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warm personal friends and received in the course of private correspondence.
The first is from the pen of the beloved leader and is followed by tributes from
Jefferson Davis,
Generals D. H. Hill and
W. H. Payne,
Colonels Marshall and
Johnston,
Senator John W. Daniel,
Professors Peters and
Venable,
Dr. McGuire, and others,--if less known to fame,--none the less ardent in the expression of their regard.
Lexington, Va., Nov., 1865.
General J. A. Early: I received last night your letter, which gave me the first authentic information of you I had received since the cessation of hostilities and relieved the anxiety I had felt on your account. I am very glad to hear of your health and safety, and I wish you every happiness and prosperity: you will always be present to my recollections.
I desire, if not prevented, to write a history of the campaigns in
Virginia; all of my records, books, orders, etc., were destroyed in the conflagration and retreat from
Richmond, only such reports as were printed are preserved.
Your reports of your operations in 1864 were among those destroyed.
Can you not repeat them and send me copies of such letters, orders, etc., of mine and particularly give me your recollection of our effective strength at the principal battles?
My only object is to transmit, if possible, the truth and do justice to our brave soldiers.
Robert E. Lee.
March, 1866.
I am much obliged for the copies of my letters.
Send me reports of the operations of your commands in the campaign from the
Wilderness to
Richmond, at
Lynchburg, in the
Valley, Maryland, etc. . . . All statistics as regards numbers, destruction of private property by the
Federal troops, etc., I should like to have, as I wish my memory strengthened on these points.
It will be difficult to get the world to understand the odds against which we fought and the destruction or loss of all returns of the army embarrasses me. We shall have to be patient and suffer till a period when reason and charity may resume their sway.
At present the public mind is not prepared to receive the truth.
I hope in time peace will be restored to the country and that the
South may enjoy some measure of prosperity.
I fear, however, much suffering is still in store for her and that the people must be prepared to exercise fortitude and forbearance.
Robert E. Lee.
I wish to thank you for your last offering to the cause you served so zealously and efficiently in the field.
To vindicate the struggle
