General Robert E. Lee to Margaret Stuart, March 29, 1864

CAMP, ORANGE CO., 29th March, 1864.

I take advantage, dear Cousin Margaret, of the opportunity offered by the accompanying letter to acknowledge the receipt tonight of yours of the 28th. The superscription of this missent epistle reminds me strongly of the chirography of Gen. Edward Johnson. The suspicions of the postmasters at least have been excited from its being turned out of its way to me. Its arrival with your note is somewhat of a suggestive coincidence. I think I ought to send it to your mother. But I feel I can trust you, and that you will not forget your promise. I hope you are not beginning to think of leaving Richmond yet. Remain until warm weather. I shall have no hope of seeing you after you cross the Rappahannock. I know what a comfort you will be to your poor Cousin Mary. You will relieve her of her pains and I trust hasten her relief from her great affliction. Then you ought to come and see me. The indications at present are that we shall have a hard struggle. General Grant is with the Army of Potomac. All the officers' wives are sick and have been sent to Washington. No ingress or egress from the lines are now permitted, nor are papers allowed to come out. They claim to be assembling a large force. You must give us your sweet prayers, for you always have the love of,

Yours affectionately,

R. E. LEE.

SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 301

General Robert E. Lee to Mary Custis Lee, April 21, 1864

Orange County, April 21, 1864.

Your note with bag of socks reached me last evening. The number was correct — thirty-one pairs. I sent them to the Stonewall brigade, which is not yet supplied. Sixty-one pairs from the ladies in Fauquier have reached Charlottesville, and I hope will be distributed soon. Now that Miss Bettie Brander has come to the aid of my daughters, the supply will soon be increased.

SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 300

General Robert E. Lee to Mary Custis Lee, April, 2, 1864

April 2, 1864.

Your note with the socks arrived last evening. I have sent them to the Stonewall brigade; they number all right — thirty pairs. Including this last parcel of thirty pairs, I have sent to that brigade two hundred and sixty-three pairs. Still, there are about one hundred and forty whose homes are within the enemy's lines and who are without socks. I shall continue to furnish them till all are supplied. Tell the young women to work hard for the brave Stonewallers.

SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 300

General Robert E. Lee to Mary Custis Lee, March 18, 1864

March 18, 1864

I arrived safely yesterday. There were sixty-seven pairs of socks in the bag I brought up instead of sixty-four, as you supposed, and I found here three dozen pairs of beautiful white-yarn socks, sent over by our kind cousin Julia and sweet little Carrie, making one hundred and three pairs, all of which I sent to the Stonewall brigade. One dozen of the Stuart socks had double heels. Can you not teach Mildred¹ that stitch? They sent me also some hams, which I had rather they had eaten. I pray that you may be preserved and relieved from all your troubles, and that we may all be again united here on earth and forever in heaven.

__________

¹ His daughter.

SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 298-9

General Robert E. Lee to Mary Custis Lee, December 27, 1863

Sunday Morning, December 27, 1863.

Custis's dispatch which I received last night demolished all the hopes in which I had been indulging during the day of dear Charlotte's recovery. It has pleased God to take from us one exceedingly dear to us, and we must be resigned to His holy will. She, I trust, will enjoy peace and happiness forever, while we must patiently struggle on under all the ills that may be in store for us. What a glorious thought it is that she has joined her little cherubs and our Angel Annie¹ in heaven! Thus is link by link of the strong chain broken that binds us to earth, and smoothes our passage to another world. Oh, that we may be at last united in that haven of rest, where trouble and sorrow never enter, to join in an everlasting chorus of praise and glory to our Lord and Saviour! I grieve for our lost darling as a father only can grieve for a daughter, and my sorrow is heightened by the thought of the anguish her death will cause our dear son, and the poignancy it will give to the bars of his prison. May God in His mercy enable him to bear the blow He has so suddenly dealt and sanctify it to his everlasting happiness.

__________

¹ Daughter of General Robert E. Lee.

SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 297-8

General Robert E. Lee to Margaret Stuart, December 25, 1863

ORANGE, 25th December, 1863.

MY DEAR COUS1N MARGARET:

