336 Southern Historical Society Papers.
in ihe pursuit of the enemy under all the trials and privations to which it is exposed.'*
The dates and the address of the letters are given, so that we may see when, where, and to whom they were written. They are as fol- lows :
- ' Alexandria and Leesburg Road,
'* Near Dranesville, September 3, 1862.
" His Excellency, President Davis :
- The army is poorly equipped for the invasion of an enemy's
territory. It lacks much of the material of war, is feeble in trans- portation, the animals being much reduced, and the men are poorly provided with shoes, clothes, and in thousands of instances are desti- tute of shoes." * '*' * * * ** If the Quartermaster's Depart- ment can furnish any shoes it would be the greatest relief. We have entered upon September, and the nights are becoming cool."
"Two Miles from Frederick, Md.,
- September 7, 1862.
" His Excellency, President Davis :
- I shall endeavor to purchase horses, clothing, shoes, and medical
stores for our present use, and you will see the facility that would arise from being provided with the means of paying for them.*'
report of the capture of harper's ferry and operations
in maryland.
- Ahhough not properly equipped for invasion, lacking much of
the material of war and feeble in transportation, the troops poorly provided with clothing, and thousands of them destitute of shoes, it was yet believed to be strong enough to detain the enemy upon the northern frontier until the approach of winter should render his ad- vance into Virginia difficult if not impossible." ******
- ' The arduous service in which our troops had been engaged, their
great privations of rest and food, and the long marches without shoes over mountain roads had greatly reduced our ranks before the action (Antietam) began."
