338 Southern Historical Society Papers.
encountering them without suffering. I should otherwise have endea- vored to detain General Meade near the Potomac if I could not throw him to the north side/'
" Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia,
'* October 19, 1863.
" Honorable James A, Seddon, Secretary of War :
- If General Meade is disposed to remain quiet where he is, it was
my intention, provided the army could be supplied with clothing, again to advance and threaten his position. Nothing could prevent my continuing in his front but the destitute condition of the men, thousands of whom are barefooted, a greater number partially shod, and nearly all without overcoats, blankets, or warm clothing. I think the sublimest sight of the war was the cheerfulness and alac- rity exhibited by this army in pursuit of the enemy under all the trials and privations to which it is exposed. * *
" Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia,
" December 22, 1863.
- Major' General J, A, Early :
- * * * "Of course you will not take what is necessary for
the subsistence of the people, but leave enough for that, and secure all the rest of the articles named, and any others — such as shoes, horseshoes, horseshoe-nails, that you can get.**
" Headquarters, January 2, 1864.
- His Excellency y Jefferson Davis:
- * Many of the infantry are without shoes, and the cavalry worn
down by their pursuit of Averell. We are now issuing to the troops a fourth of a pound of salt meat, and have only three days' supply at that rate/*
