Lee Family Digital Archive

Washington 10^th Dec^r 12

Sir

            In reply to yr letter rec^d last evening I have the pleasure to inform you that M^r Wheaton^s character as an officer in the revolutionary army is well recollected by me.

            He belonged to Col. Olney^s reg^t from Rhode Island, than which no corps in the army was more distinguished.

            My Legion was connected with it in defence of two bridges at the battle of Springfield in New Jersey & I was a witness to the zeal & courage extended by the reg^t on that occasion which was never exceeded during the war.

            M^r Wheaton (then I believe a L^t) was in the leading section & was conspicuous throughout the action for his exemplary gallantry, a distinction which he sustained to the end of the war.

Y^r most ob. Sevt

H. Lee

(Verso)

Gen^rl Henry Lee

to John Burke

Washington City

10^th Dec^r 1812

Mr Burke

            City of Washington

to the care of the honl M^r Dawson

Source: The Archives of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation, Papers of the Lee Family, Box 6, M2009.120

Transcribed by Caitlin Connelly, 2016 June 7