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