Summary:
Robert E. Lee writes George Pickett countermanding his July, 1863, orders that
Pickett's Division accompany prisoners to Staunton. Lee apologizes for any
damage the assignment may have done to the division's fragile confidence in the
wake of Gettysburg. Instead, Lee sent Imboden to Staunton, where he was also
instructed to muster in new recruits and shoe his horses.
Maj. Gen. George E. Pickett,
Comdg., &c.:
July 9, 1863.
Gen.:
Your letter of the 8th has been received.
It was with reluctance that I imposed upon your gallant division the duty of conveying prisoners to Staunton. I regretted to assign them to such service, as well as to separate them from the army, though temporarily, with which they have been so long and efficiently associated. Though small in numbers, their worth is not diminished, and I had supposed that the division itself would be loth to part from its comrades at a time when the presence of every man is so essential. I therefore felt gratified to be able to assign to the charge of the prisoners a portion of Gen. Imboden's command, which I thought could be better spared from the army at this time, and enable him to muster into service some newly organized companies that have been completed since he left Staunton, shoe his horses, and return to the army more quickly than an infantry force. It would also spare your division a long and disagreeable march.
These were the reasons that governed me, and, in my opinion, are the best for the public service. I regret that it has occasioned you and your officers any disappointment. If circumstances permitted, I should be glad to allow your division to move to Winchester, if it would afford any gratification or benefit, but I need not tell you how essential it is not to diminish this army by a single man, if possible. I still have the greatest confidence in your division, and feel assured that with you at its head, it will be able to accomplish any service upon which it may be placed. You can send an efficient officer with a portion of your division that you may assign as a guard to the prisoners, as far as Winchester, with directions there to collect all your convalescents and others, and to return to you as soon as possible.
In the meantime, I trust you will lend all your energies as well as those of your division to sending off our wounded prisoners and all surplus articles belonging to the army, and having them conveyed beyond Winchester. No time should be lost in accomplishing this, and I rely mainly upon you to effect it.
No one grieves more than I do at the loss suffered by your noble division in the recent conflict, or honors it more for its bravery and gallantry. It will afford me heartfelt satisfaction, when an opportunity occurs, to do all in my power to recruit its diminished ranks, and to reorganize it in the most efficient manner.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. E. LEE,
Gen.
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 986, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
