Richmond
26 Apl ’62
I recd your note of the 24th this morg by mail. I will reply by the same mode as I presume Mr. W[ickham]. has not come to R[ichmond]. I am delighted to hear from you & hope you are well. I had learned from your mother that you & Charlotte had gone to Hickory hill & that she & Annie expected to leave for Mr. Sayre’s house on Monday. The rain will however have made the roads very bad & streams high & I doubt whether will be able to do so. I am glad you have the opportunity of visiting Hickory hill & its sweet occupants. You must give my love to them singly & collectively. I hope the federals will not have an opportunity to pay them a visit though they seem now to have the ability to go where they choose. They will have a pleasant time if they get there any how. I wish I had pleasant tidings to give but there are none & we must struggle along as we can & hope for the best. I have not seen Mary for some days. She is still at Mrs. Caskie’s & does not yet to tire of Richmond. I will deliver your message when I see her. I have written to Charlotte & will place this under cover to her. Mrs. Phebe Warwick has gone to join Miss Sallie within a day or two. I met her riding out with her spouse the other evg. Cupid is very active & weddings are abundant. The smoking club in Franklin St, concealed in a cloud of its own raising is untouched by his arrows. The Macfarlands & others are about leaving I understand.
God bless you my dear child.
Affy your father
R E Lee
Source: Transcribed from photocopy of original letter, Lee Family Papers, Mss1 L51c 351, Section 18, Virginia Historical Society, Richmond
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2017 March 27
