Robert E. Lee Letters

Mary Coomer

Robert E. Lee Letters

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All of the following letters written by Robert E. Lee of the Confederacy to the President of the Confederacy Jefferson Davis come from ABC-Clio, which is the history study center from which the article used originates, it can also be found in drive.google.com, and pertains to the Battle of Gettysburg. These letters are primary sources detailing the thoughts and actions of the Confederate General Robert E. Lee, ranging from July fourth to July sixteenth, as he faces decisions that changed the Civil War. These letters illustrate Lee’s intellect, cunning, and personality as he always has a plan. These letters also depict Lee’s dedication to his President as he refers to him as “Your Excellency” numerous times and always ends his letters with some form of “your obedient servant.” Lee’s passion for his cause is undeniable, though his mission was indeed misguided. If you were a military leader fighting for a cause you were extremely passionate would you be as realistic and level-headed as Robert E. Lee? Do you think Lee was unwise to have confidential correspondence with President Davis that could have been and at one point were, captured by the enemy? How would you have solved the problem of crossing the Potomac?

1. The name of the sender is Robert E. Lee the recipient is President Jefferson Davis.This letter is the starts of the Battle of Gettysburg as the Confederate army attacks the Union Army. Robert E. Lee states that the “enemy’s loss was heavy” although Lee was unable to take the Union’s position as his troops were outnumbered and the Union’s position was extremely advantageous. Lee then ends his letter listing out the casualties of the Confederacy. The letter was written Near Gettysburg, Pa., July 4, 1863.

Mr. PRESIDENT:

After the rear of the army had crossed the Potomac, leading corps, under General Ewell, pushed on to Carlisle and York, passing through Chambersburg. The other two corps closed up at the latter place, and soon afterward intelligence was received that the army of General Hooker was advancing. Our whole force was directed to concentrate at Gettysburg, and the corps of Generals Ewell and A. P. Hill reached that place on the 1st July the former advancing from Carlisle and the latter from Chambersburg. The two leading divisions of these corps, upon reaching the vicinity of Gettysburg, found the enemy, and attacked him, driving him from the town, which was occupied by our troops. The enemy's loss was heavy, including more, than 4,000 prisoners. He took up a strong position in rear of the town, which he immediately began to fortify, and where his re-enforcements joined him.

On the 2nd July, Longstreet's corps, with the exception of one division, having arrived, we attempted to dislodge the enemy, and, though we gained some ground, we were unable to get possession of his position. The next day, the third division of General Longstreet having come up, a more extensive attack was made. The works on the enemy's extreme right and left were taken, but his numbers were so great and his position so commanding, that our troops were compelled to relinquish their advantage and retire.

It is believed that the enemy suffered severely in these operations, but our own loss has not been light. General Barksdale is killed. Generals Garnett and Armistead are missing a prisoner. Generals Pender and Trimble are wounded in the leg, General Hood in the arm, and General Heth slightly in the head. General Kemper, it is feared, is mortally wounded. Our losses embrace many other valuable officers and men. General Wade Hampton was severely wounded in a different action in which the cavalry was engaged yesterday.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. E. LEE, General.

2.The name of the sender is Robert E. Lee the recipient is President Jefferson Davis. Lee informs the President that he has retreated to the “west side of the mountains” and relays his reasoning. He also spends time discussing the wounded and their transportation from Gettysburg by train to Williamsport, and that the River the army is next to, the Potomac, is “swollen.”  Again Lee ends his letter with a list of Confederate casualties. The letter was written at HAGERSTOWN, July 7, 1863.

Mr. PRESIDENT:

My letter of the 4th instant will have informed you of the unsuccessful issue of our final attack on the enemy in the rear of Gettysburg. Finding the position too strong to be carried, and, being much hindered in collecting necessary supplies for the army, by the numerous bodies of local and other troops which watched the passes, I determined to withdraw to the west side of the mountains. This has been safely accomplished with great labor, and the army is now in the vicinity of this place.

