Major-General FOSTER, Fort Monroe:
Information received here indicates that part of Lee's forces have gone to Petersburg. There are various suppositions for this. Some think it is intended to put down the Union feeling in North Carolina; others, to make an attempt to capture Norfolk; others, again, to threaten Norfolk, so as to compel us to send re-enforcements there from the Army of the Potomac, and then to move rapidly against Meade. Such was the plan last spring when Longstreet invested Suffolk. It will be well to strengthen Norfolk as much as possible and to closely watch the enemy's movements. I think he will soon strike a blow somewhere.
H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief.
Source: Official Records
Commentary
General Halleck, commanding General of all Union armies, sen the following letter to General Foster in September of 1863. His concern was the reported movement of Longstreet's corps away from Lee's army. At the time, the Federals were not certain of where he would go, but from this letter we can tell that the matter was being treated with the utmost seriousness.