HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF
NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
October 21, 1864.
HON. SEC. OF WAR, Richmond.
SIR: I consider it very important to supply the garrisons in
the forts below Wilmington with thirty days' provisions, in case the enemy
should succeed in cutting them off from the city. I directed General Whiting to
endeavor to obtain provisions for the purpose in North Carolina, but he has not
succeeded in doing so, nor do I know that it is in his power. The amount of
subsistence issued to the army in Virginia and North Carolina is not sufficient
to enable us to retain what is required for these garrisons for the time indicated.
We now get bacon for the troops only once in four days, and the Commissary
Department informed Colonel Cole, chief C. S. of the army, that we must rely on
cattle. As the collection of supplies is in the hands of the officers of the C.
S. Department, Colonel Cole does not know what number of cattle or what amount
of provisions he can count upon, so as to make any arrangements to provide for
those garrisons from stores that may come into their hands. I think that it
would be better that the C. S. Department should provide the desired supplies
if practicable, and I respectfully ask that you will direct that it be done if
it be in the power of that department to accomplish it.
Very respectfully, your
obedient servant,
R. E. LEE,
General.
SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of
Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 341-2
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