Letters / Correspondence

Robert E. Lee

951-1,000 of 2,632 letters
Letters table
No. Sender Recipient Preview Date, oldest first
951 Robert E. Lee Benjamin S. Ewell Colonel: I have heard that two hundred mules were landed at Old Point on Saturday, the 11th instant, and some horses previously. I should be glad if you could ascertain from any of our friends... May 14, 1861
952 Robert E. Lee Philip St. George Cocke Colonel:I have received your letter of the 14th inst. and am gratified at your arrangements for the defence of Manassas Junction, and the favorable account you give of the Country towards the... May 15, 1861
953 Robert E. Lee Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee I am called down to Norfolk & leave this afternoon. I expect to return Friday, but may be delayed. I write to advise you of my absence, in case you should not receive answers to any letters... May 16, 1861
954 Robert E. Lee George A. Porterfield Colonel: Your letter of the 16th instant is at hand. One thousand muskets and rifles and some ammunition have been sent from Staunton to Major Goff and Lieutenant Chenoweth at Beverly, for the use... May 19, 1861
955 Robert E. Lee Benjamin S. Ewell Colonel: I have received your letter of the 16th instant, in relation to your visit to Hampton, for the purpose of calling into the service of the State the volunteers from that region. Your... May 20, 1861
956 Robert E. Lee Francis H. Smith Col: F. H. SmithMr. Edmd T. D. Myers1 has been speaking to me about T. M. R. Talcott2 lately appd. 2nd Lt: of P. A. He thinks Lt. T. is much underated & has more knowledge & experience than... May 21, 1861
957 Robert E. Lee Milledge L. Bonham General: In the execution of the orders with which you have been furnished, relative to the command of the Alexandria line of operations, I need not call the attention of one as experienced as... May 22, 1861
958 Robert E. Lee Walter Gwynn Call on the governor of North Carolina for the force you require to the full extent. Two hundred laborers are on the way to you.R E Lee May 22, 1861
959 Robert E. Lee Milledge L. Bonham Send an express to Colonel Hunton, at Leesburg, to destroy all the bridges of the Loudon and Hampshire Railroad as far down towards Alexandria as possible, and to keep you and General Johnston... May 24, 1861
960 Robert E. Lee Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee I have been trying, dearest Mary, ever since the reception of your letter by Custis to write to [you]. I sympathize deeply in your feelings at leaving your dear home. I have experienced them myself... May 25, 1861
961 Robert E. Lee John B. Magruder Colonel: I have received your communication of the 25th instant. In reply, I would state that I do not think it advisable to receive the company of cavalry from Gloucester. The Varina Troop, Capt.... May 26, 1861
962 Robert E. Lee Joseph E. Johnston General: I received, on my return from Manassas Junction, your communications of the 26th and 28th ultimo, in reference to your position at Harper’s Ferry. The difficulties which surround it have... Jun. 1, 1861
963 Robert E. Lee Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee Except through a letter to Nannie I have not heard of you dearest Mary for a long time. My letters it seems do not reach you[,] & yours perhaps to me share the same fate. I last wrote by Mr. F.... Jun. 9, 1861
964 Robert E. Lee John Letcher Sir: The defensive works about Richmond are progressing so slowly, from the want of laborers, that I think it proper to call your attention to the subject, that you may submit it to the city... Jun. 14, 1861
965 Robert E. Lee Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee I must take a few moments dearest Mary to write to you this morg, though I have nothing to say, but to express the fervent hope that you are well & all with you. I heard the other day that... Jun. 24, 1861
966 Robert E. Lee Mildred Childe Lee I have recd your letter of the 8th Inst: & also your note of the 18th announcing your arrival at Mr Delangs I was very glad to receive both & am now pleased to learn by a letter from your... Jun. 29, 1861
967 Robert E. Lee Richard S. Garnett General: I have received your letter of the 25th instant [ult.], reporting the condition and distribution of your force and your projected plan of operations. I have taken great pleasure in... Jul. 1, 1861
