Robert E. Lee to Louisa Washington letters
Scope and Contents
This collection consists primarily of six letters written from Robert E. Lee to Louisa Washington between September 1861 and December 1868. Louisa Washington was the eldest child of John Augustine Washington, III of Fauquier County, Va., the last Washington family descendant and private individual to own the Washington family estate Mount Vernon. A key subject of select letters is Colonel John A. Washington’s death on September 13, 1861 while serving on the staff of General Robert E. Lee as his aide de camp. Washington was killed by Union soldiers while on a reconnaissance mission in western Virginia – a striking blow to Lee, as not only was Washington a lineal descendant of George Washington, but they had also become very close friends during their months together since the onset of the American Civil War. Included in this collection is Col. Washington’s final dispatch written his hand and sent to Lee just before he died. Lee kept the final note throughout the Civil War until returning it to Louisa as a keepsake of her father. Another highlight is a letter in which Lee, upon Louisa’s request, offers advice to her concerning a memorial inscription for her father’s grave monument. Lee provides insights about memorial inscriptions including generally accepted protocols and his personal feelings on the subject.
Dates
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1861 - 1868
Language of Materials
This collection is entirely in English.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is available for research use.
Conditions Governing Use
The materials from Washington and Lee University Special Collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used should be fully credited with the source. Permission for publication of this material, in part or in full, must be secured with the Head of Special Collections.
Extent
8 Item
Subject
- Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1807-1870 (Person)
- Chew, Louisa Fontaine Washington, 1844-1927 (Person)
- Washington, John Augustine, 1821 - 1861 (Person)
- Confederate States of America. Army (Organization)
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Washington and Lee University, University Library Special Collections and Archives Repository