Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Washington, John Augustine (1821-1861) to Ned Turner

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

A high-resolution version of this object is available for registered users. LOG IN

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02953.01 Author/Creator: Washington, John Augustine (1821-1861) Place Written: Richmond, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 19 June 1861 Pagination: 3 p. ; 25.3 x 20.2 cm. Order a Copy

Lt. Colonel Washington, George Washington's great-grandnephew and aide-de-camp to Robert E. Lee, discusses Lee's recent promotion, Union general Benjamin Franklin Butler and the recent Battle of Big Bethel, and Confederate general Joseph E. Johnston's evacuation of Harpers Ferry (Virginia). He begins by reviewing various business matters relating to Waveland, his plantation in Fauquier County, Virginia. Washington later mentions that one of his enslaved people had run away from Mount Vernon, and is now with Union forces.

John Augustine Washington was the great-grandnephew of George Washington. He owned Mount Vernon until 1858, when the Mount Vernon Ladies Association purchased the estate.

[excerpt]
Gen. Lee is now in command of [obscured text] [A]rmies of the Confederate States as I understand it, and I presume I shall therefore remain with him and not be attached to a regiment as I had supposed. I had much rather be with him, and would be equally pleased if he would have Richmond, as my impression is that before many days have past, we shall have had some hard fighting in Virginia, & staying here is dull work.
I think (and this is my personal judgment only) that we shall have warm work in the Valley and near Alexandria very shortly.
I doubt Butler's venturing beyond his walls and intrenchments without an overwhelming
force - after the sound thrashing they got at Bethel Church.
The accounts from there of the Enemy's loss are not exaggerated. five hundred of killed & wounded are a low estimate. Our actual loss was one man killed & six wounded.
Troops are coming in here rapidly and I think in a few weeks we will have at least 100,000 Virginians & Con.[federate] S.[tates] under arms - in Virginia - We have now 65 or 70,000 and incoming 2 or 3000 a day.
Gen[eral] Johnstons evacuation of Harpers Ferry is approved of I think by Military men. He would soon have been hemmed in and cut off from supplies and obliged to come out. It is hoped now that he has taken the field & will be able to meet the Enemy in detail before their columns can unite.
If our people will always do as well and the Yankees as badly as at Bethel [text obscured: I] think they will be taught some severe lessons -
…One of my negroes has run off from Mount Vernon & taken a horse with him, and I learn is now in Alexandria, negro & horse both being received and used by the Yankees…

Washington, John Augustine, 1821-1861
Turner, Ned, fl. 1861
Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893
Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870
Johnston, Joseph E. (Joseph Eggleston), 1807-1891
Washington, George, 1732-1799

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources