Sender: Robert E. Lee
Recipient: William Preston Johnston

My dear Col:

Dr Pendleton & the Revd Mr Thompson dine with us today at 2 P.M. I shall be very glad if you will join us then.

But Mrs Johnston informed me yesterday that she thought of leaving us this afternoon. I hope that she was not in earnest, but if that is her intention & you desire to absent yourself from the Faculty meeting to facilitate her departure, you must do so –

Should I not see Mrs Johnston & Miss Maggie today as I hope, bid them farewell for me, & say to the latter that I & my friends will mourn for her until she returns – I wish that they would both come & stay with us instead of going to Roanoke – Very

Col: Wm Preston Johnston