War-dated ALS in pencil, signed “George,” one lightly lined page both sides, 8 x 10, “Monday 8” [according to the consignor, August 8, 1864]. Pickett writes to his wife Sallie. In part: “Your two lines by Jachin did me a great deal of good my own darling wife. I had not recd them when I rode by Home this morning. Oh my lily you can not tell how anxious I have been on the score of your health since I left. I can not, dare not write what I feel…Dr McKonking sent me a bill for you the first visit…. Capt Bright, Henry & Stratton send you some apples which they picked up yesterday…. I asked Capt. Bright (who goes in this evening with Miss Flora Ragland) to take a good look tomorrow for some clasps for ‘the coral’—En passant my prettier had you not better send a few words of thanks for the coral or are you jealous because Sadie wore them—Ain’t I a mean thing? I would scratch that out if I had time. I saw Capt Edmonds this morning who says there will be no trouble about getting the rooms and twill afford him much pleasure, likewise his wife to have you at her table. If Mass Robt. will only leave us but I have my doubts—Things look something like an advance in another direction. Darling one I do pray you are not suffering from this intense heat we must all ‘suffer some,’ but thank God you have not the flies conjointly–You can form no idea of the numbers, and their tenacity in this region, man & beast are nearly crazy. Bye Bye my own Sallie love…. Masport is still here—Blain will tell you. She is very anxious to see you and the baby—Don't you wish she didn’t have any baby—what a comfort she would be to you now.” In good condition, with several lines of text very light, old tape repairs to separations along all intersecting folds (small losses at intersections), chips, and scattered toning. “Mass Robert” (actually, Marse (slang for “master”) Robert) refers to Robert E. Lee. Nine days earlier, during the siege of Petersburg, Lee was victorious in the Battle of the Crater as the Army of Northern Virginia drove Union forces led by General George G. Meade eastward. In the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign, the 1st Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia included Pickett’s division. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
