Samuel Cooper, Adjutant and Inspector General, writes to Robert E. Lee, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia. Referring to Confederate President Jefferson Davis, he writes "Whilst with the President last night I recd your letter of the 23rd inst." Relates that Davis had not yet heard of a plan to organize troops at Culpeper Court House under General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard. He informs Lee of a large Union force, some of whom are "in the vicinity of the White House & the remainder at Yorktown." Refers to recent damage the Union exacted on Hanover, Virginia, two days after General Montgomery Dent Corse's brigade left Hanover for Gordonsville, Virginia. He writes "Every effort is being made here to be prepared for the enemy at all points; but we must look chiefly to the protection of the capital- in doing this we may be obliged to hazzard something at other points. You can easily estimate our strength here: & I would suggest for your consideration, whether, in this state of things, you might not be able to spare a portion of your force to protect your line of communication against attempted raids of the enemy."