Richmond, February 17, 1864
| |
| General
R. E. Lee |
| Commanding Army of Northern Virginia |
| |
| Sir, |
| Your letter of yesterday is received.
The demand for corn from General Longstreet's army took this
Department by surprise, as I had been informed that a large cavalry
force was permitted to remain with him, because the supply of forage
there was abundant. |
|
This sudden change in the number of points to which corn must be
sent has quite deranged the plans of this Department, but no effort
will be spared to concentrate the supplies, as rapidly as possible,
near your army. I have reported to the War Department that it will
be impossible to supply forage to General Longstreet's forces for
any length of time by railroad from Lynchburg. Corn transported from
Georgia cannot perform the circuit of the Confederacy and return
again almost to the borders of Georgia. Our railways cannot respond
to such demands. |
|
The inclosed reports from Major Carrington will show you the efforts
we are making to diminish consumption elsewhere and increase the
supplies sent to you. The calls now made on us for corn by the
commissary department constitute a new drain upon our limited stock.
Never before has meal formed the chief ingredient of bread for your
army. |
|
The recent movements of troops in North Carolina has interfered
seriously with transportation. Trains have been stopped by
commanding officers and kept idle for several days. I sincerely wish
they could all be as seriously impressed as you are with the injury
thus sustained. I shall be only too happy, general, to adopt any
suggestion you may think practicable to add to the support and
comfort of your army. |
| A.
R. Lawton |
| Quartermaster General |
|