| Hd Qrs Army of N Va. |
| 21st July 1864 |
| |
| His Excy Jeffn Davis |
| President C. States |
| |
| Mr. President, |
| Since we began to use the
Weldon {Petersburg} R. R., we have been endeavoring to accumulate a reserve of corn
a this place, in case the road should be again cut. But since we have
brought away the supplies that accumulated at Weldon, Gaston &
Wilmington during the interruption of traffic on the road, it has been
found that we cannot get more than sufficient for daily consumption,
and sometimes not enough for that, thus making it necessary, to
entrench upon the small reserve of four or five days that we have on
hand. The reason of this state of things is that corn is not brought
in sufficient quantities from the south to Weldon, Gaston &
Wilmington, the points with which the Weldon R. R. communicates. I
hope it is being brought by the {Richmond &}
Danville & Piedmont roads to
Richmond and that it is being accumulated there in sufficient
quantities to serve the army in case of a renewal of the interruption
of our roads. But I think that if possible, it should be brought from
the south by the Weldon road also, as it is capable of aiding in the
required accumulation, and we cannot tell how soon it may be needed.
Commissary stores exceeding our wants are now coming to this point
& being forwarded to Richmond, but I think it would be advisable
to make arrangements to place a sufficient supply of corn at the
points above indicated to enable us to draw from them to the extent of
the capacity of the road, without at the same time relaxing in any
degree the efforts to bring it to Richmond by the Danville Road. I
dislike to add to the troubles and labors of your Excellency, but deem this subject sufficiently important to be brought
directly to your attention. |
| With great respect, your obt servt |
| R. E. Lee |
| Genl |
|