I take advantage of a few quiet moments this holy morning to write to you, for the thought of you always brings me pleasure and adds to my causes for gratitude to our merciful God for all the blessings bestowed upon me. I have recently returned from Richmond, where I thought much of you and wished for your presence that afforded so much pleasure to my former visit. I caught glimpses of sweet Carrie, but she was so surrounded by her little beaux that little could be got from her. But there was one tall one with her, a signal man of that voracious family of Randolphs, whom I threatened with Castle Thunder. I did not see her look at Rob once. But you know he is to take her home on certain conditions. I hope your mother has given her consent and that the cakes are baking. I also saw happy Mrs. Ada. Her face was luminous with content and she looked as if she thought there was but one person in the world. Mrs. Randolph was as handsome as ever, and she was as kind and sweet as she is beautiful. Nothing more can be said for her. Mr. R. is much better, looks indeed quite well. But I was grieved at the condition in which I found your poor Cousin Mary. She is now a great sufferer. Cannot walk at all, can scarcely move, but Mildred has returned and I hope now she will be more comfortable. She is going to move to my old quarters next to Mrs. Randolph. Go down and help disperse the club. The members are all aghast. Custis says he cannot be married now till six months after the ratification of peace — the day on which all the public dues are payable. So you will have to visit Maggie. I left Richmond with a sad heart. Charlotte, who was so well on my arrival, looking like herself again, so cheerful, affectionate and sweet, was taken sick two or three days before my departure and completely prostrated. She seemed exceedingly weak, though somewhat relieved the night before I left. The change between my arrival and departure was so sudden and unexpected to me, that I am filled with sadness, yet can do nothing. I pray she may be relieved. You must give a great deal of love to your father and mother for me. May every happiness attend you also and may a kind God in His infinite mercy before the return of the anniversary of this blessed day, give us our independence and restore us to peace and happiness.

Truly and aff'y, your cousin,

R. E. LEE.

MISS MARGARET STUART.

SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 296

General Robert E. Lee to Mary Custis Lee, December 4, 1863

CAMP RAPIDAN, December 4, 1863.

You will probably have seen that General Meade has retired to his old positions on the Rappahannock without giving us battle. I had expected, from his movements and all that I had heard, that it was his intention to do so, and after the first day, when I thought it necessary to skirmish pretty sharply with him on both flanks to ascertain his views, I waited patiently his attack. On Tuesday, however, I thought he had changed his mind, and that night made preparations to move around his left next morning and attack him. But when day dawned he was nowhere to be seen. He had commenced to withdraw at dark Tuesday evening. We pursued to the Rapidan, but he was over. Owing to the nature of the ground, it was to our advantage to receive rather than to make the attack, and as he about doubled us in numbers, I wished to have that advantage. I am greatly disappointed at his getting off with so little damage, but we do not know what is best for us. I believe a kind God has ordered all things for our good.

SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 296

General Robert E. Lee to Mary Custis Lee, November 25, 1863

November 25, 1863.

The kindness exhibited toward you as well as myself by our people, in addition to exciting my gratitude, causes me to reflect how little I have done to merit it, and humbles me in my own eyes to a painful degree. I am very sorry the weather was so bad that I could not give the President a review. I wanted him to see the troops, and wanted them to see him.

SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 295

General Robert E. Lee to Mary Custis Lee, November 21, 1863

CAMP, November 21, 1863.

I see by the papers that our son has been sent to Fort Lafayette. Any place would be better than Fort Monroe with Butler in command. His long confinement is very grievous to me, yet it may all turn out for the best.

SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 295

General Robert E. Lee to Mary Custis Lee, October 19, 1863

October 19, 1863

I have returned to the Rappahannock. I did not pursue with the main army beyond Bristoe or Broad Run. Our advance went as far as Bull Run, where the enemy was intrenched, extending his right as far as Chantilly, in the yard of which he was building a redoubt. I could have thrown him farther back, but I saw no chance of bringing him to battle, and it would have only served to fatigue our troops by advancing farther. If they had been properly provided with clothes I would certainly have endeavored to have thrown them north of the Potomac; but thousands were barefooted, thousands with fragments of shoes, and all without overcoats, blankets, or warm clothing. I could not bear to expose them to certain suffering on an uncertain issue.

SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 289-90

General Robert E. Lee to Brigadier General G. W. Custis Lee, August 18, 1863

CAMP ORANGE, August 18, 1863.

MY DEAR CUSTIS:

I have received your letter of the 15th, and thank you for the information of your mother, and Fitzhugh, etc.

I have been much exercised as to how I can pay my taxes. I have looked out for assessors and gatherers in vain. I have sent to find collectors in the counties where I have been, without success. I wish to pay the amount as a matter of right and conscience, and for the benefit of the State, but cannot accomplish it. I see too by the papers that unless a man pays by the 9th of September, he is charged double. That will come hard on those who have always been anxious to meet the requirements of law. Can you pay for me in Richmond? I do not know what I am chargeable for or how much I am to pay. I have nothing now not in the hands of the enemy, except $5,000 in C. S. bonds, which are not taxable I believe, and $5,000 or $8,000 in N. C. bonds, I forget which, that you may recollect have not been issued to me for want of a receipt that cannot be found. Perhaps there is a memorandum in my private box. Mr. Macfarland knows. I do not know how those coupon bonds, I hold, of the States, etc., within the U. S. that are beyond my reach, and some you know not available, and which do not pay, are considered.

