Headquarters, June 27, 1862
His Excellency President Davis:
Mr. President: Profoundly grateful to Almighty God for the signal victory granted to us, it is my pleasing task to announce to you the success achieved by this army to-day. The enemy was this morning driven from his strong position behind Beaver Dam Creek and pursued to that behind Powhite Creek, and finally, after a severe contest of five hours, entirely repulsed from the field. Night put an end to the contest. I grieve to state that our loss in officers and men is great. We sleep on the field, and shall renew the contest in the morning.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
R. E. Lee,
General.
Source: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Record of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Vol. 11, Part 3, p. 622
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2016 June 27
