On April 17 the Virginia convention had passed an ordinance authorizing the governor to accept the service of volunteers and to invite Virginia officers in the United States army and navy to join the armed forces of Virginia, with rank at least equal to that which they held under the Union.{2120} Acting on this authority, Governor Letcher on the 18th, the day of Lee’s interview with Blair, sent David Funsten{2121} of Alexandria, who was then in Richmond, on a mission to Lee to acquaint him with the action of the convention, and to ask whether he would accept the call of Virginia.{2122} Owing to the interruption of traffic, Mr. Funsten was not able to reach Alexandria. After waiting for a day for some word from Funsten, the governor on the 19th dispatched Judge Robertson to interview Colonel Lee, General Scott, and probably some others.{2123} Judge Robertson was turned back on the 19th because the Federal authorities had seized the mail boats on the Potomac,{2124} but on the 20th he started again by way of Gordonsville, reached Alexandria, learned from Daingerfield that Lee had resigned, and so advised Letcher.{2125} Meantime, Letcher had received Robertson’s telegram. On Sunday, April 21, the governor decided to tender Lee the chief command of the Virginia forces and sent still another messenger to notify him that if he accepted, Letcher would submit his name to the convention for confirmation.{2126}