In addition, I own three horses, a watch, my apparel and camp equipage. You know the condition of the estates of your grandfather. They are either in the hands of the enemy, or beyond my reach. The negroes have been liberated, everything swept off of them, houses, fences, etc., all gone. The land alone remains a waste. See if you can find some one that can enlighten you as to what I am to pay, both for myself and as executor of your grandfather's estates, and pay for me. I will send a check for the amount, if you will inform me. Give much love to all friends, and accept my warm love and prayers for your health and happiness.

Very truly and aff'y,

R. E. LEE.

GEN. G. W. CUSTIS LEE.

SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 288-9

General Robert E. Lee to Brigadier General G. W. Custis Lee, August 10, 1863

CAMP ORANGE, 10th August, 1863.

MY DEAR CUSTIS:

I send a draft, No. 107, of the 7th inst. of Capt. H. C. Fairfax, a q. m. on Treasurer C. S. for $1500, in my favor, made payable to your order, which I wish you would deposit to my credit in Farmers Bank of Virginia at Richmond.

Rob's trunk arrived safely yesterday, but the lieutenant had gone. It will be as difficult to get it to him now as before. We are all well. Our horses improve slowly this hot weather on short forage. We get grass and hay but little grain.

However, this latter is increasing. I send a letter to your mother. It is addressed as she directed; but I fear, as I hear nothing from her, there is no mail communication.

If there is, please mail it. The enemy seems quiet now. The heat is excessive. We never move but we lose some horses, and men fall from exhaustion. Remember me to all friends, and believe me always,

Your father,

R. E. LEE.

GEN. G. W. CUSTIS LEE.

SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 288

General Robert E. Lee to Colonel G. W. Custis Lee, May 11, 1863

CAMP, 11th May, 1863.

MY DEAR CUSTIS:

These hot days remind me I must prepare to lighten my clothing. Will you send me, by Thomas, the messenger of the A. and I. Gen'l., my gray sack, cotton drawers, and some cotton socks that I sent down last fall. Upon their arrival, I will send my flannels and will get you to put them in my trunk. You must excuse all the trouble I give you. I have no one else to aid me, and cannot leave here.

If the President cannot visit the army, I must go to him for a day at least. In that event, I could make these exchanges myself. I found Ham in this army, and requested his employer to send him down to Mr. Eacho to get his free papers.

I have not heard whether he obtained them. I heard from your mother yesterday. She was at Shirly, but did not seem satisfied. I fear she is no better. I wish I could do something for her relief. You will have heard of the death of General Jackson. It is a terrible loss. I do not know how to replace him. Any victory would be dear at such a cost. But God's will be done. His body goes to R. today. Give love to all.

Truly and aff. your father,

R. E. LEE.

COL. G. W. CUSTIS LEE.

SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 287-8

General Robert E. Lee to Colonel G. W. Custis Lee, March 31, 1863

HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA,

MARCH 31, 1863.

MY DEAR CUSTIS:

I send you a note which I have lately received from Mr. Crockford. I have written to him to request that Harrison be sent to Mr. Eacho. Will you have his free papers given him?

I see that the Va. Central R. R. is offering $40 a month and board. I would recommend he engage with them, or on some other work at once. Can you get the proper evidence of Reuben's death and from what cause?

He was of such a turbulent disposition that I have feared he may have caused it. I hope you may have been able to recover Parks. As regards Leanthe and Jim, I presume they had better remain with Mrs. D. this year, and at the end of it devote their earnings to their own benefit. But what can be done with poor little Jim? It would be cruel to turn him out on the world. He could not take care of himself.

He had better be bound out to some one, until he can be got to his grandfather's. His father is unknown, and his mother dead or in unknown parts. I heard from poor little Rob the other day. He was well. Our bad weather continues. The ground this morning was covered with an inch or two of snow. An easterly rain is now prevailing, which will doubtless carry it all off, leaving us in a delightful slush of mud. I have no news. We have only to suffer. Cannot move, and the enemy will not.

Give much love to your mother and Agnes. I hope you are all well. I am in very indifferent health. But hope I shall improve. I am weak, feverish, and altogether good for nothing, at the very time I require all my strength.

Your affectionate father,

R. E. LEE.

G. W. CUSTIS LEE.

SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 286-7

General Robert E. Lee to Colonel G. W. Custis Lee, March 3, 1863

CAMP, 3d March, 1863.

MY DEAR CUSTIS:

Will you send the enclosed note to Mr. Taylor? Our mails are very uncertain now. It contains a draft. If my pants are done, will you give them to Mr. Thomas, the bearer, who will bring them up tomorrow. If they are not, keep them. I am in my last pair, and very sensitive, fearful of an accident. Our Federal neighbors are quiet. Their balloons are up during the day watching our movements, and remain up half the night observing our camp-fires. They seem to be expecting us to move, and are quite vigilant. They appear in great numbers in our front, and no manifestations yet of their intentions. Give much love to your mother and Agnes, and present me to all friends.

