A Guide to the Papers of Robert E. Lee, 1830-1870 Lee, Robert E., Papers : Various

A Guide to the Papers of Robert E. Lee, 1830-1870

A Collection in
Special Collections
The University of Virginia Library
Accession Number : Various


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Processed by: Special Collections Staff

Repository
Special Collections, University of Virginia Library
Accession number
: Various
Title
Papers of Robert E. Lee 1830-1870
Physical Characteristics
This collection consists of ca. 130 items.
Language
English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

No additional copies or transcriptions may be made of items for which the University of Virginia holds only photocopies.

Preferred Citation

Papers of Robert E. Lee, Accession #[ ], Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

This collection was acquired through gift and purchase, ca. 1835-present.

Biographical/Historical Information

American soldier, general in the Confederate States army, was the youngest son of major-general Henry Lee ("Light Horse Harry") and Ann Hill Carter Lee. Robert Edward Lee was born at Stratford, Westmoreland County, Virginia, January 19, 1807, and entered West Point in 1825. Graduating four years later second in his class, he was given a commission in the U.S. Engineer Corps. In 1831 he married Mary Ann Randolph Custis, daughter of George Washington Parke Custis, the adopted son of George Washington and the grandson of Martha Washington. The Lees had seven children. All three of their sons served in the Confederate army. George Washington Custis and William Henry Fitzhugh ("Rooney") attained the rank of Major General and Robert E. Lee, Jr., that of Captain. The latter served as a private in the Rockbridge Artillery at the Battle of Antietam.

In 1836 Lee became first lieutenant, and in 1838 captain. In this rank he took part in the Mexican War, repeatedly winning distinction for conduct and bravery. After the war he was employed in engineer work at Washington and Baltimore, during which time, as before the war, he resided on the Arlington estate, near Washington, which had come to him through his wife.

In 1852 he was appointed superintendent of West Point, and during his three years there he carried out many changes in the academy. Under him as cadets were his son George Washington Custis Lee, his nephew, Fitzhugh Lee and J. E. B. Stuart, all of whom became general officers in the Civil War. In 1855 he was appointed as lieutenant-colonel to the 2nd Cavalry, commanded by Colonel Sidney Johnston, with whom he served on the Texas border.

In 1859, while at Arlington on leave, he was summoned to command the United States troops sent to deal with the John Brown raid on Harper's Ferry. In March 1861 he was made colonel of the 1st U.S. Cavalry. Lee's career in the U.S. army ended with the secession of Virginia in the following month. The Federal authorities offered Lee the command of the field army about to invade the South, which he refused. Resigning his commission, he made his way to Richmond and was at once made a major-general in the Virginia forces. A few weeks later he became a brigadier-general (then the highest rank) in the Confederate service. He assumed command of the Army of Northern Virginia in May 1862 and led the Confederate Army in Virginia for the next three years.

Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House, on April 9, 1865. For a few months Lee lived quietly in Richmond, making his formal submission to the Federal authorities and urging Southern acceptance of the new conditions. In August he was offered, and accepted, the presidency of Washington College (now Washington and Lee University), a post which he occupied until his death on October 12, 1870. He was buried in the college grounds.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of ca. 130 items, chiefly letters of Robert E. Lee to friends, family and staff.

Contents List

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1830 May 8
ALS 3 p. on 2 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1830 September 22
ALS 3 p. on 2 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1830 September 30
ALS 3 p. on 2 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1830 October 12
ALS 4 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1830 November 16
ALS 3 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1831 January 4
ALS 3 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1831 February 27
ALS 3 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1831 May 26
ALS 4 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1831 June 15
ALS 3 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1831 October 12
ALS 3 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1832 April 6
ALS 4 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1832 August 17
ALS 4 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1832 September 1
ALS 4 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1832 September 28
ALS 4 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1833 February 1
ALS 4 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1833 April 6
ALS 3 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1833 September 16
ALS 3 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to L[ittleton] W[aller] Tazewell 1833 September 17
ALS 1 p. on 1 l.

