| Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia |
| January 19, 1863 |
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| His Excellency President Jefferson Davis |
| Richmond, Va. |
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| Mr. President:
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| ***** Everything
combined seems to indicate a movement, and I believe that their
army, instead of being diminished by detachments to North Carolina, has been re-enforced since the battle of the 13th December. I
therefore have suspended the march of the brigades ordered to North Carolina, until I can ascertain something more definitely. If, in your
opinion, the necessity there is more urgent than here, I will
dispatch them immediately; they are ready for the march. I have
directed the chief quartermaster of this army to take 50 wagons
belonging to its transportation, and apply them exclusively to
convey the wheat that may be purchased by the agents of the
Commissary Department, at Richmond, in the counties lying between the
Rappahannock
and Pamunkey, to the {Virginia} Central Railroad at Hanover Court-House. I
think this a more convenient point than any on the {Richmond,}
Fredericksburg {& Potomac} Railroad, and one from which transportation to
Richmond
can be more readily obtained. |
| I would suggest that the
Quartermaster-General, in Richmond, collect all the wagons that can be spared from the posts at
Gordonsville, Charlottesville, Staunton, Lynchburg,
Richmond, &c., which may probably amount to 50, and apply them to the
transportation of the wheat in Greene, Madison, and Culpeper
Counties, &c., to the {Orange
& Alexandria} railroad, for conveyance to Richmond. Our necessities make it imperative that every exertion be made to
supply the army with bread. As the Commissary Department purposes to
issue sugar to the army in lieu of part of its meat ration, it has
occurred to me that if its supply will warrant it, that by offering
to exchange sugar for salt meat in the counties where grain is being
collected, many persons might be tempted to part with bacon now
retained for their own use. A few thousand pounds even, collected in
this way, would be of assistance to the army. |
| I have the honor to be, with great respect, your
obedient servant, |
| R. E. Lee |
| General |
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