War Department, C.S.A.,
Richmond, Va., January 28, 1863
General R. E. Lee, Commanding, &c.:
Sir: I have heard with great anxiety the apprehensions entertained by you respecting supplies to your army. Every opportunity has been afforded to Colonel Cole to learn from the proper officers the resources that may be commanded, and I am pleased that he finds them greater than he had anticipated. The reports I have called for are less satisfactory to me, however, than I had hoped, and they shall certainly arouse all the powers I can command to remove the difficulties. For the present these difficulties are mainly of transportation, and I shall do all possible to remove or diminish them. Colonel Cole will give you orally fuller details than I can well write, and I refer you to him.
You may rely on my best extertions in my sphere here to maintain your army in comfort and efficiency.
With high consideration and esteem, respectfully,
James A. Seddon,
Secretary of War
Source: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Vol. 25, Part 2, pp. 599.
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2016 May 2
