340 Southern Historical Society Papers,
plies. Any derangement in their arrival or disaster to the railroad would render it impossible for me to keep the army together and might force a retreat into North Carolina. There is nothing to be had in this section for men or animals. We have rations for the troops to-day and to-morrow.**
- Headquarters, June 26, 1864.
" His Excellency t President Davis :
- ** I am less uneasy about holding our position
than about our ability to procure supplies for the army. "
"Headquarters, October 21, 1864.
Honorable Secretary of War:
- " We now get bacon for our troops only once in
four days, and the Commissary Department informed Colonel Cole, chief C. S. of the army, that we must rely on cattle."
(Telegram,]
- Headquarters, January 11, 1865.
" Honorable J, A, Seddon :
" There is nothing within reach of this army to be impressed. The country is swept clean ; our only reliance is upon the railroads. We have but two days* supplies.**
" Headquarters, February 8, 1865.
- * Honorable James A, Seddon :
- "! regret to Le obliged to state under these cir-
cumstances, heightened by assaults and fire of the enemy, some of the men had been without meat for three days, and all were suffering from reduced rations and scant clothing, exposed to battle, cold, hail,
