Petersburg, July 23, 1864
His Excellency Jefferson Davis:
Mr. President: I have had the honor to receive your letter of yesterday relative to our supply of corn. If the news of the glorious victory at Atlanta, reported this morning, prove true, it will again open us to Alabama and East Mississippi, and remove a part of the great weight pressing upon us. But as far as I am informed there is still a large supply of corn in East Georgia, and with what could be collected in South and North Carolina there would be enough to support us till the new crop is available. That which is now in Richmond should be reserved if possible, and every effort made to increase the supply. The destruction of the railroad bridges beyond Greensborough is a serious evil. I understand it was done by incendiaries, which makes it more lamentable. Those bridges will therefore have to be guarded by the reserves, like those exposed to the enemy. The trains arrived last night from Weldon, but only brought sufficient corn for the cavalry. That was some relief, but obliges us still to diminish our reserve.
With great respect, your obedient servant,
R E Lee
General
Source: The War of the Rebellion, Series 1, Volume 40, Part 3, p. 793
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2017 July 28
