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Robert E. Lee and William Henry Fitzhugh "Rooney" Lee Autograph Letter Signed to George Washington Custis Lee....
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Description
Robert E. Lee and William Henry Fitzhugh "Rooney" Lee Autograph Letter Signed to George Washington Custis Lee. Two pages, two sided, including integral address leaf, 8" x 10", on blue lined paper, Baltimore, Maryland, April 18, 1852. Unusual co-authored letter from Robert E. Lee and his younger son William "Rooney" Lee to Robert's oldest son, George Washington Custis Lee. After the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), Robert E. Lee spent several years employed as an engineer at Fort Carroll in Baltimore Harbor, during which time he lived on his great Arlington estate near Washington with his wife and six children, while his eldest, G.W. Custis Lee, attended West Point. Offered here is a warm and newsy letter to Custis from his father and brother. Rooney begins the letter with a great deal of news about family and friends, noting that: "Uncle Smith [Robert E. Lee's older brother, an officer in the Navy] expects to go on to Boston Monday to take command of the Steamship Princeton and will be there two or three weeks..." He goes on to tease his brother about their attractive Cousin Ella [daughter of Robert E. Lee's brother Charles Carter Lee], saying: "Cousin Ella... is looking very sweet and pretty. I wish you were here now. I think that you would enjoy yourself knowing what an admirer you are of beauty and what taste for sweet things." Rooney signs off as "Your affectionate brother, William Lee."Here, father Robert E. Lee takes pen in hand and adds to the letter, before sending it off. In part: "I will endeavor to add a few lines, My dear Mr. Boo, to certify that I am well & thinking of you... Your grandfather [George Washington Parke Custis, the adopted son of President George Washington] is constructing a wharf out from his shore for the Steamer G.W.P. Custis to land, which is to fly between Washington & his Spring carrying visitors. He is much engrossed with it... Give much love to everybody. Beware of the demerits. Very Aff. Your father, R.E. Lee." Five months later, Robert E. Lee would become the superintendent of West Point and was there to oversee his son's military training and 1854 graduation as first in his class. A heartwarming and delightful family letter. Weakened and lightly damaged at folds, the letter has been beautifully silked and is in fine condition. Accompanied by a clipped signature of George Washington Custis Lee as "Lt. & Adjt. Corps of Cadets." One page, 5" x 5.25", being a portion of a partly printed document, "Camp Jefferson Davis, West Point," August 11, 1853. Very fine.
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