Robert E. Lee to John Dick

On my return a few days since from the Rio Grande frontier, where I have been on duty since early in Sept, I found your letter of the 10th of that month. I very much regret that my absence has prevented me from attending to your requests, & hope you recd from Lt Philips whom I am told wrote to you in relation to them, all the information you desired. I will therefore merely state in reference to the effects of your son, that his two trunks of clothes &c were forwd to the Qr Mr at San Antonio, before I left the Post, to be shipped to you; that his watch which was in charge of Dr McCormick of the Army, has been sent to you, & that all his letters were enclosed to you by Lt Philips. I hope they have reached you safely. Lt Philips at that time expected to have been detailed this Spring on recruiting Service, & it was arranged that he should take his body with him to New York. He now writes that in consequence of the absence of his Capt, he will be unable to leave the Dept: The hot weather has already commenced in this country & I think it probable its removal will have to be postponed to the coming winter. If however it can now be prudently undertaken with the means at our command, I will send it to Indianola by the dirst opportunity for shipment to the Messrs Thorpe as directed, of which you will at the time be advised. In my former letter I think I state though it was evident to all near your son in his last moments that his early home & its dear inmates were constantly in his thoughts & that his Mothers name was frequently tenderly uttered yet he left no distinct or express message that reached my ears. Indeed I could not bring my mind to realize that he was about to die, so young & late so fully of life & trusted every moment would produce a change till hope was lost in certainty. In addition to his remark that he was "going to a better world," a convincing proof that the eye of faith though dimmed to mortal things by the veil of approaching dissolution is clear sighted to the heavenly bliss opening to its purer vision, I have heard that he said, "tell my mother I will meet her in heaven." What more blissful message could he send! It is enough to change all grief to joy, all pain to happiness. I regret that I have been obliged to be brief in my reply to your inquiries, but there are many things claiming my immediate attention, & I could not be otherwise. Will you be so kind as to say to your brother Mr J R. Dick that his letter of 5 Sept, has been unacknowledged by the same cause that has delayed my reply to you.

Very truly &c

R E Lee