Headquarters,
Fredericksburg, Va., January 22, 1863
Col. J. Gorgas, Chief of Ordnance:
Colonel: I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 20th instant, and beg leave to thank you for your attention to my requests. I hope you will be able to get the carriages for the Whitworth guns made without delay, and the Napoleons, now in progress, finished at once. I assure you both kinds of guns are wanted with this army this very day. The enemy is moving to the line of the Rappahannock, above and below Fredericksburg; and, from his preparations, it would seem to be his intention to cross. The guns in question would add materially to our ability to resist him.
I am, with great respect, your obedient servant,
R E Lee,
General
Source: The War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Volume 21, p. 1109
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2018 March 12
