Richmond 21 June ‘65
My dear brother Carter,
I rec’d to day your letter of the 19th. I send you the Times of the 21st which will tell you all about the indictments which I know. The papers are arguing the Subject pro & Con, & I presume the Gov’t will decide in favour of the stronger party. I am here to answer any accusations against me & Cannot flee. I have rec’d kind offers of professional Services from several Gentn: Reverdy Johnson, Tazewell Taylor, Mr Macfarland,[1] &c, in the event of being tried, & shall take advantage of them if necessary. Fitzhugh, who is here & Mrs. Carter of Pampatyke[2] say they know nothing more of the purchase of West Point than what they See in the papers, but do not believe the report. The North has all the Capital, all that will be done in rebuilding Richmond & recuperating the South must be with Northern funds. I do not think they will go into any speculation except such as will make quick returns. It is their way. I will mention the subject of the sale of the Hardy Spring to Smith,[3] who is now out. Nannie[4] went yesterday to Mecklenburg, but Smith[5] talks of going to Ravensworth & is in correspondence on the Subject. I am glad you have had a successful harvest & hope it may be abundant. I shall if nothing prevents take Mary next week to Cumberland Co.: Mrs. Wm. Cocke[6] has offered us a house belonging to her Son, I believe six miles from Cartersville which I have accepted. Judge Baker was not able to get possession of his house in Norfolk & Consequently could not remove his family from Fluvanna. We shall therefore be nearer to you & shall hope sometimes to see you. (end of letter)
(no signature)
Source: The Archives of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Foundation, Papers of the Lee Family, Box 4, M2012.003, Jessie Ball duPont Library, Stratford Hall
Transcription transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2015 September 22
[1] William Harrison MacFarland (1799-1872), a lawyer and friend of Lee. He is buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.
[2] Pampatike is a farm on the Pamunkey River located two miles south of Shirley Plantation. Before the Civil War, the planation was run by Thomas Henry Carter (1831-1908), who became a colonel in Lee’s army. Carter returned there after the war. His wife was Susan Roy.
[3] Light Horse Harry Lee had land in Hardy County, today located in West Virginia. After his death, the land passed to his four sons. In February of 1879, the land was bought by the Alexander family.
[4] Ann Maria Mason Lee (1811-1898), wife of Lee’s brother Sidney Smith Lee. The couple was married in February of 1835.
[5] Sidney Smith Lee (1802-1869).
[6] Elizabeth Randolph Preston Cocke (1808-1889). The house was “Derwent,” located about halfway between Richmond and Charlottesville. The Lees spent only one summer there.