968 Robert E. Lee Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee I have recd. dear Mary your letter of the 25th announcing your return to Kinloch with Mildred & I am glad you three are together. Charlotte & Annie are at Mr. Wickham’s. Agnes in this city... Jul. 2, 1861
969 Robert E. Lee Thomas A. Dodamead Sir,I am informed that there are at Edinburgh, Shenandoah Co, 200 Tons of Gun metal, belonging to Dr Archer, which are much needed at the Bellona Arsenal. I have to request that transportation be... Jul. 5, 1861
970 Robert E. Lee Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee I have just recd. a very kind letter from our cousin Cabell.1 You must respond to it as you think best, & communicate it to cousin Anna. Dear cousin Anna, for whom I feel very anxious. I hope... Jul. 8, 1861
971 Robert E. Lee Henry A. Wise General: In a letter received to-day from General Garnett, commanding Northwestern Army, he reports having learned from reliable sources that two thousand eight hundred men, who had been embarked... Jul. 11, 1861
972 Robert E. Lee Richard S. Garnett General: I received to-day your two letters of the 6th instant, and have communicated their contents to the President. Your opinion as to the advantage of giving a more northerly direction to... Jul. 11, 1861
973 Robert E. Lee Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee I recd last night dearest Mary your letter of the 10th by R. B. Annie & Agnes had just been to my room to See me & I Sent Perry with your letter to Annie. She Came from Hickory Hill... Jul. 12, 1861
974 Robert E. Lee Michael G. Harman Take command of Scott’s, Johnson’s, and Lee’s regiments, and such other forces as may be at hand. Oppose the advance of the enemy, and move to the relief of General Garnett. Four hundred rounds of... Jul. 14, 1861
975 Robert E. Lee John B. Magruder General: I have had the gratification of receiving your letter of the 13th instant, containing Major Hood’s report of his brilliant skirmish with the enemy on the 12th instant, and of submitting it... Jul. 15, 1861
976 Robert E. Lee Henry Rootes Jackson General: In the dispatch of the 14th instant you were directed to take command of the available troops of the Northwestern Army, and oppose the advance of the enemy. I infer, from your dispatch... Jul. 16, 1861
977 Robert E. Lee Joseph E. Johnston I almost wept for joy at the glorious victory achieved by our brave troops on the 21st, & the feelings of my heart could hardly be expressed on learning the brilliant share you had in its... Jul. 24, 1861
978 Robert E. Lee Joseph E. Johnston I almost wept for joy at the glorious victory achieved by our brave troops on the 21st, & the feelings of my heart Could hardly be expressed on learning the brilliant share you had in its... Jul. 24, 1861
979 Robert E. Lee Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee I have recd dear Mary your letter from E. View1 and am glad your visit has been so agreable. It is very pleasing to receive the kindness of friends & to enjoy the associations & pleasing... Jul. 27, 1861
980 Robert E. Lee Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee I reached here yesterday dearest Mary to visit this portion of the Army. The day after my arrival at Staunton I Set off for Monterey, where the Army of Genl Garnett’s Command is stationed. Two... Aug. 4, 1861
981 Robert E. Lee Alfred Beckley I regret to learn by yr letter of the 6h instant that you hade done nothing towards the organization of yr regt. I cannot now refer to the orders previously send you, but they were supposed at the... Aug. 8, 1861
982 Robert E. Lee Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee I have been here dear Mary three days Coming from Monterey to Huntersville & thence here. We are on the dividing ridge. Looking north down the Tygart’s river valley, whose waters flow into the... Aug. 9, 1861
983 Henry A. Wise Robert E. Lee General: Yours, dated the 5th at Huntersville, post-marked the 8th at Staunton, is just received. I am pressing every means to advance as far as will meet the enemy on the Gauley turnpike and... Aug. 10, 1861
