CAMP, PETERSBURG, July
24, 1864.
The ladies of Petersburg have sent me a nice set of shirts.
They were given to me by Mrs. James R. Branch and her mother, Mrs. Thomas
Branch. In fact, they have given me everything — which I fear they cannot spare — vegetables,
bread, milk, ice cream. Today one of them sent me a nice peach — the first one
I think I have seen for two years. I sent it to Mrs. Shippen. Mr. Piatt held
services again today under the trees near my camp. We had quite a large
congregation of citizens, ladies, and gentlemen, and our usual number of
soldiers. During the services I constantly heard the shells crashing among the houses
of Petersburg. Tell Life I send her a song composed by a French soldier. As she
is so learned in that language I want her to send me a reply in verse.
___________
1 His youngest daughter, Mildred Lee.
SOURCE: John William Jones, Life and Letters of
Robert Edward Lee: Soldier and Man, p. 318
