Letter from General R. E. Lee to General W. N. Pendleton.
General,—Your letter of the 8th instant, inclosing one from Major Page, reached me at a time when I was pressed by business that had accumulated during my absence.
I cannot now give the matter much attention, and have only been able to read partially Major Page's letter.
I think the report of my dissatisfaction at your conduct is given upon small grounds, the statement apparently of your courier, upon whom I turned my back.
I must acknowledge I have no recollection of the circumstances, or of anything upon which it could be based.
The guns were withdrawn from the heights of Fredericksburg under general instructions given by me. It is difficult now to say, with the after-knowledge of events, whether these instructions could at the time have been better executed, or
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whether if all the guns had remained in position, as you state there was not enough infantry supports for those retained, more might not have been captured.
I am, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
R. E. Lee, General.
P. S.—I return Major Page's letter and the copy of your report.
R. E. L.
