| Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia |
| February 7, 1863 |
| |
| Lieut. Gen. T. J. Jackson |
| Commanding Second Corps |
| |
| General, |
| I received last night the
letters of Colonels Crutchfield and Brown and copy of Capt. John
Garnett's, forwarded by you on the 5th instant. I greatly lament the
condition to which our horses are reduced and the suffering to which
they are exposed. I had heard previously of the failure to get corn
at Lloyd's, and the cause. Steps were immediately taken to remedy it
as far as possible, and I hope since the date of the letters
transmitted the evil has been at least mitigated. It seems evident,
however, that to supply our men and animals the most earnest and
active exertions must be made by every officer. I have felt less
solicitude on account of your corps, as I have been confident that
everything would be done by yourself and staff officers to supply
its wants. I had hoped that the plan proposed some days since to
send to the vicinity of forage all the animals not required for the
support of troops and the batteries necessarily retained in position
would have relieved the difficulty. If this will not accomplish it,
it will be better to send the horses wherever they can be foraged
than to let them die, for if they cannot transport the cannon they
are of no use with them. I have understood that forage could be had
in King William, and King and Queen, Essex, &c. Is it so? If it
is, I suggest that you establish them in vicinity of Hanover
Court-House, where corn is being hauled from that region, and which
could be applied to their necessities.
It could also be delivered there from Richmond by the {Virginia}
Central Railroad without embarrassment to the supply of
provisions by the Fredericksburg Railroad {Richmond,
Fredericksburg & Potomac RR}. But unless some long forage
can be collected in that region I do not know how it can be
supplied. Colonel Corley tells me that one-half of the hay brought
by the Central Railroad from Augusta and Albemarle, the only places
from which it can be obtained, is turned over to Major Harman. He
had been promised 90,000 pounds per day by railroad {about
6 car loads}; but he has never received more than 30,000 per
day {2 car loads}, and that not
regularly. The first amount, which the superintendent of the
railroad states is all that it can transport and keep up with its
business, is but half forage for all our animals. The second, if
regularly delivered, would be but one-sixth. So you see the large
deficit that has to be supplied from the adjoining country. From
this point the wagons are now hauling 70 miles, 140 going and
returning, from beyond the Central Railroad. All the animals have
been sent back except those actually necessary. Colonel Corley
informs me that the corn brought by railroad has been delivered to
Major Page, General Pendleton's quartermaster, under the supposition
that he distributed it according to the wants of the artillery. I
have directed him to inquire if that was done. Please let me know
the number of horses belonging to the artillery of your corps, where
you can best station them, and what arrangements you can make for
their support. If requisitions be made on the corps quartermaster
for salt, he may obtain it in small quantities from the corps
commissary, if any can be had. The artillery officers must attend
closely to their horses, seeing that they have every possible
attention and comfort, and if nothing better can be done, turned out
during the day, that they may browse on the stubble, twigs, &c.
Life at least can be preserved with other forage that can be
procured. |
| Very respectfully, your obedient servant, |
| R. E. Lee |
| General |
|