Sender: Robert E. Lee
Recipient: Richard S. Ewell

Genl

I am much concerned at the desertions in the <illegible> brigade – Can you ascertain the cause & remove it – ? Perhaps some changes of position in the <14> Regt: might be beneficial – The use of corn meal seems to me too trivial to account for it – If there are men whom it disagrees with, it might be changed by Drs prescription – Very