on the road to Chambersburg. But if the roads which your troops take are good, they had better follow you. *

R. E. LEE,

General.

PETERSBURG, June 28, 1863.

Honorable JAMES A. SEDDON:

The stripping of Petersburg seems to me be very dangerous.

Respectfully,

D. H. HILL,

Major-General.

PETERSBURG, June 28, 1863.

Honorable JAMES A. SEDDON:

I will leave here at 11 o`clock for Richmond. I would be glad to know definitely before leaving whether to order up Colquitt to-day.

Respectfully,

D. H. HILL,

Major-General.

WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A., Richmond, June 28, 1863.

General CORSE,

Gordonsville, Va.:

If you have no reason to expect an advance of the enemy on Gordonsville, leave about 200 men, with some artillery, at that place, and with your brigade come down to this city. I have ordered the local companies from Albemarle to collect at Gordonsville, to aid in defending that place. Telegraph if you can come.

J. A. SEDDON,

Secretary of War.

[JUNE 29, 1863. -For Cooper to Lee, in relation to affairs in Virginia, see Part I, p. 75.]

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, June 29, 1863.

Major General GEORGE E. PICKETT,
Commanding Division:

GENERAL: Your letter of the 21st instant, in reference to the condition and strength of your division has bee received, and in reply I am directed by the commanding general to say that he has repeatedly requested that the two brigades be returned, and had hoped that at least one of them (Corse`s) would have been sent to the division ere this. There is no other brigade in the army which could be as-

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* Noted in letter-book as copied from memory.

See p. 910.

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