Robert E. Lee to N. G. Evans

I write to you at a venture, for having heard nothing of or from Camp Cooper since I left, I do not know whether it is in existence, or that you are in it.

You may ask in your turn what I am doing here, & that will be hard for me to answer. I can only say, that I feel I ought not to be here, & that I am of no use here, & that I ought not to be here. I am in a Court that likes long justice. Tall justice it has to administer; but when it will get to the end of it I cannot say. You will have heard of its being adjourned down here. We have for the last month been labouring through a mass of testimony & got a mite of evidence. The witnesses for the defense who are present, having been exhausted, the Court strange to relate has decided today to wait for late Lt Booth, late Srgt Symonds, a Mr Kennedy & Lt Gill, who were summoned long time ago, & have not yet been heard from.

When I shall get away God only knows.

I have heard nothing from home since I left San Antonio. Let me know how you all are. Remember me to all the officers. Major Hagner, Paymr died here this mng at 5 AM. He has been failing for a long time.

Capts Hill & Dawson with their Compes 1st Arty. are here. Lts Morris[,] Bell, Graham & Gilman, Col Frank Taylor, Capt Van Vliet & Major Cumming have not yet arrived.

I am distressed to hear of the rumour of the death of Pike Graham. I hope it is not so. Major Thomas is well & sends his regards.

Truly yours in haste

R E Lee