Lee, Robert E. (1807-1870) to Mathilda M. Rhett
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07157 Author/Creator: Lee, Robert E. (1807-1870) Place Written: Coosawhatchie, South Carolina Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 24 November 1861 Pagination: 3 p. ; 22.1 x 13.9 cm. Order a Copy
Thanks her for her letter and updates her on current events of the Civil War. "Much is to be done & yet our invaders have everything their own way. It will not be so always & our turn will come some day. They have complete control of the waters, our inland seas furnish them with every facility for savaging our coast, which will delight them to do." Writes that he misses his wife and mentions his children.
Coosawhatchie
24 Nov 1861
My dear Mrs Rhett
I am glad your memory is so good & your Conscience so true as to enlighten you as to the occasion & length of time since you last wrote to me. It brings [inserted: back] long past pleasures & I have taken this quiet Sunday night to thank you for your kind letter.
I am very glad to be here & should be more delighted were I able to be of any advantage to the State. Much is to be done & as yet our invaders have every thing their own way. It will not be so always & our turn will come some day. They have Complete Control of the waters & our inland seas furnish them with every facility for savaging our Coast, which will delight them to do. When M Rhett, your M Rhett gets at them, we will hope [2] for better times. We have another of the family here to night. Capt Thos: S. Rhett just from Baltimore. He is a Captain of Leutt & I hope will do us good service for.
I am glad to hear you & Mrs Follie are having such splendid times. Tell your husband the Yankees shall not have a sight of you. I wish I could have that pleasure, but I have now an expectation. I did not see my poor dame before leaving Virginia. Indeed we have not met since we parted at Arlington in May. It is a long time for old people to be separated you young people having a long life before you can afford it.
My Children are all scattered. The boys in the Army & the girls quartered about. Mrs. Sue & my new daughter Charlotte are at the White House on the [Panmunkey] making soldiers clothes & knitting socks.
I hope your mother & Miss Carrie were well when you heard. Present [3] my kind regards to Mrs Hollie & believe me always & affec.,
Yours
R.E.Lee
Mrs. Matilda M. Rhett
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