(Confidential)
Hd Qrs Cav Corps A.N.Va.
April 9th 1864
My Dear
Custis;
Many thanks
for your very kind letter. It has
relieved me entirely on the subject of my letter of (Decr 31st).
I am very
grateful to you for inquiring as to my predilections for the Holmes Dept.
With this
Army, I have been constantly identified without missing a skirmish from the
beginning of the war, and have gained an intimate topographical knowledge of
the country from the James to beyond the Potomac. I have I believe given earned the approbation of the
successive commanders of this army, and it is also particularly gratifying to
know through you that the same appreciation has been expressed by His
Excellency the President. You will, I
trust, pardon the egotism, when I allude also to the confidence my immediate
command have in my leadership, and to the greeting with cheers by the Infantry
Corps (which also I have commanded in battle) – in order to show you how natural
it is my preference should be with these surroundings, on my native
heath. But paramount to every
personal consideration or private motive My Sword’s My Country’s.
If therefore
His Excellency the President, occupying as he does a standpoint from which, he
can view the whole country, its wants, necessities, and emergencies,
believe that my promotion with the view to assignment to the Transmississippi
Dept. would be productive of more good to the interests of the Confederacy at
large, than my continuance in this army, I shall cheerfully accept it, and
(whatever may be my private regrets at severing the connection) I shall bring
to the faithful discharge of its difficult duties whatever of energy and
ability I possess.
I regret that
the confidential character of your letter prevented my showing it to Gen’l R.E.
Lee, but I take it for granted that whatever is done will be done by his advice
or concurrance.
Believe me Dear Custis
Your sincere friend –
J.E.B.Stuart
Confidential & Private
P.S. As a
postscript to the accompanying letter which is of a more formal nature than
this, I thought I would enter a little more into details than such a letter
permitted. I allude to the obstacles in
the way of my assignment as Lt Gen’l vice Holmes. It seems to me that, there is such a strong popular feeling in
favor of Price out there that my appt might do more harm than good to the
cause. Is there not danger of a
repetition of the Heth business, and my rejection by the Senate because of
Price? Is there any assurance that my
appt would be productive of harmony & more thorough co-operation? These are serious considerations bearing on
the public policy of the measure, but which I take it for granted will duly
enter into the Presdt’s review of the subject.
Again, as Gen’l Lee has done me the honor to mention my name favorably
in connection with the command of an Infy Corps is it not probably that he had
reference to one of the Corps in this Army, where I am no doubt more favorably
known than anywhere else. In this connection
might not the transfer of one of these Lt Generals to the command of so
important a Dept. better accommodate discontent and rivalries out there than
the appt of myself (a new appointment) expressly to take that command. Besides according to military usage, it is
proper to give a senior an independent command in preference to a junior &
could therefore give no just cause of offence to either of these Lt.
Generals. Now a few words as regards my
own command here – the Cavalry. Hampton
is not the man for such a command, and I know he will not suit Gen’l
Lee, nor the peculiar difficulties requisites of such a station. Hampton is a gallant officer, a nice
Gentleman, and has done meritorious service, but there you must stop. But he is not the man for such a
place. I am satisfied he is not content
with his present place, he has frequently expressed to me the desire to serve
in the west, and if there is the remotest intention to promote me, it would be
a measure highly conducive to the public interest to assign him to the command
of the District of the Mississippi before my promotion, to operate with his
Cavalry & Horse Artillery against gun-boats. It is a species of warfare which would suit him exactly & for
which he has peculiar fitness. He would
be flattered by such an assignment would render good service & if
would be in a region of country perfectly familiar to him. I feel perfectly confident that he would put
a stop to the mercantile navigation of the Mississippi. If necessary bring S.D. Lee who is his
junior to this army. Fitz Lee is young,
active, of a comprehensive grasp, and possesses wonderful facilities for
wielding and combining masses, being specially fitted by education & a
large experience for Cavalry service command. He is as it were the genius of Cavalry – (we must making stop
drinking for the war) and I will guaranty success, wise conceptions and
brilliant executions. Your father will
never apply for Hampton’s removal or transfer because his son & nephew are
immediately affected by it but he told me not long ago that he wished Hampton
would go and stay – very emphatically – He will wear on and let his hair
be whitened more, as he once said he owed many of his gray hairs to McLaws.
The matter
requires prompt action, I think the present a very favorable opportunity, I
desire & have recommended Rooney’s promotion, & to have in his Div. one
of Hampton’s old brigades but he (Hampton) will still have 3, but I expect him
to complain, it will then be a favorable opportunity to get give him the
command of the District of the Mississippi.
I see by the Yankee papers that steamboats are running regularly laden
with cotton, on the Mississippi. Dont
neglect this Postscript for it is very important to the country. I think certainly so far as it refers to the
Cavalry.
I think there
is very little room for doubt that Old Virginia will again be bathed in blood
this spring & summer.
God grant us
the victory.
Love to all –
Has the subject of Rooney’s appt been referred to Bragg? Yours truly & ever
J.E.B.Stuart