Robert E. Lee to E. C. Gordon

I shall leave here tomorrow noon for the Hot & if nothing prevents shall leave there on Thursday the 10th for Lexington. It will depend upon the condition in which I find Mrs Lee and Mildred whether they will accompany me - When I last heard the latter was steadily though slowly improving - I think I am better than when I came here & hope I shall continue to improve.

I am sorry Mr Wolmendorf cannot supply me with the wood - I prefer hickory to oak, & there was a gentleman whose name I cannot now recall that supplied Mr Campbell with some year before last. If he or anyone else can furnish me with 30 (thirty) cords of seasoned wood at a fair price please engage it for me. If you cannot engage hickory engage me some oak. I prefer the red to white oak.

I hope I shall find you and all my friends well on my return & that you have been able to accomplish all the events you desired - Say to Mr Nilson if Capt Estill leaves us he must make other arrangements for an assistant - With kind regards to every one,

I am very truly yours

R E Lee

Mr E. C. Gordon