University Of Virginia,
Dec 3 1870
Dear Taylor
Thanks for the paper sent which I will send back all safe. On some of the Numbers I differ in recollection with yours. But you have not stated Gettysburg & what we left Petersburg with after five Forks disaster. Nor have you stated the force at Fredericksburg. My recollections are based upon what you would tell me at the time. I purposely never looked over White’s returns. You said at Chancellorsville we had 46000 muskets. You said we had 55000 muskets when we crossed the Potomac for Gettysburg Campaign or was it 46000 effective & 55000 effective respectively. I think we left Petersburg – After Fort Stedman & Five Forks with less than (or not more than) 25000 fighting men. Fredericksburg I put at about 60000 & not more than one fourth engaged. Please give me your numbers on these points left out of your paper.
Yours most truly,
Chas S Venable
Col. WH Taylor
Gettysburg,
Fredericksburg,
Petersburg after
Five Forks
Gettysburg 52 to 55
Say 54
Fed.
After 5 Forks 25,000
Source: The Archives of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation, Papers of the Lee Family, Box 8, M2009.394
Transcribed by Caitlin Connelly, 2016 July 15
