US Mil: Acady West Point
Sir.
I regret to have to report that Cadet Rodman P. Lewis, whose return to the Point I advised you of on the 7th Inst: has been absent from his quarters & all roll calls since yesterday morning. He was seen in citizens clothes yesterday morning & is supposed again to have left the Post. I endeavored in my interview with him on the 7th. to make him sensible of the impropriety of his first offense, & commended his return to his duty, as calculated to gratify his friends & weigh favorably with the Executive in the decision of his case. I wished to encourage him to resume his studies, which he seemed disposed to do, & I am therefore more at a loss to account for his subsequent conduct.
I am very respectfully Your obedt ServtSigned R. E. Lee Bvt: Col. Supt: Mil: Acady
Superintendent's Daily Correspondence United States Military Academy
Superintendent's Letter Book No. 2, p. 292. Addressed “Genl. Jos: G. Totten Chief Engineer Washington City, DC.”