Oct. 26, 1998
Contact: Edmund Berkeley Jr.
(804) 924-4968


LEE LETTER DONATED TO U.VA. LIBRARY CONTAINS EXTENSIVE COMMENTS ABOUT
THE CIVIL WAR AND CONFEDERACY

	Gen. Robert E. Lee, normally a reserved man, shows a different
side of himself in a detailed and apparently unpublished Civil War
letter recently donated to the University of Virginia Library.
	Writing at length to his older brother, Charles Carter Lee, on
March 24, 1863, the Confederate army commander touches on a variety of
topics ranging from events of the war to family news, and cites a psalm
about duty as the foundation for supporting the Confederacy's cause. 
	 Gary W. Gallagher, professor of Civil War history at U.Va.,
said the letter is significant as "an example of Lee's frame of mind
vis-a-vis the prospects for Confederate victory in the spring of 1863."
The letter was donated to the U.Va. library by a Denver alumnus of the
University and his wife.
	Lee had just returned to his camp near Fredericksburg, after a
week spent in Richmond conferring with Confederate President Jefferson
Davis and other officials of the government. In the letter he speculates
to Charles Lee about the possible movements of the Union Army of the
Potomac under Gen. Joseph Hooker (whom Lee was to defeat two months
later at the battle of Chancellorsville), and comments on the battle of
Kelly's Ford that been fought just a week earlier. 
	"I do not know how I can replace the gallant Pelham," Lee
writes, referring to the death at Kelly's Ford of John Pelham, the
dashing commander of horse artillery in "Jeb" Stuart's cavalry unit. Lee
added, "So young So true So brave. Though stricken down in the dawn of
manhood, his is the glory of duty done!"
	Lee also writes his brother that Fitzhugh Lee, nephew of both
men, had handled his brigade very well in the fighting at Kelly's Ford,
forcing the Union cavalry "to retire at night," and that his brigade had
"behaved admirably, [&] though greatly outnumbered Stuck to the enemy
with a tenacity that Could not be shaken off." Fitzhugh Lee would later
serve as governor of Virginia.
	Lee cites Psalm 60 as an argument for doing duty to the cause of
the Confederacy. "Through God we shall do great acts [the Bible uses the
word 'valiantly.']; & it is He that shall tread down our 				
enemies."  Gallagher said that this comment in the letter "underscores
Lee's consistent call for the Confederate people to subordinate all
other things to the pursuit of the war."
	After sending his love to family members, Lee concludes by
asking Charles to "take them all out in the fields & raise us quantities
of Corn. We are in great need, both man and beast. Set all the farmers
to work. If they do not do better I shall have to Call for aid upon our
glorious women." The letter is signed, "Your Affect[tiona]te brother RE
Lee."
	The letter has apparently not been published or widely known to
scholars, according to University Archivist Edmund Berkeley Jr.	
	The letter was donated to the University of Virginia Library by
Dr. and Mrs. William Nelson of Denver. It had been given originally to
Dr. Nelson's grandfather, Hugh Nelson Sr., who was a soldier in the
brigade of Gen. Fitzhugh Lee and who received the letter as a gift after
the war.  Hugh Nelson Sr., who was active in Confederate veterans
affairs in Charlottesville after the war, carried the news of Lee's
surrender to President Jefferson Davis.
						###
	For additional information contact Edmund Berkeley Jr.,
University Archivist, at (804) 924-4968.  Professor Gary Gallagher may
be reached at (804) 924-7146. 

Television reporters should contact the TV News Office at (804)
924-7750. 





GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE LETTER
TO HIS BROTHER CHARLES CARTER LEE

	Camp Fred[erick]s[burg, Virginia] 24 March [18]63

My dear brother Carter

	I have rec[eive]d your letter of the 18th & will endeavor to
forward the enclosure to Mrs. Taylor. I do not Know where she is now.
When last at her house on the Rapp[ahannock] R[iver] the enemy Seemed to
be preparing to cross very near it. Whether it was a feint or a reality
I
Could not tell, but recommended they should make arrangements to
evacuate if necessary & I have heard they proposed going to their
Country house in the [forest?]. Genl. Jackson is quite near me & her
residence is not near him. The weather has been very unfavorable to
those exposed to it, & the roads are nearly impassable. Genl. Hooker
Seems to be prepared for a move Somewhere, & this day [week] the
indications were he was Coming over, He threw his Cav[alr]y over Kellys
ford, & brought his inf[antr]y to the U. S. ford [U. S. Ford] just below
the mouth of Rapidan [River], but the former was so roughly handled by
your nephew Fitz that it had to retire at night, & the latter Stuck to
their position. The reports from within their lines are that the
Cav[alr]y was to [have] Swept around to the Central and
Fred[erick]s[burg] R.R.'s Burn our depots & cut us up generally Under
cover of which their inf [antr]y was to Cross, but that we

[second page of letter]

had forestalled them & they changed their minds. I presume it will be
repeated in some shape the next fine day. As far as I learn Fitz Lee &
his Brigade behaved admirably, & though greatly outnumbered Stuck to the
enemy with a tenacity that Could not be shaken off. The report of our
scouts north of the Rappa[hannock] R[iver] place their strength at 7000.
Stuart does not put it so high, while Fitz did not have with him more
than 800. But I grieve over our noble dead! I do not know how I can
replace the gallant Pelham. So Young So true So brave. Though stricken
down in the dawn of manhood, his is the glory of duty done! Fitz had his
horse shot under him but is safe. The news from the west is favourable &
at the South the blow is still impending over Charleston. When it falls
it will be heavy, but if we do our duty I trust we shall not be crushed.
"Through God
we shall do great acts; & it is He that shall tread down our enemies."
Give much love to Sis Lucy & "Mildred & them." Tell them I wish I Could
get there. You must take them all out in the fields & raise us
quantities of Corn. We are in great need, both man & beast. Set all the
farmers to work. If they do not do better I shall have to call for aid
upon our glorious women. I was glad to have seen George in Richmond. He
has become a fine boy.

	Your affect[iona]te brother [signed] R. E. Lee