Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 18.djvu/237

 Major-General Stephen D. Ramseur. 237

affray. While each of these generals mentioned Ramseur and his brigade in the most flattering terms, I will not stop to quote from their reports. I prefer to hasten on, and call your attention to what will be recognized by every soldier of that army as one of the highest compliments and most distinguished tributes that could have been paid to Ramseur and his command. I beg you to pause and reflect upon the force and power of each expression. It emanates from one not given to compliments, but who, in all of his public communica- tions, seemed to weigh and carefully consider each word that he used. I am confident that the existence of this letter was not known either to Ramseur or to any of his command when written, and came to my notice for the first time only very recently.

GENERAL LEE'S TRIBUTE.

It reads as follows:

" HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,

"June 4th, 1863. " His EXCELLENCY ZEBULON B. VANCE,

" Governor of North Carolina, Raleigh :

"GOVERNOR: I have the honor to call the attention of your Excellency to the reduced condition of Brigadier- General Ramseur's brigade. Its ranks have been much thinned by the casualties of the battles in which it has been engaged, in all of which it has rendered conspicuous service. I consider its brigade and regimental com- manders as among the best of their respective grades in the army, and in the battle of Chancellorsville, where the brigade was much distinguished and suffered severely, General Ramseur was among those whose conduct was especially commended to my notice by Lieutenant-General Jackson in a message sent to me after he was wounded. I am very desirous that the efficiency of this brigade should be increased by filling its ranks, and respectfully ask that, if it be in your power, you will send on recruits for its various regiments as soon as possible. If this cannot be done I would recommend that two additional regiments be sent to it if they can be had. I am sat- isfied that the men could be used in no better way to render valuable service to the country and win credit for themselves and their State.

" I am, with great respect, . Your obedient servant,

(Signed) " R. E. LEE, General."