U.S. Mil. Acady. 3 June 1854
My dear Sir,
It gives me pleasure to inform you that your son Cadet A. Smead was examined by the Academic Board this morning in his course of Engineering & acquitted himself very creditably—He was placed 15th in that branch—He is considered now as almost recovered from the effects of his fall, & only suffers from debility. I hope he will soon regain his strength, & acquit himself as well in the other branches of his course as he has in Engineering.
I am very respectfully Your Obt. Serv
Signed/ R. E. Lee Br. Col:
Supt: Mil: Acady
Superintendent's Daily Correspondence United States Military Academy
Superintendent's Letter Book No. 3, p. 108. Addressed “Elijah Smead Esq. Talbotton, Georgia”