Letters / Correspondence

Robert E. Lee

1-50 of 2,632 letters
Letters table
No. Sender Recipient Preview Date, oldest first
1 Robert E. Lee John C. Calhoun Having just heard that it was always agreable to you to receive from every applicant for a Cadets Warrant, a statement of his age, studies, &c, made by himself, I take the earliest opportunity... Feb. 24, 1824
2 Ann Hill Carter Lee, Robert E. Lee John C. Calhoun As the surviving Parent of Robert E. Lee I consent to his signing articles, binding himself to serve as a Cadet five years, to be commuted from the time of his joining the Military Academy.Ann H.... Apr. 1, 1824
3 Robert E. Lee Charles Carter Lee Although one letter in my debt, it has been so long since I have heard from you or of you, or indeed from any one in that section of Country, that I can no longer refrain from begging you to write,... May 8, 1830
4 Robert E. Lee Charles Carter Lee Although one letter in my debt, it has been so long since I have heard from you or of you, or indeed from any one in that section of Country, that I can no longer refrain from begging you to write,... May 8, 1830
5 Robert E. Lee Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee Well my Sweet Cousin, I am stationary at last. I arrived here yesterday from Eastern View[1] and established my headquarters in this land of corn bread and ice milk, which I hope will be able to... Sep. 11, 1830
6 Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee Robert E. Lee I had no idea of the immediate peril to which my disclosure exposed you or pity or perchance a gentler feeling would have induced me to forebear. The first alarming sensation having by this time... Sep. 20, 1830
7 Robert E. Lee Charles Carter Lee Your letter of the 7th Inst. did not come to hand till yesterday though I was at the very place, to which it was directed. The reason of this was, that it was sent to Wood Stock Shenandoah County... Sep. 22, 1830
8 Robert E. Lee Charles Carter Lee Both of your letters arrived this morning. As to the time of your coming on to Virginia, perhaps you know best, but for my part I see none so good as the present. I am ready to do any thing in the... Sep. 30, 1830
9 Robert E. Lee Charles Carter Lee Your letter arrived in due course of mail and I am sorry to find that it is not convenient for you to come on. Our business with Uncle Williams I suppose can be settled as well by letter as... Oct. 12, 1830
10 Robert E. Lee Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee Miss Molly, did you ever see a poor fellow between two raw sisters, in a bustling town, returning visits for the first time? For if you have, you can only know how to pity the situation I have been... Oct. 30, 1830
11 Robert E. Lee Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee We got into Cock Spur Roads last night about nine o’clock, and the Pilot thinking it too dark to attempt to carry the vessel up to town, there I lay till daylight within gunshot of this my... Nov. 11, 1830
12 Robert E. Lee Charles Carter Lee I think Master Carter I hit the nail right on the head, when I got on board the Schooner, for I had a passage of three days and eighteen hours from Light to Light, which brought me to Cock Spur on... Nov. 16, 1830
13 Robert E. Lee Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee Oh, how glad I am that it has come at last. I know it was the fault of the Post Masters, but now it is all past. Did I even hint at “unkindness” or “forgetfulness”? And as to “want of time” you... Nov. 19, 1830
14 Robert E. Lee Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee And have you been sick Cousin, & your Mother too? How I wish that I had been in the stead of both. And could I have known that it would have relieved those whom I so much love, I am sure I... Dec. 1, 1830
15 Robert E. Lee Charles Carter Lee I have just returned from Savannah where I have been spending a few days of this New Year, which I hope will make me better pleased with the quiet & uniformity of CockSpur. I don't know... Jan. 4, 1831
16 Robert E. Lee Charles Carter Lee Your letter of 28th. Ultimo, though it reached Savannah "in due course of mail," only found its way down to CockSpur a few days ago. I went up to Savannah on the 22nd. to the Ball etc.... Feb. 27, 1831
