Fort Mason, Texas
1 Jany 1861
My dear Miss Nellie
I had hoped to have seen you before leaving San Antonio, & wished to thank in person the three Sweet Sisters for the nice Xmas cake they Sent me. But So many matters crowded on the hour of my departure that I was forced to spare you a second farewell & resign myself to my loss.
To day wishing to do honour to the bright Next Year, bright in Sunshine & beauty though clouded by Sad forebodings I invited all the officers at the Post to join me in its celebration, & exposed to their wistful eyes my Xmas cake. I told them it had been given to me by three of the sweetest little girls they had ever Seen, & that they were named Nellie Vallie & Hettie. I was sure too they must have made it or it never could have been so good. To this they all assulted & we drank to the health of the fair young dames in iced champagne. But I sent many well wishes over the hills to your father, mother, sisters, & a fervent one for her “who wears the moonlight around her neck & the sunlight around her head” & wished every return to you Miss Nellie might be happier & happier.
The end of it all was an end of the cake, & I will also make an end of this New Year note.
Tell Miss Kate I have prepared a room for her & Miss Kitty & if you & Miss Vallie & Hettie will Come, each of you shall have a nice little gentleman to attend you. One has a Cherokee pony the other a donkey, & the third a wagon.
With kind regards to all your household I remain very truly
R E Lee
Miss Nellie Whiteley
Source: Digital scan of original letter, The Papers of Robert E. Lee, 1749-1975, Rubenstein Library, Duke University
Transcribed by Katie Hall, 2018 July 6
