The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-07-25

The New York Times publishes the fol-
towing letters, which it says were captured
at Breckinridge's late headquarters al
Lynchburg shortly after the surrender
at Appomattox
Hid. QRs. A. N. VA.,1
22d September, 1864.
My.-Ge j. c. breckenridge, Commdg.,
de-:
General,--In resumiug command OF the
important Department OF the S. w
Virginia and T.. Tennessee to which you
have been assigned, there will be need OF
the exertion of all the energy and vigor
that you possess. You should at once de-
vote yourself to the most thorough and
efficient organization OF your troops and to
returning all absentees to the.ranks. You
will also employ every legal means in your
power to bring out the men liable to mill.
tary duty in your department and place
them in course OF preparation for active
service. Your attention should also be
given to the organization OF the reserves,
for which purpose you will correspond
with General Kemper and lend his agents
all the assistance in your power. This
force can be made very useful in guarding
roads and bridges against raids, and occu-
pying intrenched positions, so as to leave
your other troops free for active operations.
The whole strength OF the country should
be developed for its defence. recommend
that you take the most active measures to
break up and destroy all organizations of
deserters, some OF which are reported to
exist in different parts Of your department,
and to inflict great damlg upon the people.
DO not spare these miscreants. Their pres
ence tends to encourage desertions, and
they must be driven away or eXterminated
| wish you to bring out from the enemy's
country accessible to you all the provi-
sions, horses, and military supplies you can
get. While making every preparation to
defend the important interests committed
to your charge, you must hold yourselves
in readiness to move to the assistance OF
General Early should he require your aid.
General Echols applied for an officer to
command the artillery Of the department,
and was informed that Major Page, an ex-
celent officer, who is Just recovering from
a wound, but who, hope, will soon be
But after hearing OF your assignment to the
command, supposed you would take Cole
mel King with you, and have not ordered
Major Page to report TO you. Should you
need his advice please inform me.
In addition to the other considerations
which render your assignment to this de-
partment desirable, / thought that your
presence in that region would encourage
Kentuckians to come to you. / hope you
will use all your influence to induce them
to come out and fill up General Dukes
command formerly MOrgan's). L under
stood that considerable numbers had al
ready arrived in the department.
/ feel confident that you will fully appre-
ciate the importance of your position, and
hope the best results from your energetic
and intelligent administration OF the affairs
of your department. Very respectfully,
YOUR obedient servant,
X. L. LEE, General.
III.
UD. ORs. ARMY n. ", l3 Deer. 'Gt.
Genl. have rec. your letter Of the 9th
inst. At the time of my dispatch to which
YOU refer. contemplated drawing Genl.
Early with the whole OF his corps to this
army, and intended to extend your COM
mand over the Valley, leaving there Genl.
Wharton's division and the cayly. My
wish was not to withdraw you from your
present command, where you have done
such good service, but to enlarge its limits.
When found it necessary last summer TO
send troops to the valley TO oppose Genl.
Hunter, | was obliged, to obtain an adequate
force, to detach a corps from this army, ana
Thought it most advantageous to send 1t
with all It's organizations. Had been able
To procure separate brigades Or divisions, /
should in that way have reinforced you,
and thus have increased your command.
But at that time i expected to recall Gene
raj Early as soon as the particular service,
the reprllse Of General Hunter, was accom-
plished. Finding General Hunter had COM
mitted blunder in the line OF his retreat,
either by compulsiOn or ignorance, de-
sired to take advantage OF 1t, and directed
General Early across the Potomac. III was
I'm this way that General Early reached the
Valley, and by seniority OF commission De-
came the ranking officer. 1t was not done
with any intention OF superseding. you.
You had not only conducted the military
onerations in the Valley well, but success
fully: and should have been glad to have
continued you in command coulu L haNc
sufficiently reinforced you in any other way
than I did. | have made this explanation
not because l considered any remark in
vour letter in the light Of complaint, but
as due to you.
| am much pleased at the soldierly and
natriotic feelings displayed in your letter.
| III WOuiu give ihc SiesV P''",,: -,
in command OF one of the divisions OF TINS
army, but think in your present position
Won can do more service to the country. III
YOU can accomplish the organization, in
struction, and discipline OF the troops In
vo,,r department, and should General HOOD
| through the aid Of a merciful Providence
he successful In his operations, you could,
in cooperation with him, drive the enemy my
from r. Tennessee, regain possession
Of that country, and open communications
with Kentucky. / think it probable now,
II you could stop communication between
Chattanooga and Knoxville, you might
force the enemy from the latter place. ana anu
thus regain your communication by Una,
route with Georgia. i wish you wouiu
consider this matter, and do what you ya oal,
TO accomplish it whenever clrcuns.aan;cesS
| P. y u LEE General.