Letters / Correspondence

Robert E. Lee

1,801-1,850 of 2,632 letters
Letters table
No. Sender Recipient Preview Date, oldest first
1801 Robert E. Lee Mary Custis Lee I must take a portion of this Holy day to reply to your last letter. I was sorry to hear of the visit of the enemy to Kinlock, & fear the discovery of the dressing case may have added to the... Dec. 25, 1864
1802 Robert E. Lee Mildred Childe Lee Your letter dear Milly, came upon me this morning just as I was rising from my blankets. I can’t dignify my resting place at night by the name of bed, & you must excuse me but I actually read... Jan. 3, 1865
1803 Braxton Bragg Robert E. Lee General: Your letter of 30th December, on the subject of ammunition &c., is received. The great deficiency existing at the time of my report for the troops belonging to this department was... Jan. 6, 1865
1804 Robert E. Lee James Seddon Sir: I have had the honor to receive you letter of the 7th instant, transmitting the information received from Mr. R. F. Walker from an old farmer of Charles City County relative to large numbers... Jan. 8, 1865
1805 Robert E. Lee Wade Hampton General: I have received your letter of the 30th ultimo with regard to the organization of the cavalry. I think your plan of arming the different regiments of the brigades is the best which can be... Jan. 9, 1865
1806 Robert E. Lee Jefferson Davis I have received tonight the dispatch from Gen Hardee of the 8th inst: which you have done me the honor to forward. The dispositions made by Gen Hardee appear to me to be judicious, and as far as I... Jan. 10, 1865
1807 Robert E. Lee S. Cooper 21/6:30 Telegram of yesterday suspending execution of H. S. Moore, Robt. Moore, Jno. P. Strother, W. C. Hart & W. Harrington received.(Sgd) R E Lee Jan. 10, 1865
1808 Robert E. Lee Andrew Hunter I have received your letter of the 7th instant, and without confining myself to the order of your interrogatories, will endeavor to answer them by a statement of my views on the subject. I shall be... Jan. 11, 1865
1809 Jefferson Davis Robert E. Lee The coordination that Butler’s division should return to you was understood by me to be part of the proposition, and will be distinctly stated. Young’s brigade will join the command as soon as it... Jan. 16, 1865
1810 Robert E. Lee James Seddon Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th instant, with its inclosures. I thank you for your prompt and energetic measure for the relief of the army. As soon as I... Jan. 16, 1865
1811 Robert E. Lee Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee I Send Major Janney’s statement of the socks & gloves recd. He seems to have gone back to the Commencement of the contribution this Fall. Before distribution he has to see in what brigades the... Jan. 17, 1865
1812 Robert E. Lee Jefferson Davis The loss of the port of Wilmington, cutting us off in a great measure, from access to the world by sea, renders it important in my judgment to extend and systematize the exchange of our cotton,... Jan. 18, 1865
1813 Robert E. Lee Jefferson Davis [Telegram] Dated Hd. Qrs. Armies C. S. Feb. 24th. 1865. Recd. at Richmond 5 O'Clock P.M.To His Excellency Jefferson Davis President.Hampton reports from Chesterville yesterday evening no enemy... Jan. 24, 1865
1814 Robert E. Lee Mary Custis Lee I have recd to night your letter of to day. I am satisfied with the coat as it is. It is all right. I do not wish braid on the pants. Plain dress is the most suitable for the Confederacy. When the... Jan. 26, 1865
1815 Robert E. Lee Jefferson Davis I beg leave to repeat the suggestion I made to you in Richmond with reference to the publication, of a stringent order requiring all cotton, tobacco & naval stores to be burned to prevent them... Jan. 28, 1865
1816 Robert E. Lee Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee You will see by Major Janny’s acknowledgements that both of your bags have arrived Safely & that all the socks previously recd have been distributed. The bag containing the 60 prs: jackett,... Jan. 29, 1865
