Final answer:
General Lee communicated his concerns and the dire military situation to President Davis, particularly his army's need for supplies and reinforcements. Davis tried to manage both the war effort and internal turmoil, offering assistance during a riot but also facing his own political and legal challenges, including a treason trial.
Step-by-step explanation:
General Robert E. Lee communicated with President Jefferson Davis on multiple occasions during the Civil War. However, one crucial point to address is that after the surrender of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox to General Ulysses S. Grant, Lee had no direct say in the political decisions of President Davis. Davis himself faced significant challenges at this time, including civil unrest among the population and an impending trial for treason. Among his actions, Davis attempted to personally quell a riot by offering sympathy, money, and a promise of food, along with a threat of violence if the rioters did not disperse. Davis's later imprisonment, trial proceedings, and the dropping of charges were a part of the post-war struggles faced by the Confederate leadership.
On matters pertaining to war decisions, President Davis did receive reports and pleas from General Lee, notably when Lee was facing serious supply and manpower shortages, which impacted the Confederate Army's capacity to continue the fight. In winter 1865, Lee expressed to Davis and the Confederate Congress the dire situation of his troops, lamenting their inaction in the face of his army's needs. Davis and his congress were in a difficult position, trying to manage war strategy but also internal politics and a deteriorating military situation.