Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia,
November 25, 1862
Hon. Secretary of War,
Richmond, Va.:
Sir: In carrying out the policy of the Government of brigading the troops according to the States from which they come, I have found it necessary to dismember the brigade commanded by Brig. Gen. Thomas F. Drayton, which is composed of troops from the States of South Carolina and Georgia. I have no other command to which I can assign General Drayton in this army, and have therefore taken advantage of this opportunity to grant him a short leave of absence, which he has desired, at the end of which I request he may be ordered on duty in the South or Southwest, as he may prefer.
I have the honor to be, most respectfully, &c.,
R E Lee,
General
Source: The War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Volume 21, p. 1030
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2018 January 3
