Norfolk June 12/69
My dear Marshall
Yours of the 9th only reached me yesterday. It is with considerable difficulty that I can at this time recall all of the details of the operations of our army during its several campaigns. So many things have occupied my thoughts since that time, almost to the total exclusion of old army movements, that I cannot rely upon memory in all matters of decided importance, much less in mattes of detail.
My recollection of the movements of the several corps of the army at 2nd Manas accords entirely with yr statement. I well remember arriving on the ground with Longstreets troops, the (then) position of Jackson, subsequent movements & the incidents of the battle; but the hour when Longstreet arrived at the scene, I really cannot recall.
In regard to the strength of the army in that battle, my recollection differs from your estimate. I have some few memoranda prepared soon after the war, from memory, & therefore not to be entirely relied upon, & from them I am confirmed in my belief that you overestimate our effective strength.
As well as I remember, Jackson had about 16 or 17,000
Longstreet “ 15,000
Anderson “ 6,000
Say 37,000 or 38,000 infantry. Artillery about 4000 as you have it.
Source: The Archives of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation, Papers of the Lee Family, Box 8, M2009.375
Transcribed by Caitlin Connelly, 2016 July 14