17 Robert E. Lee Charles Carter Lee Your last letter, my dear Carter found me under orders for this place. And as I was obliged to finish some drawings before I left Cockspur, I had not time to answer it. I came across from Savannah... May 26, 1831
18 Robert E. Lee Charles Carter Lee Your last letter, my dear Carter found me under orders for this place. And as I was obliged to finish some drawings before I left Cockspur, I had not time to answer it. I came across from savannah... May 26, 1831
19 Robert E. Lee Charles Carter Lee The day has been fixed & it is the 30th June, I can tell you I begin to feel right funny when I count my days, especially when I consider the novel situation in which I shall be placed. However... Jun. 15, 1831
20 Robert E. Lee Charles Carter Lee The day has been fixed & it is the 30th June, I can tell you I begin to feel right funny when I count my days, especially when I consider the novel situation in which I shall be placed. However... Jun. 15, 1831
21 Robert E. Lee Andrew Talcott So Captain, you would not come up to Arlington on that memorable Thursday. But I gave you the severest scolding you have had this many a day, from which I hope you will derive great benefit.... Jul. 13, 1831
22 Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee, Robert E. Lee Mary Lee Fitzhugh Custis As I am quite alone my dearest mother & have finished my morning’s reading which you know consists generally of Doddridge & my Bible, have got Cassy2 down to her Bible lesson. I think I may... Sep. 4, 1831
23 Robert E. Lee Charles Carter Lee Although I have not yet heard My dear Carter that you have taken up your line of march for N. York, Yet I will not let pass the opportunity of Kennedy's return there to thank you for your... Oct. 12, 1831
24 Robert E. Lee Charles Carter Lee I am glad My dear Carter that you have safely returned from that tract of Mountain & Rock & think that its hard & rough surface must have occasioned you & your horse many a jolt... Apr. 6, 1832
25 Robert E. Lee Charles Carter Lee I am happy to have it in my power to catch you, though even on the wing. For you have been a bird of Passage so long, & have either left, or about to leave, any place you may have been at,... Aug. 17, 1832
26 Robert E. Lee Charles Carter Lee Your last letter, Aug 23rd arrived, two days ago. I am happy to find that Spring camp has the charms of 30 cleared acres & of meeting your selection, & hope that the Cabin & its... Sep. 1, 1832
27 Robert E. Lee Charles Carter Lee I suppose before this you have received my letter directed to Spring Camp etc & for the reasons therein stated are not expecting me, as your last letter from Mr. Burwell's would seem to... Sep. 28, 1832
28 Robert E. Lee Andrew Talcott CASHIER OF THE OFFICE OF DISCOUNT AND DEPOSITE OF THE BANK OF THE UNITED STATES at Norfolk, Va.PAY to the order of Lieut. R. E. LeeForty 41/100 Dollars $ 40.41/100Dear Capt.,I have deposited $40.41... Dec. 1832
29 Robert E. Lee Andrew Talcott I send by this morning's mail the warrant which arrived yesterday & a receipt for the Aud[ito]r. I told you when I wrote yesterday that we should probably close operations next week. We... Dec. 1832
30 Robert E. Lee Charles Carter Lee Your letter of 24th Nov - reached me last night. I had begun to fear, that surrounded by so much that is wild & magnificent, you had forgotten us in this lame & flat country. However from... Jan. 6, 1833
31 Robert E. Lee Charles Carter Lee I have been intending to write ever since my arrival & to have given you intelligence of what is passing in the Country, But the devil of it is that nothing is passing in this Country, & as... Feb. 1, 1833
32 Robert E. Lee Andrew Talcott I send you up all the Acc[oun]ts. against Fts. M[onroe] & C[alhoun] held in N[orfolk], which you can pay at your leisure., That of C. Hall embraces all the articles received from him, but only... Mar. 1833
33 Robert E. Lee Charles Carter Lee Your very acceptable letter dated 24th April has come to hand & I am delighted to find that you & the Promence have arrived safely at your respective habitations. I hope you found things in... Apr. 6, 1833
