Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia,
January 10, 1864
General S. Cooper,
Adjutant and Inspector General, Richmond:
General: I have received your letter of the 9th instant in reference to request of General Longstreet to be relieved from his present command and of his corps. I do not know the reasons that have induced him to take this step, but hope that they are not such as to make it necessary. I do not know any one to take his place in either position. I do not think it advantageous that he and Lieutenant-General Ewell should exchange corps, believing that each corps would be more effective as at present organized. I cannot, therefore, recommend their exchange.
I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. E. Lee,
General
Source: The War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Volume 33, p. 1075
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2021 November 8
