Lee, John F. (1813-1884) to [Henry Jackson Hunt]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02382.082 Author/Creator: Lee, John F. (1813-1884) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: circa 1870-1880 Pagination: 1 p. ; 15.2 x 12.9 cm. Order a Copy
Discusses the retirement pay of soldiers. Notes "What a standing-army, in expense- & paid without musters- i. e. head men, & men who never lived." A newspaper clipping, attached to the page, also discusses retirement for soldiers, stating: "It will thus be seen that the rewards for length of service and for the performance of active duties, out of all proportion, fall to the lot of the non-combative officers." Recipient inferred from content.
Hunt had served as Chief of Artillery for the Army of the Potomac. After the Civil War, he occupied various military posts. The issue of retirement was important to Hunt; much of his correspondence relates to his post-war attempt to secure a pension as a retired major general through a private bill in Congress. Lee was an ordnance officer in the war.
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