Staunton Nov 23. 1865.
General.
My attention has been called to an article published in the “New York News” of the 7th inst, which was written by a friend of mine in Kentucky, Maj J. Stoddard Johnston, whom you may recollect as the Adjutant General of Maj: Gen Breckinridge. It is in reply to an article published in the same paper, in very bad taste I thought, by Mr E. A. Pollard, which may have met your eye.
I take the liberty of enclosing to you the article of Maj Johnston, thinking that it might possess some interest to you.
I hope to be able, in the intervals of business, in the course of a few weeks, to send to you a statement of the condition of the Department of South Western Virginia and the operations therein during the last winter & spring.
I am, Gen, very respectfully
Your Obt Sert
Jno: Echols
Verso [Lee’s handwriting]
23 Novr ’65
Genl Jno: Echols will send report of operations in W. Va:
Source: Photocopy of original letter, Mss3 L515 a, Virginia Historical Society, Richmond
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2017 May 15