34 Robert E. Lee Andrew Talcott I am sorry that I was so particularly sleepy headed this morning & only rose in time to SEE you safe aboard the boat. I hope however to get another peep at yourself & Mrs. T[alcott] as you... Jun. 1833
35 Robert E. Lee Andrew Talcott Accompanying this you will find a statement of Proceedings &c. I forgot to mention that in laying the covering course over the gutter on casemated courtway, I found that it was laid in cement.... Jul. 1833
36 Robert E. Lee Charles Carter Lee It has been a very long time since I have written to you & I have no reason to assign for it, except procrastination. I have put it off from day to day, since the reception of your letter.... Sep. 16, 1833
37 Robert E. Lee L. W. Tazewell Capt A. Talcott before leaving this Post, gave directions that Service of these works, should be retained for you. These have now accumulated to the number of 200, & are in our way Please let... Sep. 17, 1833
38 Robert E. Lee John Mackay I flatter myself it is entirely useless, or as Captain Fabius would more elegantly express it, it is surely a work of superrogation, to allude even in the remotest manner to any part of your last... Nov. 28, 1833
39 Robert E. Lee, Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee Charles Carter Lee I received your letter last week & though you do not touch heavily on your domestic arrangements, I judge you are gratified with the prospects at present & the anticipations for the future.... Jun. 30, 1834
40 Robert E. Lee Andrew Talcott I have the happiness of informing you that from the good steamer. . . . [sic] from Baltimore, landed this mor[nin]g Inspector Genl. Wool50 & Brig.-Genl. Armistead.51 The former informed me that... Jul. 1834
41 Robert E. Lee Andrew Talcott I have just arrived & find that the Genl. & Mrs. Gratiot left this mor[nin]g for Bath44 in Virg[ini]a, the latter being in bad health. Bartlett45 informs me that he sent an order &... Jul. 1834
42 Robert E. Lee Andrew Talcott I have commenced the ‘residence’ upon the Rip Raps & may be considered an old inhabitant. The sour baker's bread of my young friend Tim, is what I cannot stand & have therefore to... Aug. 1834
43 Robert E. Lee Charles Carter Lee Your letter of the 10th Inst. (Rec Sulphur) arrived yesterday. I am most happy to learn that our dear little Belle is improving & thank you for your history of her case which is more... Aug. 20, 1834
44 Robert E. Lee Andrew Talcott I received your letter from Phil[adelphi]a I suppose by regular mail, of 5 mortal days, & was very sorry to learn the causes of your detention. I hope long before this, the whole party are on... Oct. 1834
45 Robert E. Lee Andrew Talcott Your letter of October 19th arrived during a short visit I lately paid to the District, & did not come to hand till my return on the 30th. This said visit was in consequence of an invitation I... Nov. 1834
46 Robert E. Lee Andrew Talcott I received a letter from Mr. Eveleth this mor[nin]g informing one that he had deposited in the U.S. Bank your audit, the checks I left with him & about which I wrote to you a hasty note a few... Nov. 1834
47 Robert E. Lee Andrew Talcott Your letter from Baltimore arrived this mor[nin]g. I have spoken to the Genl. of its contents. He says you have done perfectly right, is very sorry to hear of the indisposition of Miss Lee, but... Nov. 1834
48 Robert E. Lee Charles Gratiot I have the honor to report that the operations of the Engineer Department at this place for the past month, have consisted in the reception & proper distribution of Materials for the Work. It... Nov. 1, 1834
49 Robert E. Lee Andrew Talcott Yours of the 5th from Phila reached me this morg. I send you a copy of the survey & Report &c as you desire. Mr Lyon has just left the office. He says the Bill introduced by Mr Ewing for... Dec. 8, 1834
50 Robert E. Lee Mr. Campbell McArnum - <illegible> W Please deliver to the order of O. B. Dunham <illegible> the warrant for the salaries of clerks in this office. Oblige,Your obtsR E Lee LT Engrs. Dec. 31, 1834