HEADQUARTERS,
Orange, August 18, 1863.
General STUART,
Commanding, &c.:
GENERAL: The report of Major Mosby, of 4th instant, relative
to his expeditions toward Fairfax Court-House and below, has been forwarded to
the War Department. I greatly commend his boldness and good management, which
is the cause of his success. I have heard that he has now with him a large
number of men, yet his expeditions are undertaken with very few, and his
attention seems more directed to the capture of sutlers' wagons, &c., than
to the injury of the enemy's communications and outposts. The capture and
destruction of wagon trains is advantageous, but the supply of the Federal Army
is carried on by the railroad. If that should be injured, it would cause him to
detach largely for its security, and thus weaken his main army. His threat of
punishing citizens on the line for such attacks must be met by meting similar
treatment to his soldiers when captured.
I do not know the cause for undertaking his expeditions with
so few men, whether it is from policy or the difficulty of collecting them. I
have heard of his men, among them officers, being in rear of this army selling
captured goods, sutlers' stores, &c. This had better be attended to by
others. It has also been reported to me that many deserters from this army have
joined him. Among them have been seen members of the Eighth Virginia Regiment.
If this is true, I am sure it must be without the knowledge of Major Mosby, but
I desire you to call his attention to this matter, to prevent his being imposed
on.
I am, very
respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. E. LEE,
General.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
29, Part 2 (Serial No. 49), p. 652
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