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Robert E. Lee Autograph Manuscript. ...
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Description
Robert E. Lee's Confederate Service Record in His Own Hand
Robert E. Lee Autograph Manuscript. One page, 4.875 x 4.375
inches, no place; no date. Robert E. Lee's Confederate service
record in his own hand sent to Charles Marshall, Lee's aide-de-camp
during the war - forwarded to Marshall by Lee's son, George
Washington Custis Lee, with accompanying transmittal letter.
Affixed with archival tape below the manuscript is a partial
closing of a separate Robert E. Lee letter [4.875 x 2.25 inches]
reading, "...your great success / I am very truly repy / yours /
RE Lee".Two and a half months after Lee's death on October 12, 1870, his eldest son, George Washington Custis Lee, sent this handwritten manuscript to Charles Marshall, Lee's aide-de-camp and secretary during the war. Marshall not only drafted Lee's acceptance of Union General Ulysses S. Grant's terms of surrender (Appomattox Courthouse, April 9, 1865), but also drafted Lee's General Order No. 9, his eloquent farewell address to his vanquished Army of Northern Virginia (Head Quarters, near Appomattox, April 10, 1865). Lee writes, in full:
"Commd. in VA [Virginia] Service 23 Apl. '61
Appd. [appointed] Comm Brigr Genl in C. [Confederate] Army - in April or May '61
Appd. [appointed] Genl in C. [Confederate] Army 31 Aug. '61
Directed to assume control of Confederate forces in VA [Army of Northern Virginia] by Secy Walker. 10 May '62
Appd. to the command of Mil [Military] forces of C. States by Gen'l Order No. 3
Adjt & Inspt Genls office. 6 Feb '65
Assumed command 9 Feb '65
Attack of Grant on Petersburg Lines
2 Feb April '65. Retreat 3 Apl. '65
Surrender 9 Apl '65"
[Together with:] George Washington Custis Lee Autograph Letter Signed and Initialed. Five pages of bifolia, 5" x 8", Lexington, Virginia; December 28, 1870. Addressed to Colonel Charles Marshall, Lee's aide-de-camp, written shortly after his father's death, being the transmittal letter for Lee's service record above. Lee's dutiful son writes, in part:
"...I shipped by express, today, to your address, two boxes of papers relating to the war, which I hope will reach you safely. I had endeavored to arrange them to some extent; but was obliged in the packing to put them in as best I could. You will find among them all the maps I have been able to get, excepting a large birds-eye-view map of Gettysburg which is too large for the box, and which I will send separately if you so desire. Thinking it best to err on the safe side, I have probably sent you much that you may not need; but as you arrange the papers to suit your plan of work, you can lay aside what you do not require, and return to us at your convenience.
I believe I have sent all we have relating to the late war between the States. There are some few papers in reference to my father's command in Texas prior to the civil war, which I shall have to look over more carefully; and if I find anything which promises to be of use to you, I will forward it at once. You will find among the books sent an old order book in which are entered some few orders, and some letters since the war in my handwriting. Some of the letters will be of no use to you, but as I think they are copied into another book, you can keep them (that is the book) as long as you wish....
Col. Johnston has written to Mr. Davis in regard to the W. Va. and Southern operations, and I am in hopes you will before long receive his account. Col. Taylor, in reply to my note to him on the same subject, says that he will write to you as to what he can do for you.
Genl. Cullem's book is entitled, I think, the graduates of the U.S. Mil. Academy, or something to that effect. I have not yet been able to get hold of it, but expect to do so in a few days, and can then give you more definite information. As you go on with your work, if you will make notes of what we can do for you here, and send them from time to time, I will try and attend to them promptly. I merely suggest this as a means of saving you some writing..." Signed, "G.W.C. Lee."
Lee's postscript links the manuscript of Lee's service record to Marshall confirming the provenance:
"P.S. I believe I mentioned in a previous letter that Genl. Mankin's communication was forwarded to its destination, with an extract of as much of your letter to me as related to it. G.W.C.L.
I enclose a little memorandum in my father's handwriting, which may be of use to you. I need hardly ask you to try and preserve all the papers sent you, and especially those in my father's handwriting. G.W.C.L."
Charles Marshall never wrote a biography of Robert E. Lee, though he did deliver an address in Baltimore before the Society of the Army and Navy of the Confederate States in the State of Maryland (January 19, 1864), which contained details of Appomattox, and is today considered a major authority on the subject. Also included is a printed black and white photograph of General Lee and his son that measures 3.75 x 5.75 inches.
Condition: Left margin frayed with scattered soiling. Affixed with archival tape below the manuscript is a partial closing of a Robert E. Lee letter. Archival tape repair to separation along integral fold and horizontal folds of Custis Lee's letter. From the Melvin "Pete" Mark, Jr. Collection
Auction Info
2022 December 1 Historical Platinum Session Signature® Auction #6267 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2022
1st
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