Headquarters Department of Northern Virginia,
December 1, 1862
Hon. James A. Seddon,
Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.:
Sir: About three thousand arms are required for this army. They are wanted for General Jackson’s corps, and [the want] arises principally from the fact that the arms belonging to the sick and wounded of his command, sent back last summer to Gordonsville, were, from the necessities of the service, forwarded to the army in the Southwest. I had hoped to supply the deficiency from captured arms sent to Staunton for repair, and many have been supplied from that source. There are now there 1,500 under repair, and 400 that were fit for service have been recently issued by Colonel Davidson to troops for local defense. It is important that all the men for duty in the field of this army should be armed as soon as possible. I request, should there be any arms in Richmond available, that they be forwarded to me at once.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant,
R E Lee
General
Source: The War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Volume 21, p. 1040
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2018 January 12
