| Headquarters, Near Richmond, Va. |
| June 5, 1862 |
|
|
| Capt. George Minor
|
| Chief of Ordnance and Hydrography
|
|
|
| The Armstrong gun, if mounted on a field
carriage, with its supply of projectiles, will be of immense
importance to us. Can we not have it in the morning? The smaller
guns (Parrott) I think we have enough of at present. I am very
anxious to have a railroad battery. I wrote to Colonel Gorgas on the
subject this morning and asked him to get you and Brooke to aid me.
Till something better could be accomplished I proposed a Dahlgren or
columbiad, on a ship's carriage, on a railroad flat, with one of
your navy iron aprons adjusted to it to protect gun and men. If I
could get it in position by daylight to-morrow I could astonish our
neighbors. The enemy cannot get up his heavy guns except by
railroad. We must block his progress.
|
| Very respectfully and truly,
|
| R. E. Lee
|
| General
|
|