H^dQrs Wilmington

                                                                                        Nov 28^th 1864

 

Brig Gen^l E M Law

            Richmond,

                                    My Dear General—

I have received your letter. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to have you with me with a suitable command. In the event of an attack here I should consider it worth a great part of the battle to have the advantage of your skill and experience, and in such an event unless the place is to be given up for want of troops, I can promise you such a command. At present I am stripped of almost everything; even the garrisons of my forts having been reduced below the number of men needed to man the guns. There is however, great need of you even as the matter stands—

 

You can remind the President that I applied for you previous to Gen^l Hebert’s assignment, more than a year ago, Gen^l H. is in command of the forts. I need an officer to take immediate charge of all the troops in support. Let me hear from you at once. If you want a/formal application, I can make one to Gen^l Lee to whom you can show this if you choose.

 

                                    Very Truly Yours

            (signed)                       W.H.C. Whiting

                                                            Maj. Gen^l

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