#10009

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1833 December 6
ALS 4 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1834 June 30
ALS 4 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1834 August 20
ALS 4 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Mr. Blair 1835 January 13
ANS 1 p. on 1 printed leaf.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1835 February 24
ALS 4 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1835 May 17
ALS 4 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1835 May 29
ALS 3 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1835 May 31
ALS 2 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1836 May 2
ALS 3 p. on 1 l.

#990-b

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1836 August 2
ALS 3 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1837 January 26
ALS 4 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Brigadier General R. Jones 1837 April 10
ALS 1 p., letter in another hand but signed by Lt. Lee of the Engineer Corps.

#4703

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1837 August 15
ALS 2 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Mary Ann Custis Lee 1837 August 21
ALS 4 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee and M.C. Lee to George Washington Parke Custis 1837 August 25
ALS 4 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1837 October 8
ALS 4 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1838 May 18
ALS 2 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1838 December 24
ALS 4 p. on 1 l.

#1085

Box 1
Account of Robert E. Lee with the U.S. government re the Improvement of the Mississippi River, Above the Mouth of the Ohio River (bottom of account is cut off) 1838
ADS 1 l.

##441

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1839 January 7
ALS 4 p. on 1 l.

##1085

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1840 January 30
ALS 3 p. on 2 l.

#990-b

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1840 February 23
ALS 3 p. on 2 l.

#990-b

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1840 August 22
ALS 4 p. on 1 l.

#990-b

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Mary Ann Custis Lee 1841 April 18
ALS 3 p. on 1 l.

#990-b

Box 1
Receipt for a mare & her colt, signed by Robert E. Lee, to R.W. Carter 1843 February 10
ADS 1 p.

#1959

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1843 February 14
ALS

4 p. on 1 l.; top of the letter is trimmed away.

#990-b

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1843 July 24
ALS 2 p. on 1 l.

#990-b

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1843 August 17
ALS 4 p. on 1 l.; part of letter trimmed away.

#990-b

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1844 September 1
ALS 3 p. on 1 l.

#990-b

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1846 July 13
ALS 3 p. on 1 l.

#990-b

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1846 September 1
ALS 2 p. on 1 l.

#990-b

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Joseph E. Johnston 1846-1865
6 items. Photocopies only.

1846 will of Robert E. Lee showing that he owned a slave named "Nancy" and her three children, together with a letter from Judith S. Hynson of the Jessie Ball DuPont Memorial Library at Stratford, Va., quoting an 1856 letter from Lee to his wife on the subject of slavery. There are also copies of letters from Lee to his sister, April, 20, 1861 to Winfield Scott, April 20, 1861 to Jefferson Davis, July 8, 1863 and a copy in an unidentified hand, signed by Lee, of General Order No. 9, April 10, 1865. #12132

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1848 February 13
ALS 4 p. on 1 l.

#990-b

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1848 March 18
ALS 4 p. on 1 l.with envelope.

#990-b

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1848 May 15
ALS 4 p. on 1 l.

#990-b

Box 1
Mapa de la Sierra Gorda [1848]
Physical Location: OS Tray 49

Copied for Lee; with his notes and signature. #5096-a

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Henry A. DuBois 1853 February 9
ALS 1 p. on 1 l., typescript and photostatic copy only.

#990-b

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Capt. J. Monroe 1853 May 3
Photocopy only.

#38-257

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to William Henry Fitzhugh Lee 1853 June 15
ALS 2 p. on 1 l.

#990-b

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1855 May 10
ALS 4 p. on 1 l., with envelope

#990-b

Box 1
R.E. Lee to William [Overton Winston?] 1856 July 24
ALS 2 p. on 1 l.

#8482

Box 1
Orders to Captain Stoneman, 2nd Cavalry, San Antonio, signed by Robert E. Lee 1857 August 31
ADS 1 p.

#990-b

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Edward C. Turner 1858 February 13
ALS 2 p. on 1 l.

#990-b

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Major Earl Van Dorn 1860 June 27
ALS 3 p. on 2 l.

#990-b

Box 1
Hugh Sheffey to Robert E. Lee, with endorsements by John B. Baldwin, Capt. John D. Imboden, Sam M. Garlan, Roger A. Pryor and accompanied by a note from Lee, who refers the request to Colonel Thomas J. Jackson 1861 April 27
ANS 3 p. on 2 l.

