Major-General J.E.B. Stuart to Senator Louis T. Wigfall, late July 1863

hd. Qrs. Cov., Div. A. of N. Va.

Dear General,

I regret very much that a state of affairs, so different from what you expected, exists here. Instead of  “no active operations” you suppose, we are in a fight nearly every day and on the 4th especially Halsey's gun was particularly engaged at Fleetwood and under very heavy fire, and I am gratified to inform you that Maj. Beckham speaks of him as “a very fine officer” in which our expectations were not disappointed.

You will readily understand that such an officer cannot be spared in such times to visit home —but should there be a period when an engagement is not daily expected in which the Horse Artillery will not necessarily take part, I will cheerfully approve his absence.

I was truly glad to hear the favorable accounts you gave of Hampton's, Butler's and Hood's wounds, and sincerely hope that all three of those glorious fellows will be in the field again for the next fight. Hampton I fear will not soon be with us. His wound must have been very severe. Baker, Black and Young were all three wounded in a fight the other day (2nd). The first mentioned is a Brigadier Genl. and will command the four N. C. Regiments.

Present my kindest regards to Mrs. Wigfall and any other friends you may fall in with, and believe me,

Truly yours,

J. E. B. Stuart.

SOURCE: Louise Wigfall Wright, A Southern Girl in ’61, p. 147-8

Brigadier-General J.E.B. Stuart to Colonel L. S. Baker

headquarters Cavalry Brigade, July 6th, 1862.

Colonel,—General Jackson is anxious to see Captain Rufus Barringer. Please send him up this afternoon, as Gen. J. may be gone after that. Please forward a report of operations of your cavalry from 26th June to 10th July as soon as possible.

In haste.

J. E. B. Stuart

SOURCE: Mary Anna Jackson, Life and Letters of General Thomas J. Jackson (Stonewall Jackson), p. 308

General Robert E. Lee to Jefferson Davis, December 5, 1864

HEADQUARTERS, TURNBULL'S, December 5, 1864.

HIS EX. JEFFERSON DAVIS,

President C. States, Richmond.

MR. PRESIDENT: I have received the dispatch from General Bragg of the 4th inst., forwarded to me by Mr. B. N. Harrison, stating that there is still time for him to receive any assistance that can be spared. On the 27th ult. General Whiting informed me that General Bragg had carried with him 2,700 of the best troops from Wilmington. Since that he has ordered to Charleston a regiment of the North Carolina reserves, and I do not think, so far as I can judge, that more troops can be taken with propriety unless we were certain that all danger of an attack was removed from that point. In addition, I sent General Young with about 400 cavalrymen (without horses), and ordered all those previously sent to Georgia and South Carolina to report to him at Augusta; which Hampton thinks will give him about 800 mounted men, which I thought would strengthen the cavalry very much in that department. General Baker has also gone to General Bragg, so that he will have another good cavalry commander.

I fear I can do nothing more under present circumstances. General Early reports that his scouts stated the Sixth Corps had broken camp on the 2d, and taken the cars at Stevenson's Depot — said to be going to City Point. From reports received from Longstreet and Ewell last night, I think this corps or a part of it may have reached the north side of James River last night. My last report from scouts on the James was to the 2d. There had been great activity on the river in transportation of supplies, but no troops had passed in any numbers since the 17th ult. Reports of Early and Longstreet have not yet been corroborated but the whole preparations of the enemy indicate some movement against us. All we want to resist them is men.

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. 344