Richmond Feb. 23^d '62

 

Dear [?]

                        I last night rec^d y^r letter of the 21^st I will take pleasure in laying it before the Sec'y of War tomorrow. I think there will be no objection to y^r proposition & I will do my best to have it responded to favorably as soon as possible

 

In reference to y^r questions concerning the construction of the reinlistment law I will state that on tuesday last I submitted similar ones to the Sec'y of War (given me by Maj. Edward Moore f^r four Officers of the 2^d Regt) and am promised a reply to them in writing which I expect to get tomorrow & which I will send up immediately upon its reception. Please mention this to Moore if you meet him as he may wonder why he has not yet heard from me upon the subject.

 

            I have had a conversation with Tom Harris about y^r offer of service in Missouri & he authorizes me to say that he will secure you a good position in the Army there if you fail in y^r application for a commission in Virginia. 

 

            Our recent disasters in Roanoke & F^t Donelson have aroused our gov^t (at least the Legislative branch of it to a proper realization of the perils that surround us and the most prompt & energetic steps are being taken to repair the damage & ward off the dangers There will have to be a recast of the Cabinet. Incompetent men must give place to those who are equal to the emergency. Violent attacks have been made in one House upon the Pres^t Secretaries of War & the Navy. They will be continued until the Pres^t shall put other & better men in their very important positions. In our late [?] we have greatly outnumbered the killed & wounded of the enemy three to one compared with our own losses. But we do not understand why Buckner surrendered. He ought to have cut his way through two times his own number. Nashville having no defences has been evacuated. This Donelson affair is a staggering blow to us in that region but if it arouses our people to a sterner resistance, as I feel assured it will, this loss will eventuate in gain & do good to the cause of our country. I am working to have y^r General reinforced. The Indians promised to me Benjamin now tells me will cost so much for transportation that he is evidently re- / penting of the promise (made by the Pres^t as well as himself) that we sh^d have them, but I'll press their pledge upon them for we must have more men in our valley as soon as possible. The mud I suspect being yr chief defence against an advance on Winchester.

 

            On tuesday last I moved a resolution calling for Gen^l Jackson's report &c and seeing that the "Dispatch" stated that the motion was "laid on the table" it may interest you to know that this was not the case. The resolution was passed unanimously.

 

Remember me to all my friends around you. In haste

Yrs very Truly

A R Boteler

 

P.S.

There is no doubt, I understand about Price having gained a glorious victory on the 19^th & 20^th & that he killed 700 of the enemy with a loss of but 100 of our men. Price ought to be made Generalissimo. He is the best of our leaders.

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