The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-10-16
Enclosure No. 2.
HDQ'Rs CONFEDERATE STATES ARMIES,
Hon. J. c. BRECKINRIDGE,

>~~~s
Hon. J. c. BRECKINRIDGE,
Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.
SIR: have received tonight your letter Of this
date requesting my opinion upon the military con-
Gtion of the country.
1t must he apparent to every that II Is full OF
peril and requires prompt action. My correspond
ence with the Department will show the extreme
difficulties under which we have labored during
the past year to keep this army furnished with
necessary supplies. This difficulty is increased
and it seems almost impossible to maintain our
present position with the means at the disposal of
the Government. In our former operations in this
State large portion of our forage and subsistence
collected by the staff officers connected with
the army by the Of its transportation. and we
were not confined TO what the several departments
could supply. The country within reach of our
present position has been nearly quite exhausted,
and now dependent upon what those de-
partments can provide. Their respective chiefs
best inform you of the means at their COM
mand but from ali the information ] possess the
only practicable relief is in the generous conribu-
ton of the people to our necessities, and that IS
limited by the difficulties of transportation, what
ever may be the extent of their Willingness and
ability, of which am unable to form an accurate
opinion.
Unless the men and animals can be subsisted the
army cannot be kept together and our present lines
must be abandoned. Nor can II be moved to any
other position where 1t can operate to advantage
without provisions TO enable it to move in a body.
The difficulties attending the payment and cloth
ing of the troops though great, not pressing,
and would be relieved III n measure by military
The same is true of the ordnance supplies,
and therefore confne my remarks chiefly to those
wants which must be met now in order TO maintain
n force adequate to justify reasonable hope of
success If the army can be maintained in an eff
cient condition, do not regard the abandonment
of present position necessarily fatal to our
success
The army operating under Gen. Johnston has
not yet been concentrated, and its strength is not
accurately known. 1t is believed, however, to be
inferior to that of the enemy. and its condition
gives no strong prospect of a marked success.
In the most southern portion of the country east
of the Mississippi our forces are numerically infe
rior to those of the enemy; nor do see any pros
pect, from my present information, of putting them
on footing adequate TO the performance of the
services that they will probably be called upon to
render during the approaching campaign.
While the military situation is not favorable, 1t is
not worse than the superior numbers and resources
of the enemy justified US in expecting from the be-
ginning Indeed, the legitimate military
quences of that superiority have been postponed
longer than We had reason to anticipate
Everything. in my opinion, has depended and
still depends, upon the disposition and feelings of
the people Their representatives can best decide
how they will bear the difficulties and suerings of
their condition, and how they will respond to the
demands which the public safety require.
The necessity of replying promptly to your letter,
to enable you to make the use of my answer which
you desire, prevents me from going more into de-
tail and compes me to he brief. With sentiments
Of great respect, your obedient servant,
Il. E. LEE, General.