Summary:
Robert E. Lee writes General J. E. B. Stuart on July 9, 1863, on the aftermath of the battle of Gettysburg. He mentions Union forces attacking supply trains, and expresses doubt that enough shoes could be found at Chambersburg to make the town worth capturing.

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Gen. Stuart, Comdg. Cavalry:

Hdqrs.,

July 9, 1863

Gen.:

I have received your note of to-day, and regret very much to learn your loss was so great yesterday. I hope your parties that you have sent out may gain us information of the enemy. It is much needed. I hope you will secure all the flour and forage on Beaver Creek. It is very scarce, and the enemy in the Clear Spring Valley are attacking all our wagon trains. Yesterday they captured 11 wagons and to-day I have heard of 1. Imboden's cavalry is on that side. They are unsteady, and, I fear, inefficient. I think it more important to clear them away than to take Chambersburg. I doubt whether a shoe could be found there. They are all hidden or carried off.

Very respectfully,

R. E. LEE,
Gen.

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Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 27, Serial No. 45, Pages 985, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.