Headquarters, July 23, 1862
General James Longstreet,
Commanding, &c.:
General: Your note of this morning is received. If you can find suitable positions you can locate a brigade on the Darbytown and River roads and give them the necessary directions. They will serve, in addition to what was proposed, to prevent alarms and thus prevent annoyance to the troops. I have directed General Wise’s brigade to be attached to your command. He is in your front, and I desire you to take charge of the operations of that wing of the army.
General McClellan’s demonstrations may be to decisive, test our strength, or preparatory to real movements. He will require to be watched and restrained. I have directed General D. H. Hill from the right bank of the river to endeavor, by movable batteries, sharpshooters, &c., to annoy and arrest, if possible, the transport of his supplies.
Very respectfully,
R E Lee,
General
Source: The War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Volume 11, Part 3, p. 645
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2018 October 31