1817 Robert E. Lee Samuel Richards Johnston I appreciate the high compliment you pay me, in proposing to call your son after me. I would suggest for him a better name, that of his own father, whose virtues and merits I earnestly pray he may... Feb. 1865
1818 Robert E. Lee Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee I have recd your note of the 1st. I am very much obliged to Mr Mead for the trouble he has taken in relation to the Lee Genealogy. I have no desire to have it published & do not think it would... Feb. 3, 1865
1819 Robert E. Lee William Fitzhugh Lee You can impress negroes to work on Weldon R. RoadSgd R E Lee (Entered) Feb. 4, 1865
1820 Robert E. Lee Mary Custis Lee I have just recd your note of the 3rd & take advantage of Col: Ives return to acknowledge it. Capt Leigh it Seems has only paid for the Coat. Do ask him to extend his attention to the other... Feb. 5, 1865
1821 Robert E. Lee William Smith From a report which I have just received from Gen. Stevens, the Chief Engineer of this army, I regret to inform you, that of the five thousand laborers, requested in December last, we have received... Feb. 9, 1865
1822 Robert E. Lee Hester Cary Pegram Martin I cannot find words to express my deep sympathy in your affliction, my sorrow at your loss. God alone can give you strength to bear the blow he has inflicted, & since it has been death by his... Feb. 11, 1865
1823 Robert E. Lee Ulysses S. Grant I have received your letter of the 16th isnt: and have submitted your proposition to release citizens held as prisoners by either party to the Secretary of War.I shall be glad if some arrangement... Feb. 18, 1865
1824 Robert E. Lee Ethelbert Barksdale Sir,--I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th instant, with reference to the employment of negroes as soldiers. I think the measure not only expedient, but necessary.... Feb. 18, 1865
1825 Robert E. Lee Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee I enclose Major Janney’s Count of the socks & return the bag. You will see that your Count is right. I arrived safely with all my property & find my table as usual filled with letters,... Feb. 18, 1865
1826 Robert E. Lee James Longstreet Your letter of the 14th inst is received. It arrived during my absence in Richmond, and has not been overlooked. I agree with you entirely in believing that if we had gold, we could get sufficient... Feb. 22, 1865
1827 Robert E. Lee Eleanor Agnes Lee The last two days of good weather have enabled me to find a dry spot in which I can unfold my paper as well as my thoughts & I forthwith present them to you. I am afraid they are worth very... Mar. 1865
1828 Robert E. Lee Jefferson Davis I do not know whether the law authorising the use of negro troops has received your sanction, but if it has, I respectfully recommend that measures be taken to carry it into effect as soon as... Mar. 10, 1865
1829 Robert E. Lee Mary Custis Lee I found among some papers that were being removed the accompg ode. I do not know the author unless it may be he who presented it. It reached me I recollect at a very busy time at the opening of the... Mar. 11, 1865
1830 Robert E. Lee Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee I recd yesterday your note of thursday & also the box mentioned therein. You must thank Cousin Julia for her present of beef. Tell her I would have much preferred her keeping it for her self... Mar. 19, 1865
1831 Robert E. Lee Jefferson Davis Genl. Johnston at 1.30 P.M. today telegraphs from Smithfield "Sherman's whole army being entrenched in my front morning of 10th. we did not attack, but held our position to cover removal... Mar. 23, 1865
1832 Robert E. Lee John C. Breckinridge At daylight this morning, General Gordon assaulted and carried enemy’s works at Hare’s Hill, captured 9 pieces of artillery, 8 mortars, between 500 and 600 prisoners, among them one... Mar. 25, 1865
1833 Robert E. Lee Jefferson Davis My dispatch of yesterday to the Secretary of War will have informed you of the attack made upon a portion of the enemy's lines around Petersburg, and the result which attended it. I have been... Mar. 26, 1865
