened or given greater
mobility than he now possesses, he might penetrate into Kentucky, where he
could support himself, cut Grant's communications so as to compel him at least
to detach from Johnston's front, and enable him to take the offensive and
regain the ground we have lost. I need not dwell upon the advantages of success
in that quarter. The whole is apparent to you. Longstreet can be given greater
mobility by supplying him with horses and mules to mount his infantry. He can
only be strengthened by detaching from Beauregard's, Johnston's, or this army.
If I could draw Longstreet secretly and rapidly to me, I might succeed in
forcing General Meade back to Washington, and exciting sufficient apprehension
at least for their position to weaken any movement against ours. All the
cavalry would have to be left in Longstreet's present front, and Jones would
have to be strengthened. If the first plan is adopted, supplies will have at
once to be accumulated at Bristol or along the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad,
ostensibly for Longstreet's present use. If the latter, provision must be made
at Gordonsville and Richmond for this army. We are not in a condition, and
never have been, in my opinion, to invade the enemy's country with a prospect
of permanent benefit. But we can alarm and embarrass him to some extent, and
thus prevent his undertaking anything of magnitude against us. I have ventured
to suggest these ideas to your Excellency for consideration, that, viewing the
whole subject with your knowledge of the state of things east and west, you may
know whether either is feasible or what else can better be done. Time is an
important element to our success.
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. 325
No comments:
Post a Comment