HEADQUARTERS, July 15,
1862.
My Dear Fitz:
I have just received your letter of the 13th. I am very
sorry to hear of the sufferings of the wounded prisoners, and wish I could
relieve them. I proposed to General McClellan on Tuesday, before the battle of
that day, to parole and send to him all his wounded if he would receive them.
Since that the arrangement has been made, and the sick and wounded are now
being conveyed to him. This will relieve them very much, and enable us to
devote our attention to those retained. In addition, the enemy has at last
agreed to a general exchange of all prisoners of war, and Generals Dix and D.
H. Hill are to meet tomorrow to commence the negotiations. I hope in this way
much relief will be afforded; at first the hospitals were overtaxed, men could
not be had to bury the dead, and the sufferings of all were increased. Friend
Clitz ought to recollect that this is a matter of his own seeking, and he has
only to blame himself. I will still be happy to do for him all I can, and will
refer your letter to the director of the hospital if I can find him. Your
loving uncle,
R. E. LEE.
GEN. FITZ LEE.
[Editors Note: Fitzhugh Lee at the date of this writing the
Colonel of the 1st Virginia Cavalry, on July 25, 1862 he was nominated to the
rank of Brigadier General. His
nomination was confirmed on September 30, 1862 and his rank oas Brigadier
General was backdated to July 24, 1862.]
SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of
Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 185-6
No comments:
Post a Comment