Robert E. Lee to Jefferson Davis

Head Qrs A.NVa. on the field 7½ A.M. June 6 '64.

Mr. President

I think some good officer should be sent into the Valley at once to take command there and collect all the forces regulars, locals & reserves, & endeavour to drive the enemy out - I do not know Gen Vaughan who seems to be now in command - Gen. Echols has gone home sick and I think from the nature of his disease is incapacitated for field service though a most excellent officer - Gen Breckenridge is at present disabled by the fall of his horse & has gone to Richmond. From the representations made to me I think he will be well in a day or two - I recommend that he be sent out to the Valley to take command & do what is practicable in rousing the inhabitants & defending the country. Other persons of influence in that country should be sent on the same mission. Gen W. E. Jones wrote to me before reaching Staunton that he had with him 4000 infantry & dismounted cavalry, 1000 mounted men & plenty of artillery following - Gen Imboden who was at that time below Staunton wrote to me that he had 3000 men - I was in hopes their united forces would have defeated Gen. Hunter. The only assistance I can get from this army as I wrote you last night would be to send back Wharton's & Echols' brigades numbering now about 2100 muskets - They are now in reserve & I have ordered them to be provisioned for two days - I have also sent into Richmond to ascertain whether they could be transported by rail to Staunton & in what time. These are elements necessary to a proper decision in the case. It is apparent that if Grant cannot be successfully resisted here we cannot hold the Valley - If he is defeated it can be recovered - But unless a sufficient force can be had in that country to restrain the movements of the enemy, he will do us great evil & in that event I think it would be better to restore to Gen. Breckinridge the troops drawn from him. The enemy is now moving in my front - He is withdrawing from our left but I have not yet been able to discover what is his purpose or intention. I fear he may have, during the night thrown a force across the Chickahominy below as Prisoners taken in front of Longstreets & Ewell's corps day before yesterday stated that they belonged to Gilmore's corps & that the whole of that corps had united with Gen Grant & that Gilmore was here in person - That there was nothing left at Bermuda Hundred except negro troops & some cavalry - Their statements must always be taken with hesitation, but the officers, who examined them say that they were apparently telling what they believed to be true. I am very respectfully

Your obt servt

R. E. Lee Genl.