Very truly your father,

R. E. LEE.

COL. G. W. CUSTIS LEE.

SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 286

General Robert E. Lee to Colonel G. W. Custis Lee, January 11, 1863

CAMP, 11th January, 1863.

I am delighted, my dear son, at your safe return to Richmond and to learn of your good health. Your letter which I have just received also strengthens my hope of our ability to hold the Mississippi. God grant that the integrity of the Confederacy may be thus preserved. I hope we will be able to do something for the servants. I executed a deed of manumission, embracing all the names sent me by your mother, and some that I recollected, but as I had nothing to refer to, but my memory, I fear many are omitted. It was my desire to manumit all the people of your grandfather, whether present on the several estates or not. I believe your mother only sent me the names of those present at the W. H. and Romancoke. Those that have left with the enemy may not require their manumission. Still, some may be found hereafter in the State, and at any rate I wished to give a complete list, and to liberate all, to show that your grandfather's wishes, so far as I was concerned, had been fulfilled. Do you not think that is the best course? If you can get the complete list, you can either have a deed drawn up embracing the whole, or a supplementary deed embracing those who have been omitted, stating they had been carried from the plantations by the enemy. Mr. Caskie says six men have been sent to Mr. Eacho by Mr. Chas. Scott, viz.: Obediah, George, Wesley, Henry, Edward, and Oscar.

The latter may be intended for Parks, or Austin, but one of them is missing. Can you ascertain which, and where he is? Harrison was hired to the contractor of the Orange & Alex. R. R. Can you find out where he is? I shall pay wages to Perry and retain him until he or I can do better. You can do the same with Billy. The rest that are hired out had better be furnished with their papers, and be let go. But what can be done with those at the W. H. and Romancoke? Those at and about Arlington can take care of themselves I hope, and I have no doubt but all are gone who desire to do so. At any rate I can do nothing for them now.

I am glad to receive the accts. of sales of the coupons. Those due on the 1st inst. you can retain as long as you think proper.

SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 285-6

General Robert E. Lee to Mary Custis Lee, September 18, 1863

Camp Near Orange Court House, September 18, 1863

The enemy state that they have heard of a great reduction in our forces here, and are now going to drive us back to Richmond. I trust they will not succeed. But our hope and refuge is in our merciful Father in heaven.

SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 285

General Robert E. Lee to Mary Custis Lee, September 4, 1863

Camp Near Orange Court House, September 4, 1863

You see I am still here. When I last wrote, the indications were that the enemy would move against us any day; but this past week he has been very quiet, and seems at present to continue so. I was looking at him yesterday – from Clark's Mountain. He has spread himself over a large surface, and looks immense, but I hope will not prove as formidable as he looks. He has, I believe, been sending off some of his troops to reinforce Rosecrans, and has been getting up others; among them several negro regiments are reported. I can discover no diminution.

SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 285

Robert E. Lee to Mary Custis Lee, August 23, 1863

Camp Near Orange Court House, August 23, 1863

You may see that a distinguished arrival at Washington is chronicled in the papers of that city, Miss Catherine Burke.¹ She is reported to have given interesting accounts of the Lee family.  My camp is near Mr. Erasmus Taylor's house, who has been very kind in contributing to our comfort. His wife sends us every day buttermilk, loaf bread, ice, and such vegetables as she has. I cannot get her to desist, though I have made two special visits to that effect. All the brides have come on a visit to the army — Mrs. Ewell, Mrs. Walker, Mrs. Heth, etc. General Meade's army is north of the Rappahannock, along the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. He is very quiet.

__________

¹ This was one of the colored servants from Arlington.

SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 284-5

General Robert E. Lee to Colonel G. W. Custis Lee, June 13, 1863

Richmond, Virginia,

June 13, 1863.

I send down Colonel Long to see if possible what this move of the enemy up the Peninsula is. I believe it to be a raid to destroy our crops and lay waste our country. All the accounts I get agree in stating that the enemy has sent off his troops from Suffolk, Yorktown, Gloucester, etc., to reinforce General Hooker.

He can only have a small force in that region, which he has wholly collected for this expedition. We must do the same and beat him back at all hazards. General Hooker's army has not moved in that direction as far as I can be certain of anything in war. It is extending now up the Rappahannock.

I hope Fitzhugh is doing well. Let me know how he gets on. Give much love to your mother and sisters and remember me to all friends.

God bless you all.

SOURCES:  John William Jones, Life and Letters of Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 246-7; For the date of this letter and a full transcription see Clifford Dowdey and Louis H. Manarin, Editors,The Wartime Papers of R. L. Lee, p. 514.