SAVANNAH, 26th
February, 1862.
And are you really sweet sixteen? That is charming, and I
want to see you more than ever. But when that will be, my darling child, I have
no idea. I hope after the war is over we may again all be united, and I may
have some pleasant years with my children, that they may cheer the remnant of
my days. I am very glad to hear that you are progressing so well in your
studies, and that your reports are so favorable. Your mother wrote me about
them. You must continue to do likewise to the end of the session, when I hope
you will be able to join your mother. It has been a long time since I have seen
you, and you must have grown a great deal. Rob says he is told that you are a
young woman. I have grown so old, and become so changed, that you would not
know me. But I love you just as much as ever and you know how great a love that
is. You must remember me to the P's., your cousin M., Mrs. B., the C's., etc.,
and tell them how obliged I am for their kindness to you. I hope you appreciate
it, and that your manners and conduct are so well regulated as to make your
presence and company agreeable to them.
I hope you will be admired and loved by all my friends, and
acquire the friendship of all the good and virtuous. I am glad S. agrees with
you so well. You know it is considered vulgar for young ladies to eat, which I
suppose is the cause of your abstinence. But do not carry it too far, for you
know I do not admire young women who are too thin. Who is so imprudent in
Clarke as to get married? I did not think in these days of serious occurrences
that any one would engage in such trivial amusements. This is a serious period,
indeed, and the time looks dark, but it will brighten again, and I hope a kind
Providence will yet smile upon us, and give us freedom and independence. These
reverses were necessary to make us brace ourselves for the work before us. We
were getting careless and confident, and required correction. You must do all
you can for our dear country. Pray for the aid of our dear Father in Heaven for
our suffering soldiers and their distressed families. I pray day and night for
you. May Almighty God guide, guard, and protect you! I have but little time to
write, my dear daughter. You must excuse my short and dull letters. Write me
when you can, and love always your devoted father,
R. E. LEE.
SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of
Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 159-60
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