General Robert E. Lee to John C. Breckinridge, March 20, 1865

HEADQUARTERS ARMIES CONFEDERATE STATES,        

March 20th, 1865.

HON. JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE,
        SECRETARY OF WAR.

Gen. J. E. Johnston reports that about 5 P.M. on the 19th inst. he attacked the enemy near Bentonsville, routed him, capturing three guns. A mile in rear, the enemy rallied upon fresh troops, but was forced back slowly until 6 o'clock P.M., when, receiving more troops, he apparently assumed the offensive, which movement was resisted without difficulty until dark. This morning he is intrenched.

Our loss is small. The troops behaved admirably well.

Dense thickets prevented rapid operations.

R. E. LEE.

 SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p. 456