HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
January 10, 1864.

General S. COOPER,

Adjutant and Inspector General, Richmond.:

GENERAL: I have received your letter of the 9th instant in reference to request of General Longstreet to be relieved from his present command and of his corps. I do not know the reasons that have induced him to take this step, but that they are not such as to make it necessary. I do not know any one to take his place in either position. I do not think it advantageous that he and Lieutenant-General Ewell should exchange corps, believing that each corps would be more effective as at present organized. I cannot, therefore, recommend their exchange.

I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. E. LEE,

General.

Abstract from field return of the Army of Northern Virginia, General Robert E. Lee, C. S. Army, commanding, January 10, 1864; headquarters Orange Court-House, Va.

Present for duty.

Command. Officers. Men. Aggregate Aggregate

present. present

and

absent.

Second

Army

Corps,

Lieutenant

General

R. S.

Ewell:

Staff... 11 ..... 11 20

Early's 433 4,714 6,264 11,479

division..

Johnson's 437 4,476 5,638 10,547

division..

Rodes' 475 6,134 8,089 13,947

division

a..

Total... 1,356 15,324 20,002 35,993

Third Army

Corps,

Lieutenant

General

A. P.

Hill:

Staff... 12 .... 12 17

Anderson's 436 5,975 7,344 12,245

division..

Heth's 278 4,391 5,263 8,223

division

b..

Wilcox's 348 4,972 6,131 9,119

divisions

c..

Total... 1,074 15,320 18,750 29,604

Cavalry

Corps,

Major

General

J. E. B.

Stuart:

Staff.. 12 ..... 12 17

Hampton's 297 3,931 4,949 9,403

division..

Fitzhugh 274 3,617 4,479 7,915

Lee's

division..

Total.. 583 7,548 9,440 17,335

Artillery

Corps,

Brigadier

General

W. N.

Pendleton:

First Army 16 365 417 560

Corps..

Second 78 1,513 1,823 2,559

Army

Corps...

Third Army 104 2,104 2,527 3,310

Corps..

Cavalry 22 356 427 594

Corps..

Total... 220 4,338 5,194 7,023

Unattached

commands:

Valley ... ..... .... .....

District

d..

Maryland 48 701 844 1,315

Line...

Provost 21 275 378 572

guard...

Battalions 3 97 127 193

scouts,

guides,

and

couriers..

Total... 72 1,073 1.349 2,080

Grand 3,305 43,603 54,735 92,035

total...

a Twelfth Georgia, Regiment detached.

b Walerk's brigade detached.

c Thomas' brigade detached.

d Not reported.