984 Robert E. Lee Henry A. Wise General: I have just received your letter of the 10th and 11th instant, and I am glad that you are enabled to re-enforce General Floyd so promptly. Your reasons for our troops not advancing to... Aug. 12, 1861
985 Robert E. Lee Alfred Beckley I have just recd. your letter of the 21st inst and regret to learn that the four companies of Vols: in the county of Mercer declined being mustered into the service. The two comps of Cav’ry named... Aug. 24, 1861
986 Robert E. Lee Alfred Beckley I have just recd. your letter of the 21st inst and regret to learn that the four companies of Vols: in the county of Mercer declined being mustered into the service. The two comps of Cav’ry named... Aug. 24, 1861
987 Robert E. Lee Eleanor Agnes Lee, Anne Carter Lee I have just recd your letters of the 24th & am rejoiced to hear that you are well & enjoying the compy of friends. You did not mention whether you had recd a letter from me, written before... Aug. 29, 1861
988 Robert E. Lee Henry A. Wise General: I have just received and read with much interest your report of the 28th instant. The troops under your command deserve great commendation for the alacrity and cheerfulness they exhibited... Aug. 31, 1861
989 Robert E. Lee Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee I have recd dearest Mary your letter of 18th Aug: from Audley & am very glad to get news of your whereabouts. I wrote to you not long since & have but little to add to what I then related.... Sep. 1, 1861
990 Robert E. Lee John Floyd I am directed by Gen Lee to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 1st inst concerning the transfer of Private King of Capt: Wood’s comp’ny of the 37th Va Reg’t to Co: “E” of the 50th... Sep. 7, 1861
991 Robert E. Lee Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee I recd last night dearest Mary your letter of 30 Aug: forwed by Custis. I hope from the tone of your letter that you feel better & wish I Could see you & be with you. I trust we may meet... Sep. 9, 1861
992 Robert E. Lee Samuel Cooper General: It has been reported to me that the supplies of provisions for the Army of the Northwest are being exhausted at the depots at Staunton and Millborough, and that no notice has been received... Sep. 10, 1861
993 Robert E. Lee Edward C. Turner I have the most melancholy tidings to communicate. Our friend Col. John A. Washington yesterday met his death by the fire from the enemy's picket. He accompanied my son Fitshugh on a... Sep. 14, 1861
994 Robert E. Lee Edward C. Turner I have the most melancholy tidings to communicate. Our friend Col John A. Washington yesterday met his death by the fire from the enemy’s picket. He accompanied my son Fitzhugh on a reconnoitering... Sep. 14, 1861
995 Robert E. Lee Louisa Fontaine Washington Chew With a heart filled with grief I have to communicate the saddest tidings you have ever heard.May ‘Our Father who is in Heaven’ enable you to bear it, for in His inscrutable providence, abounding in... Sep. 16, 1861
996 Robert E. Lee Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee I recd dear Mary your letter of the 5th by Beverly T[urner].1 who is a nice young soldier. I am pained to see fine young men like him, of education & standing from all the old & respectable... Sep. 17, 1861
997 Robert E. Lee Henry A. Wise I have just arrived at this camp, and regret to find the forces not united. I know nothing of the relative advantages of the points occupied by yourself and General Floyd, but as far as I can judge... Sep. 21, 1861
998 Robert E. Lee Henry A. Wise Sir: I have just received your dispatch of this date, saying that the enemy has occupied Sewell Mountain in full force. It is difficult, without knowing more of the facts in the case, to suggest... Sep. 23, 1861
999 Robert E. Lee Henry A. Wise General: Your dispatch of the 23d is just received. I am glad to hear that the force of the enemy in your front does not exceed 3,000. No information that is reliable has been received at this camp... Sep. 24, 1861
1000 Henry A. Wise Robert E. Lee General: By your aide (under the approach and fire of the enemy, at a stand, made under my orders, where the struggle will be severe, whatever be the result) I received the within order from the... Sep. 25, 1861