"You will order two regiments (designating the two) to march early to-morrow morning to join me."
General Heath was surprised and indignant at Lee's assumption of authority, and he said to the major, "Issue such orders at your peril!"
Then turning to Lee, he added:
"Sir, if you come to this post, and mean to issue orders here which will break the positive ones I have received I pray you do it completely yourself, and through your own deputy adjutant-general, who is present, and not draw me or any of my family in as partners in the guilt."
"It is right," answered Lee. "Colonel Scammel, do you issue the order."
"I have one more request to make," interrupted General Heath, "and that is, that you will be pleased to give me a certificate that you exercise command at this post, and order from it these regiments."
Lee objected, but General George Clinton, who was present, said:
"That is a very reasonable request, General Lee, and surely you cannot refuse it."
Without replying, he immediately wrote the following: