Camp Fredg 20 Feby ’63
My precious little Agnes
Genl Jones arrived yesterday with your letter. He brought some mud with him too, but that is a drug at present. If you see him he can tell you of the delights of our Camp & you will regret more than ever that you did not Come. It is true we have had a heavy storm of three days, snow sleet & rain. Though Perry had entrenched me, the water night before last broke through my tent. But I did not know it till morg & had a quiet night. This morg the glorious sun is out, & will soon warm & dry us. How good is God! I am distressed at the continued indisposition of your mother. I trust this bright sun will dissipate her pains. Give much love to her & take care of her. I am sorry for the poor brides. Tell Miss Gurly & Mary Mercer,1 this is the best tour for them. The ruins of Fredg – No body wants to see them as much as I do. Thank Mrs & Miss Rives2 for the beautiful blanket you describe. I fear it is too beautiful for me, but is worthy of them. You & Miss Sallie must weave fabrics for soldiers garments. They are much wanted now. Kiss Douglas for Genl E & remember me to his mother & Mr Warwick.3 I am called to the good breakfast.
Very truly your father
R E Lee
1. Lee may be referring to one of the daughters of Rev. Ralph Randolph Gurley (1797-1872) of Washington, D.C., who was active in the American Colonization Society and corresponded with the Custis family. Lee apparently did not know that Mary Mercer had already married Colonel Henry Harrison Walker of the 40th Virginia infantry regiment a few weeks before.
2. Likely the family of William Cabell Rives (1793-1868), whose son Alfred was a graduate of VMI and served in the Confederate Engineer Bureau.
3. Douglas is likely a reference to Charles Douglas Warwick, who was born 1859 September 26 in Richmond to William Barksdale Warwick (1836-1885) and Phoebe Warren Warwick (1838-1887). William B. Warwick was the son of Abraham Warwick (1794-1874) and Sarah Warwick (1816-1846). The Warwicks of Chesterfield County, Virginia, are mentioned often in the Lee correspondence.
Source: Transcribed from photocopy of original letter, Lee Family Papers, Mss1 L51 c 434, Virginia Historical Society, Richmond
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2016 December 1
