Headquarters

                                                Army N. V. Near

                                                  Martinsburg Sep 23rd >62

My dear Madam

Your note of the 22nd has been received .  Accept my warm thanks for the kind wishes you send to me.  I regret extremely the annoyance & loss which you have met with from stragglers of our Army.  I have directed the Cavalry to use stringent measures to collect them and send them to their --?--.  They disgrace our Army and paralyse our effective action- I fear that you can only get compensation for your losses by act of Congress as you cannot apply to any particular quarter master- Present my thanks to your daughter for the bouquet with the hope that I may meet her someday to express them in person - With many wishes for the welfare of yourself & family, I am

Very respectfully

Your obtservt

R E Lee

Genl

Official

C. Venable

 Maj&Adj