Tag Archives: General Robert E. Lee

23 April 1865: “Mankind has lost its best friend since the crusifiction of Christ” and “How I loved him! He was my hero.”

As this blog’s end draws near, we present two different accounts of grief. The first letter mourns the loss of Abraham Lincoln, while the second diary entry laments the loss of Stonewall Jackson. Item Description: Letter dated 23 April 1865 … Continue reading

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9 April 1865: “I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of N. Va on the following terms”

Item Description: Letter from General Ulysses S. Grant to Robert E. Lee laying out the terms of surrender for the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House. Item Citation: Folder 22b, in the Edward Porter Alexander Papers, #7, Southern … Continue reading

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24 March 1865: “No matter if our country goes down tomorrow Lees name will stand first upon the pinnacle of fame, as the greatest of commanders living or dead.”

Item Description: Letter dated 24 March 1865 from William C. McClellan to his brother Robert A. McClellan.  He discusses hearing from family in Alabama and the declining health of their parents.  He also mentions about conditions at Petersburg and how … Continue reading

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7 March 1865: “Troops are assembling at Lynchburg and Fitz Lee will move up James River.”

Item Description: Letter from Robert E. Lee to Alexander Robert Lawton.  He discusses Union troop movements and gives orders for the movement of Confederate troops. Item Citation: Folder 4, in the Alexander Robert Lawton Papers, #415, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson … Continue reading

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3 November 1864: “I have considerable misgiving as to the question of Negro troops”

Item Description: Letter dated 3 November 1864 from William Porcher Miles to Robert E. Lee. He discusses the use of slaves as soldiers in the Confederate Army. Item Citation: Folder 52, William Porcher Miles Papers, #508, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson … Continue reading

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3 August 1864: “I pray fervently for divine help.”

Item Description: Diary entry dated 3 August 1864 from Sarah Lois Wadley. She writes of her brother’s illness and news that she has heard about the War. Item Citation: From volume 4 (folder 5) in the Sarah Lois Wadley Papers, … Continue reading

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5 July 1864: “They do a good deal of damage when they fall in the right place.”

Item Description: Letter dated 5 July 1864, written by Sam R. Locklear. He writes to his mother and discusses the fighting occurring near Petersburg. He also describes the gruesome death of one of his fellow soldiers. Item Citation: Folder 2, … Continue reading

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14 June 1864: “We must be prepared for some reverses and some ugly blows at that.”

Item Description: “About Richmond’ (editorial), The Daily Journal (Wilmington, N. C.), 14 June 1864. Transcription: General LEE, for two years past, has exhibited iron endurance, and has kept the field with a constancy almost without parallel. It is known that, … Continue reading

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10 June 1864: “Soon their spirit would rise with the occasion, . . .”

Item Description: editorial, The Daily Journal (Wilmington, N. C.), 10 June 1864. Transcription: THE DAILY JOURNAL. CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA WILMINGTON, N. C., FRIDAY JUNE 10, 1864. THE YANKEES and the Yankee papers, who are, to a great extent their … Continue reading

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20 May 1864: “If only the half of what we hear is true we have gained great and glorious victories.”

Item description: In this diary entry dated 20 May 1864, Samuel A. Agnew, a Presbyterian minister, teacher, farmer, and prominent local citizen in Tippah and Lee counties, Mississippi, noted confirmed victories at Spotsylvania and Drury’s Bluff and rumors of casualties and … Continue reading

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