#4406

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Cary Charles Cocke 1861 June 10
Photocopy only.

#5313-f

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Colonel J.W. Ware 1861 June 19
LS 1 p.

#6136

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Colonel J.W. Ware 1861 June 28
LS 1 p.

#6136

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Joseph E. Johnston 1861 July 24
ALS 1 p.

#11576

Box 1
Alfred Beckley to Robert E. Lee 1861 August 21, 25
Physical Location: Original tipped in E470.2 .T25 1878 copy 1
Photocopy.

#6846-bb

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Edward C. Turner 1861 September 14
ALS 2 p. on 1 l.

#7959

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Philip St. George Cocke 1861-1865
10 items. Photocopies only.

#2433-f

Box 1
Robert E. Lee, telegram to Major Harman 1862 April 18
Photocopy only.

#3327

Box 1
Thomas J. Jackson to Robert E. Lee 1862 June 11
Photocopy only.

#3327

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Major General John Bankhead Magruder 1862 June 26
ALS 1 p.

#2562

Box 1
Thomas L. Rosser to Robert E. Lee 1862 July 25
ALS, 5 p. on 5 l.

#1171-j

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Colonel J. Thompson Brown 1862 August 7
ALS 1 p.

#10100-c

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Anne B. Carter Wickham 1862 November 11
D, 1 p. 19th century copy.

Lee expresses his regret that Williams Carter Wickham, her son, has again been wounded but explains that he cannot be spared from returning to duty in the army

#15753

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to [J.E.B.] Stuart [1862];
ALS 1 p.

#49

Box 1
J.E.B. Stuart to Robert E. Lee 1862 October 12
ALS 2 p. on 1 l.

#448

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Major Duffy 1862 [November] 18
Photocopy only.

#3327

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Albert Taylor Bledsoe 1863 February 18
ANS, on verso of ALS, 1863 February 16, Bledsoe to Lee, 1 p.

#2769-a

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1863 March 24
ALS 2 p.

#11424

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Charles Carter Lee 1863 May 24
ALS 5 p. on 2 l. (20th century copy)

#438

Box 1
William F. Wickham to Robert E. Lee 1863 June 28
AD; 2 drafts.

Wickham writes about the arrival at Hickory Hill of Union cavalry, who carried off General William Henry Fitzhugh Lee as a prisoner in Wickham’s carriage, as well as horses and slaves, and reports that Charlotte Lee’s health is not good and that she is much distressed at her husband’s capture.

#15753

Box 1
J.E.B. Stuart to [Robert E. Lee] 1863 September 19
ALS 3 p. on 1 l.

#5660

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Edward Willis 1864 March 11
Photocopy only.

#7837

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Mrs. J.S. Heiskell 1864 March 24
ALS 2 p. on 1 l., with typescript.

#38-186

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to George Wasington Custis Lee 1864 March 29
Photocopy only.

#9320

Box 1
Robert E. Lee circular letter to Commanding officers 1864 June 3
ALS 1 p.

#5660

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to General Thomas L. Rosser 1864 July 28
LS 1 p.

#1171

Box 1
Jubal A. Early to Robert E. Lee [1864] August 10
Photocopy only.

#4166

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Mrs. Paschal Jennings Fowlkes 1864 September 17
Photocopy only.

#5355

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Colonel Cabell 1864 December 19
ALS 1 p., mounted on board.

#438

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Ulysses S. Grant 1865 April 9
Photocopy only.

#10645

Box 1
Robert E. Lee, General Order No. 9 1865 April 9
D, 1 p.

19th century? copy in unidentified hand. #793

Box 1
Robert E. Lee, General Order No. 9 1865 April 10
DS. 2 p. on 1 l.

#5711

Box 1
Robert E. Lee, General Order No. 9 1865 April 10
Photocopy only.

#5155

Box 1
Robert E. Lee, General Order No. 9 1865 April 10
Photographic copy only.

Draft? #5155

Box 1
Robert E. Lee, General Order No. 9 1865 April 10
Photocopy only.

#4166

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Phillip Slaughter 1865 August 31
Photocopy only.

