Robert E. Lee to Braxton Bragg

I directed Col Stevens this morning to throw a ponton bridge across the river at Chafin's Bluff, for which he thought he had, or could obtain sufficient material I do not think it would be well to remove the Ponton Bridge now at Drewry's Bluff, and if we can only maintain one across that part of the river, that at Drewry's would be more generally advantageous.

A bridge below Chafin's Bluff would be more exposed to the enemy's gunboats and would prevent free access of our own to the batteries at Chafin's. Very respy

Your obt servt

R. E. Lee