Camp Fredg
11 Decr ’62
My dear Mary
I return a bit Sent up by Custis. It is not the one I wished. He misunderstood me. But I do not want the one I wrote for now, as I have one that will answer as well. I have no way of carrying this & therefore return it. Custis is gone, but you can give it to Charlotte as I believe it is the one I gave F[itzhugh] some time since. The enemy succeeded after bombarding the town of Fredg, setting fire to many houses & knocking down nearly all those along the river to cross over a large force about dark & now occupies the town. We hold the hills commanding it & hope we shall be able to damage them yet. Their positions & heavy guns command the town entirely.
With much love to all I remain
as always truly & affy yours
R E Lee
Source: Photocopy of original letter, Lee Family Papers, Mss1 L51 c 413, Section 20, Virginia Historical Society, Richmond
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2017 April 4
