| Headquarters |
| Richmond,
Va., May 11, 1862 |
| |
| Samuel S. Wilson, Esq. {President,
Seaboard & Roanoke RR} |
| Richmond, Va.
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|
|
| Sir,
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| Your letter of the 10th instant to the
Secretary of War is received. The forces have been withdrawn from
Norfolk and Portsmouth, but efforts will be made to continue
railroad communication with the South through Weldon. I deem it a
matter of great moment that the rolling stock and equipments of your
road should be removed to a place of safety and placed where they
can be made available on other roads.
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| Unless there should be danger of losing
rolling stock there would be no objection to using the upper part of
the road for transporting to Weldon such stores and supplies as may
be collected along the route, but in no case should the trains be
endangered either in attempting to transport such supplies or more
especially in the ordinary traffic of the road.
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| I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
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| R. E. Lee
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