One of my reason for moving in this direction, after crossing the mountains, was to protect our trains with the sick and wounded, which had been sent back to Williamsport, and which were threatened by the enemy's cavalry. Our advance reached here yesterday afternoon in time to support our cavalry in repulsing an attempt of the enemy to reach our trains. Before leaving Gettysburg, such of the sick and wounded as could be removed were sent back to Williamsport, but the trains that have interfered so much with our general movements have so swollen the Potomac as to render it unfordable, and they are still on the north side. Arrangements are being made to ferry them across today. We captured at Gettysburg about 6, 000 prisoners, besides the wounded that remained in our hands after the engagements of the 1st and 2d. Fifteen hundred of these prisoners and the wounded were paroled, but I suppose that under the late arrangements these paroles will not be regarded. The rest have been sent to Williamsport, where they will cross. We were obliged to leave a large number of our wounded who were unable to travel, and many arms that had been collected on the field at Gettysburg.

In addition to the general officers killed or wounded, of whom I sent you a list in my former letter, I have to mention General Semmes, General G. T. Anderson, Pettigrew, and General J. M. Jones, wounded; General Archer was made prisoner. General Heth is again in command. In sending back our trains in advance, that of General Ewell was cut the enemy's cavalry, and a number of wagon, said to be about 40 were captured. The enemy's cavalry force, which attempt to reach our cavalry trains yesterday afternoon, was a large one. They came as far as Hagerstown, where they were attacked by General Stuart, and driven back rapidly toward Sharpsburg.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. E. LEE, General.

3. The name of the sender is Robert E. Lee the recipient is President Jefferson Davis.Lee begins this letter with some bad news as his plans to cross the Potomac River into Maryland have changed due to the fact that the Potomac is too high to cross.  He then discusses the lack of success some of the other generals and their troops have had. He then asks Jefferson to reinforce other areas as Lee is convinced Gettysburg will not be a victory for the Confederacy. Though Lee assures Jefferson he has not lost hope he is simply a realistic man. The letter was written Near Hagerstown, Md., July 8, 1863.

MR PRESIDENT:

My letter of yesterday will have informed you of the position of this army. Though reduced in numbers by the hardships and battles through which it has passed since leaving the Rappahannock, its condition is good, and its confidence unimpaired. Upon crossing the Potomac into Maryland, I had calculated upon the river remaining fordable during the summer, so as to enable me to recross at my pleasure, but a series of storms, commencing the day after our entrance into Maryland, has placed the river beyond fording stage, and the present storm will keep it so for at least week. I shall, therefore, have to accept battle if the enemy offers it, whether I wish to or not, and as the result is in the hands of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe, and known to Him only, I deem it prudent to make every arrangement in our power to meet any emergency that may arise.

From information gathered from the papers, I believe that the troops from North Carolina and the coast of Virginia, under Generals Foster and Dix, have been ordered to the Potomac, and that recently additional re-enforcement have been sent from the coast of South Carolina Banks. If I am correct in my opinion, this will liberate most of the troops in those regions, and should Your Excellency have not already done so, I earnestly that all that can be spared be concentrated on the Upper Rappahannock, under General Beauregard, with directions to cross that river and make a demonstration upon Washington. This command will answer the double purpose of affording protection to the capital at Richmond and relieving the pressure upon this army.

I hope Your Excellency will understand that I am not in the least discouraged, or that my faith in the protection of an all-merciful Providence, or in the fortitude of this army is at all shaken. But, though conscious that the enemy has been much shattered in the recent battle, I am aware that he can be easily re-enforced, while no addition can be made to our numbers. The measure, therefore, that I have recommended is altogether one of a prudential nature.

I am, most respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. E. LEE, General.

P. S.—I see it stated in a letter from the special correspondent of the New York Times that a bearer of dispatches from Your Excellency to myself was captured at Hagerstown on the 2nd July, and the dispatched are said to be of the greatest importance, and to have a great bearing on coming events. I have thought proper to mention this, that you may know whether it is so.

4.The name of the sender is Robert E. Lee the recipient is President Jefferson Davis. Lee is still barred from crossing the Potomac.  Lee is sure the Union is about to attack their position and he prays for the “courage and fortitude of the army.”The letter was written July 10, 1863, location unknown.

