RICHMOND, VA.,
September 6, 1863.
His Excellency the PRESIDENT OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES:
Mr. PRESIDENT: I have arranged with the Quartermaster-General for the transportation of Longstreet's Corps, and have given the necessary orders for the movement of the troops and their subsistence on the road. I go to the Army of Northern Virginia to-morrow morning to assist in carrying out what has been directed, and to make whatever other arrangements may be necessary. As regards myself, should you think that the service will be benefited by my repairing to the Army of Tennessee, I will of course submit to your judgment. From your knowledge of all the circumstances attend-big the operations of both armies, you can come to a more correct conclusion than I can from my point of view. In my conversation with you on this subject when the question was proposed. I did not intend to decline the service, if desired that I should undertake it, but merely to express the opinion that the duty could be better performed by the officers already in that department.
I am, with great esteem, your obedient servant,
R. E. LEE,
General.
Source: Official Records
Commentary
The following letter from Lee to Davis expresses quite clearly that the former would have taken command of the Army of Tennessee if ordered to do so. Some critics of both Longstreet and Lee have indicated that, first, Longstreet's desire to go West was motivated purely by a desire for self-advancement. However, as the record shows, Longstreet asked Lee directly to go to the AoT and take command. Other critics then counter that this was an empty request since Longstreet would have known that Lee wouldn't accept such an assignment.
As stated, what this letter shows, if Lee can be taken at his word, is that he definitely would have taken the assignment if ordered to do so. In addition, those critics of Lee who claim he could never see past the borders of Virginia should see to this letter and consider its meaning carefully before making such an unsupported statement. Lee and Longstreet were both quality soldiers; they did their duty as they were ordered to do.