August 24, 1863 (Wednesday): Davis Calls Lee to Richmond

Confederate White House (unc.edu)

RICHMOND, VA., August 24, 1863.
General R. E. LEE,
Commanding Army of Northern Virginia:
    For some days I have hoped to be able to visit you, wishing to consult with you on military questions of a general character. Events in the south and west continue to detain me here. If circumstances will permit your absence, I wish you to come to Richmond.


    JEFFERSON DAVIS.

Official Records, Series I., Vol. 52, Part 1, Page 759.

Davis wanted to discuss with Lee the detachment of Longstreet's Corp to send west to reenforce Bragg and force a decisive action in Tennessee.  This was a plan Davis strongly favored even prior to Gettysburg and Lee had undertaken that campaign knowing if he had not made a move forward his troops might be sent west.  With Meade not active and Bragg with too few troops to strike a decisive blow, the inevitable summons was now occurring.