#6020

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to Williams Carter Wickham 1865 October 3
ALS

Lee writes about Henry T. Wickham’s attendance at Washington College in Lexington and Lee’s plan to write a history about military campaigns in Virginia during the Civil War

#15753

Box 1
Williams Carter Wickham to Robert E. Lee 1865 October 13
D.

Draft in the hand of Lucy Wickham of Williams Carter Wickham's reply to 1865 October 3 letter of Robert E. Lee, above.

#15753

Box 1
Robert E. Lee to the Rev. Francis Sprigg 1865 October 21
ALS 1 p.

#4703

Box 1
Robert E. Lee, testimonial on behalf of Chaning M. Smith 1865 November 6
Photocopy only.

#5749

Box 2
Robert E. Lee to Hunter McGuire 1866 September 15
Photocopy only.

#9302

Box 2
Robert E. Lee to Colonel Charles S. Venable 1866 March 8
ALS 2 p. on 1 l.

#5660

Box 2
Robert E. Lee to Professor Charles S. Venable 1866 July 6
ALS 3 p. on 1 l., with envelope.

#5655-a

Box 2
Robert E. Lee to Dr. A[lbert] T[aylor] Bledsoe 1866 October 8
ALS 1 p.

#3461

Box 2
Robert E. Lee to General Thomas L. Rosser 1866 December 13
ALS 2 p. on 1 l.

#1171

Box 2
John D. Carter to Faculty of Washington College 1867 January 17
3 p. on 1 l., with pencilled notes by Robert E. Lee, repaired.

#5241

Box 2
Robert E. Lee to John B. Minor 1867 January 17
ALS 4 p. on 2 l.

#38-602, interfiled with 3750

Box 2
Robert E. Lee to Mrs. S.A. Rees 1867 February 6
ALS 2 p. on 1 l., repaired.

#5241

Box 2
Robert E. Lee to Colonel E. Fontaine 1867 July 9
ALS 2 p. on 1 l.

#6269-g

Box 2
Robert E. Lee to Colonel E. Fontaine 1867 July 9
ALS 1 p.

#6269-g

Box 2
Robert E. Lee to Socrates Maupin 1868 June 23
ALS 1 p., with envelope.

#2478-a

Box 2
Robert E. Lee to W.A. Morgan 1868 December 3
ALS 1 p.

#1275

Box 2
Robert E. Lee to Major Jed Hotchkiss 1868 December 14
ALS 1 p.

#2822

Box 2
Robert E. Lee to Major Jed Hotchkiss 1868 December 16
ALS 1 p.

#2822

Box 2
Robert E. Lee to Henry Tutwiler 1869 April 8
Photocopy only.

#10156

Box 2
Robert E. Lee to Edmund Pendleton 1869 April
Photocopy only.

#5779

Box 2
Robert E. Lee to Basil L. Gildersleeve 1869 July 9
ALS 1 p., with envelope.

#RG-21/90.902

Box 2
Robert E. Lee to Major Jed Hotchkiss 1869 October 20
ALS 1 p.

#2822

Box 2
Robert E. Lee to the students of Washington College 1869 [November] 23
Photocopy only.

#9141

Box 2
Robert E. Lee to Major Jed Hotchkiss 1869 December 24
ALS 2 p. on 1 l.

#2822

Box 2
Robert E. Lee to W. Gordon McCabe 1870 February 9
ALS 1 p.

#10568

Box 2
Robert E. Lee to T[homas] Hewitt Key 1870 February 17
ALS 2 p. on 1 l., with envelope.

#10300

Box 2
Robert E. Lee to Joseph Henry 1870 March 11
Photocopy.

Original in the Huntington Library.

#2776

Box 2
Robert E. Lee to Annie Wickham [Anne Carter Wickham Renshaw Byerly] 1870 May 23
AL; signature excised.

Lee promises to stop by “Hickory Hill” to visit if at all possible on his way back to Lexington.

#15753

Box 2
Robert E. Lee, "I will place the appt. under the President's..." n.d.
ADS 1 p.

#2723

Box 2
Robert E. Lee autograph n.d.

#2926

Box 2
Hair from Traveller's mane; with confirmation note n.d.
1 p.

#9513-c