Camp near Culpepper CH
6 Nov ’62
I reached here safely yesterday evg dear Mary. I felt very sad at leaving you & every time I take my departure the feeling increases. The probability of return grows dimmer. The prospect of the future grows shorter. I found my military family all well. Genl Longstreets Corps is here & Jacksons’ still West of the mountains. The enemy seems steadily to advance & apparently with his whole Army. Time will alone disclose his intentions & the result is in the future. I pray that the God of battles may be with us! I send down the flannel. If you think it will answer, have the garments made otherwise put the material to some other use. If you make it up for me, make the garments strong & have the material first shrunk. I found your letter here on my arrival & have sent Robs letter to him. I hope ‘Chass will continue to improve. She seems remarkably well & I fear she will be imprudent. Give much love to her & to Agnes, & a Kiss to my Grd daughter. Tell Miss N1 that I have scanned Major T & T’s faces with anxiety but they will not answer for my purpose. I could find nothing kissable in them. Perhaps I did not look at them with proper eyes. Remember me very Kindly to Mr & Mrs C___ & all friends. Tell Custis I miss him much. God bless you all is my earnest prayer. My hands I hope are improving. But I cannot use them much & always with difficulty.
Very truly & affy
R E Lee
1. Martha Norvell Caskie Jones (1845-1919), who is mentioned in other letters.
Source: Photocopy of original letter, Lee Family Papers, Mss1 L51 c 401, Section 20, Virginia Historical Society, Richmond
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2016 October 31
