"The heavy guns at Manassas and Evansport, needed elsewhere, and
reported to be useless in their present position, would
necessarily be abandoned in any hasty retreat. I regret that you
find it impossible to move them.
"The subsistence stores should, when removed, be placed in
positions to answer your future wants. Those can not be
determined until you have furnished definite information as to
your plans, especially the line to which you would remove in the
contingency of retiring. The Commissary-General had previously
stopped further shipments to your army, and given satisfactory
reasons for the establishment at Thoroughfare.[191] ...
"I need not urge on your consideration the value to our country
of arms and munitions of war: you know the difficulty with which
we have obtained our small supply; that, to furnish heavy
artillery to the advanced posts, we have exhausted the supplies
here which were designed for the armament of the city defenses.
Whatever can be, should be done to avoid the loss of these
guns....
"As has been my custom, I have only sought to present general
purposes and views. I rely upon your special knowledge and high
ability to effect whatever is practicable in this our hour of
need. Recent disasters have depressed the weak, and are
depriving us of the aid of the wavering.
Pages:
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722