Headquarters, Near Richmond, Va.,
August 14, 1862. (Received August 16, 1862.)
Hon. George W. Randolph,
Secretary of War:
General: Your letter of this date is received. From every indication it appears that McClellan’s forces on James River are being withdrawn and sent to re-enforce Pope. Under these circumstances I think it will be necessary to withdraw R. H. Anderson’s division from Drewry’s Bluff and send it in the direction of Gordonsville. Colonel Gibb’s regiment and the Fifty-seventh North Carolina Regiment (Colonel [H. C. Jones) had better be ordered for the present to that point. In case Anderson is removed these troops will serve for the defense of Drewry’s Bluff; and since they are new, they can be drilled and accustomed to camp, &c.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R E Lee,
General
Source: The War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Volume 11, Part 3, pp. 675-676
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2019 March 14
