Petersburg 19 Mar ‘65
My dear Mary
I recd yesterday your note of thursday & also the box mentioned therein. You must thank Cousin Julia for her present of beef. Tell her I would have much preferred her keeping it for her self & her Sweet daughters. I am afraid she will starve her household if she attempts to send anything to the army. Tell Margaret she must not think I can be indemnified to pickles by what she has taken from me. Still I am very grateful for her effort. Carrie is not to look at a young man at all, but think constantly of the one I told her of. There were 19 prs: of socks in the box (instead of 18 prs as formerly) which I sent yesterday to Major Janney. I will send his acknowledgement. I think you had better continue to send the socks as fast as they reach you. The Qr Mrs if they are not issued can keep them & you will be relieved. I am very glad that Mrs Hough is able to return home. I hope this fine weather will revive you all. It will produce active operations. May God guide you all, & to him I trust all I have & all I hope for! Give much love to the girls, Margaret, Carrie & friends
Truly & affy RE Lee
P.S.
20th The bag with 22 prs socks arrived today & I send a receipt including them & that for the 19 prs recd by box making 41 prs altogether. I this morg in cutting my hair recollected the request of the girl to send them some clippings. They are very short but all I can do.
REL
Source: Checked against the original, Lee Family Papers, Mss1 L51 c 578, Virginia Historical Society, Richmond
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2018 September 4
