Details
LEE, ROBERT E. General, C.S.A. Autograph letter signed ("R E Lee") to George Washington Custis ("Boo") Lee, Baltimore, 3 August 1851. 4 pages, 4to, minor repairs along folds of both sheets.
LEE WRITES HIS SON REGARDING CHARGES OF DRINKING AT WEST POINT, "THE 'BOO' AFFAIR"
"And at Sollers we hammer on lustily. This past month, we have been laying stone by means of a Diving Bell. A troublesome operation with awkward timid men. They are getting somewhat tutored now, and I hope this month to do better. Besides I have overcome many of the difficulties of contrivances and arrangements to meet them. And you know all difficulties can be overcome by labour and perseverance. I was delighted at the contradictions in your last letter of that slanderous report against the room of those fine Cadets Lee, Wood & Turnbull. I could not believe it before to the extent of the report and supposed it must have been pretty exaggerated. I am happy to have my impressions confirmed. I trust there will be no cause for even suspicions in future. I know there will be none in reality as far as you are concerned...I was very sad before when I thought of you confined to your room. Trailing to meals after the guard & deprived of the relaxation and enjoyment of your Comrades. It seemed unnatural. I could not realize that such a position was befitting my son...."
Written from Baltimore where Lee was directing an engineering project, the letter continues in a supportive, fatherly tone. Robert E. Lee's eldest son, also known as "Custis," graduated from West Point in 1854, and served in the office of the Chief of Engineers until the outbreak of the War. He spent the majority of the conflict as Colonel of Cavalry and aide-de-camp to Jefferson Davis [With:] ANDREWS, GEORGE L. Three autograph letters signed, West Point, 9 February 1889; 18 September 1889; 6 April 1891, 6 pages on 3 sheets, all 8vo, discussing the above letter and the papers of other West Point graduates. Together four items. (4)
LEE WRITES HIS SON REGARDING CHARGES OF DRINKING AT WEST POINT, "THE 'BOO' AFFAIR"
"And at Sollers we hammer on lustily. This past month, we have been laying stone by means of a Diving Bell. A troublesome operation with awkward timid men. They are getting somewhat tutored now, and I hope this month to do better. Besides I have overcome many of the difficulties of contrivances and arrangements to meet them. And you know all difficulties can be overcome by labour and perseverance. I was delighted at the contradictions in your last letter of that slanderous report against the room of those fine Cadets Lee, Wood & Turnbull. I could not believe it before to the extent of the report and supposed it must have been pretty exaggerated. I am happy to have my impressions confirmed. I trust there will be no cause for even suspicions in future. I know there will be none in reality as far as you are concerned...I was very sad before when I thought of you confined to your room. Trailing to meals after the guard & deprived of the relaxation and enjoyment of your Comrades. It seemed unnatural. I could not realize that such a position was befitting my son...."
Written from Baltimore where Lee was directing an engineering project, the letter continues in a supportive, fatherly tone. Robert E. Lee's eldest son, also known as "Custis," graduated from West Point in 1854, and served in the office of the Chief of Engineers until the outbreak of the War. He spent the majority of the conflict as Colonel of Cavalry and aide-de-camp to Jefferson Davis [With:] ANDREWS, GEORGE L. Three autograph letters signed, West Point, 9 February 1889; 18 September 1889; 6 April 1891, 6 pages on 3 sheets, all 8vo, discussing the above letter and the papers of other West Point graduates. Together four items. (4)