Mr. PRESIDENT:

Since my letter of the 8th instant, nothing of importance, in a military point of view, has transpired. The Potomac continues to be past fording, and, owing to the rapidity of the stream, and the limited we have for crossing, the prisoners and wounded are not yet over. I hope they will be able to cross to-day. I have not received any definite intelligence of the movements or designs of the enemy. A scout that a column which followed us across the mountain has reached Waynesborough, Pa., and other bodies are reported as moving by way of Fredericksburg from Emmitsburg, as if approaching in this direction. If these reports be correct, it would appear to be intention of the enemy to deliver battle, and we have no alternative but to accept it if offered. The army is in good condition, and we have a good supply of ammunition, The supply of flour is affected by the highs waters, which interfere with the working of the mills.

With the blessing of Heaven, I trust that the courage and fortitude of the army will be found sufficient to relieve us from the embarrassment caused by the unlooked-for natural difficulties of our situation, if not to secure valuable and substantial results.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. E. LEE, General.

5. The name of the sender is Robert E. Lee the recipient is President Jefferson Davis. Lee is worried about “obtaining subsistence” as his army has been stuck next to the Potomac for a while now. But the Potomac has finally fallen and he has begun to build a bridge across it and hopes to move the wounded presently. This letter was written July 12, 1863, location unknown.

Mr. PRESIDENT:

I have nothing of moment to add to what I have said in my letter of the 10th. So far, everything goes well. The army is in good condition, and occupies a strong position, covering the Potomac from Williamsport to Falling Waters. The enemy seems to be collecting his forces in the Valley of the Antietam, his main body from Boonsborough to Sharpsburg. But for the power he possesses of accumulating troops, I should be willing to await his attack, excepting that in our restricted limits the means of obtaining subsistence are becoming precarious.

The river has now fallen to 4 feet, and a bridge, which is being constructed, I hope will be passable by to-morrow. Should the river continue to subside, our communication with the south bank will be open tomorrow. Had the late unexpected rise not occured, there would have been no cause for anxiety, as it would have been in my power to recross the Potomac on my first reaching it without molestation. Everything would have been accomplished that could have been reasonably expected—the Army of the Potomac would have been thrown north of that river, the forces invading the coast of North Carolina and Virginia diminished, their plan of the present campaign broken up, and, before new arrangements could have been made for its resumption, the summer would have been ended.

I still trust that a kind Providence will cause all things work together for our good. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. E. LEE, General

6. The name of the sender is Robert E. Lee the recipient is President Jefferson Davis. The President did not receive Lee’s letter from the 12th and Lee believes that the attack on the Confederacy on the coast might have been due to the loss, and capture by the Union, of this letter. Lee admits that his cavalry is without horseshoes and he cannot move until he has been resupplied. He then talks strategy about troop placement and counterattacks to his predicted movements of the Union. This letter was written at Bunker Hill, Va., July 16, 1863.

Mr. PRESIDENT:

I have received your letter of the 12th instant, and thank you for the kind terms you speak of the army, and for your consideration of myself. I inclose a copy of my letter of the 7th instant, which failed to reach you. The army is encamped around this place, where we shall rest today. The men are in good health and spirits, but want shoes and clothing badly. I have sent back to endeavor to procure a supply of both, and also horseshoes, for want of which nearly our cavalry is unserviceable. As soon as these articles are obtained, we shall be prepared to resume operations.

I shall not need the pontoon train now, as the boats used at Falling Waters have been brought away, excepting the new ones constructed by us, which were too heavy and too large for transportation. I have accordingly ordered the train of which you speak to come no farther. The attack on the coast may have been caused by the information contained in the captured letter. I think that all these demonstrations of the enemy are designed to retain troops from the field, and while he must be resisted and a force kept at threatened points sufficient to secure them, we should endeavor to avoid being misled as to his numbers and real intentions, and thus enable him to accomplish his purpose I do not know that I shall need any more troops here, and they had better be kept in front of Richmond, to secure it from attack and protect our railroads.

I learn that the enemy has thrown a pontoon bridge over the Potomac at Harper's Ferry. Should he follow us in this direction, I shall lead him up the Valley, and endeavor to attack him as far from his base as possible. I share in Your Excellency's regret for the fall of Vicksburg. It will be necessary for us to endeavor to select some point on the Mississippi, and fortify it strongly, so that it may be held by a small garrison, which could be supplied with ammunition and provisions, to enable it to stand a siege, thus leaving as many troops as possible free to operate against the enemy. I think that in this way a land attack against such position as we may select can be prevented.

I am, with great respect, Your Excellency's obedient servant,

R. E. LEE, General