Welcome to the Robert E. Lee Papers at the Special Collections Department of the James Graham Leyburn Library at Washington and Lee University. These letters are a representative sample from our collection which documents aspects of Lee's life and career as a soldier, educator, friend, and father.
HdQrs: 8 Aug '62
Good bye my dear Col: May every happiness & success attend you. I am glad that General Jackson will have the benefit of your presence, & get __?__ your loss to the good Gov- I thank you sincerely for your advice - The latter part is good. I have regretted my inability to see more of the troops - I have never had time to be with them except at their duties - Their parades etc I have been unable to attend. I visit their camps & their lines etc, but I have had to keep them so constantly at work. So much has to be done, & so much is yet to be done, that I have felt I might not to (?)take them from it & engross their time with reviews etc for my gratification - You know how we live in hope, & I have always hoped that a better time was coming. Now I must give you some advice. Take care of yourself, & I know that the great God above us will take care of you. To him I trust you & confidently rely upon his goodness in all that may occur. I pray that you may soon be returned to us, bringing in your footsteps the blessings of peace - Think sometimes of your friend R E LEE
Col: S. Basset French
On the reverse: P.S. Leave the train at Gordonsville - __?__ I when last heard of any Fs near that place
REL
Headqrs Richmond VA
8 May 1862
General
I have had the honor of seeing your letter of the _?_ inst: reporting the movements of the enemy down the Valley, & the condition of affairs east of the Blue Ridge. _?_I telegraphed you on the same day as the date of your letter, I see no necessity for retaining your division at Swift Run Gap, if it is ascertained that the intention of the enemy is to retire from the Valley and that he no longer meditates an advance toward Staunton. From present indications it is thought that the column under Genl Banks will attempt to form a junction with that opposite Fredricksburg under Genl McDowell. If you ascertain this to be the fact, an opportunity might be presented for intercepting Bank's march & striking him a blow while enroute for Fredburg; & with this view it is suggested that you move the bulk of your command to Gordonsville on the line of the Rappahannock, so as to have it available for this purpose, & moreover to enable you to more readily form a junction with the force this side of Fredericks'g under Genl Anderson, if necessary. A small force could be left to watch the pass through Swift Run Gap if the above course is adopted - I have today written to Genl Jackson advising him of the contents of this letter - Shd you move you will report the fact to him.
In addition to the brigade of General Branch, that of Genl Malone, from the Dept. Of Norfolk, has been ordered to Gordonsville to report to you for duty: Two regiments of the latter have already left this city for that place -
I am very respecty
Your obt servt
R E Lee
Genl
See the orginal documents here
Headqrs Dept. N.Va
10 Octo. 1862
Genl
I have received your notes of the 9th & 10th inst: & am much obliged to you for the information they contain. When we move, I think you had better take the route by Ft Royal; for if the route is by Ashby's Gap, the army will occupy Perry's Ford, which is quite deep; whereas the route by Front Royal and taking the upper ford will be shallow should the route of the army be by Sandy Hook, the Ft Royal route will of course be most direct for you. Please do what is necessary for the fords & get all the information concerning forage, etc (on either route) that you can-
I am most respecty
Your obt servt
R E Lee
Genl
Brig Genl W. N. Pendleton
Commdy Arty
See the orginal documents here