| Headquarters |
| Near Knoxville |
| December 2, 1863 |
| |
| Hon. R. L. Owen |
| President of Virginia & East
Tennessee Railroad {East Tennessee
& Virginia RR} |
| |
| The enemy has cut my
communication with General Bragg's army, and I am so situated as to
make me dependent upon your road as a base. May I ask that you will
adopt such measures as may be in your power to have your road put in
condition to supply me here as soon as possible? Major Wallace, the
president of the Georgia and East Tennessee Railroad {East
Tennessee & Georgia RR}, goes to Bristol to offer his
services and hands to you to aid in restoring my communication as
soon as possible. |
| I am, sir, very respectfully, your
obedient servant, |
| J. Longstreet |
| Lieutenant-General |
|