1834 Robert E. Lee John C. Breckinridge Sir: I have the honor to report as the number of desertions from the 9th to the 18th, both inclusive, 1,061. This embraces full reports from the infantry, but only partial reports from the... Mar. 27, 1865
1835 Robert E. Lee John C. Breckinridge Sir: I have been awaiting the receipt of the orders from the Department for raising and organizing the colored troops before taking any action in the matter. I understand that orders have been... Mar. 27, 1865
1836 Robert E. Lee Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee Major Cox has sent me some very nice shirts so it will be unnecessary for you to have any knit. Please give him the accompg letter. If there is any error in my count of the price paid for them... Mar. 27, 1865
1837 Robert E. Lee Eleanor Agnes Lee I recd last night your letter of the 26th & I felt great pleasure at the thought of seeing you & wish I could enjoy that pleasure. The Meades have more than once proposed to me to bring you... Mar. 28, 1865
1838 Robert E. Lee Eleanor Agnes Lee I have just heard of your arrival in Petersburg. I am too sorry I Cannot go in to see you, but I must go to the right. The enemy in strong force is operating in that direction. I do not yet know to... Mar. 29, 1865
1839 Robert E. Lee John C. Breckenridge Enemy are reported to have crossed Hatcher’s Run at Monk’s Neck Bridge with infantry and cavalry, moving toward Dinwiddie Court-House.R. E. LeeHon. J. C. Breckinridge Mar. 29, 1865
1840 Robert E. Lee John C. Breckinridge The enemy crossed Hatcher’s Run this morning at Monk’s Neck Bridge with a large force of cavalry, infantry, and artillery, and tonight his left extended to Dinwiddie Court-House. Gregg’s cavalry... Mar. 29, 1865
1841 Robert E. Lee Jefferson Davis Will enquire whether Genl. Morgan can be spared. Have notified Gov. Watts & requested him to name another suitable person if Genl. Morgan cant go.R. E. Lee[Endorsed] Genl. R. E. Lee 31 March/65. Mar. 31, 1865
1842 Robert E. Lee Eleanor Agnes Lee My precious little AgnesI was so sorry I was not here to see you yesterday. I might have persuaded you to have remained with me. If you had have staid or Come out at 4 O’Clk this morg. I Could have... Mar. 31, 1865
1843 Robert E. Lee Jefferson Davis [Telegram] Dated at Hd. Qrs April 1, 1865. Rec'd at Richmond 11 o'clock P.M.To His Excellency President DavisBrig Genl John E. Morgan can be spared for the purpose indicated by Gov. Watts... Apr. 1, 1865
1844 Robert E. Lee Jefferson Davis The movement of Gen Grant to Dinwiddie C.H. seriously threatens our position, and diminishes our ability to maintain our present lines in front of Richmond and Petersburg In the first place, it... Apr. 1, 1865
1845 Robert E. Lee Eleanor Agnes Lee My precious little AgnesI recd your kind note last night. I am obliged to go to the right to day & will be compelled to visit Richmond the first moment I can. I do not know when I shall See... Apr. 1, 1865
1846 Robert E. Lee John C. Breckenridge Sir: After my dispatch of last night I received a report from General Pickett, who, with three of his own brigades and two of General Johnson’s, supported the cavalry under General Fitz Lee near... Apr. 1, 1865
1847 Robert E. Lee Jefferson Davis Your telegram recd. I think it will be necessary to retire tonight. I shall Camp the troops here north of the Appomattox. The Enemy is so strong that they will cross above us to Close us in between... Apr. 2, 1865
1848 Robert E. Lee Henry Heth Move to the left with your whole force and endeavor to reestablish lines - Gordon has succeeded in reoccupying most of his.R E Lee Apr. 2, 1865
1849 Robert E. Lee the Citizens of Amelia County The Army of N Va: has arrived here to day expecting to find plenty of provisions, which had been ordered to be placed here by R. R. Several days Since. But to my great Surprize & regret I find... Apr. 4, 1865
1850 Ulysses S. Grant Robert E. Lee In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the 8th inst., I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of N. Va. on the following terms, to wit;Rolls of all the officers and men to... Apr. 9, 1865