ALS signed “R. E. Lee,” one page both sides, 7 x 9.25, November 14, 1865. Letter to Colonel Charles Marshall, in part: "I am very glad you have concluded the matter with…& only say that I have given you & Mrs. Mary so much trouble. You must thank her for me. I am perfectly satisfied with your selection, & have no doubt it is better than I could have done myself. I prefer your ordering the furniture from…, even though it had cost more, as I have confidence in him, & like to maintain intercourse with old friends. I will try & find some opportunity to send you the amt. of money you named, as there is no way of procuring drafts. Please pay him at your convenience, & in your walks if you would occasionally call & urge him to expedite their transmission, you will oblige me much. I cannot go into the house until the arrival of the articles, & I am very anxious to bring Mrs. Lee up while the weather is favorable. Sometimes I am told this end of the canal is occasionally closed by early frost…The papers you rec'd are not always entirely correct. I have made no positive arrangement with Mr. R. nor has anything more been said in the subject since I last saw you. But as I perhaps then told you if I was able to complete the…satisfactorily I propose only writing the history of the Campaigns in M: at present at least, I would offer its publication to him. I know nothing about the usual terms, & only want what is right. I think his terms, or those he offered were…on the retail price of the sales. I should be very glad to obtain all that was proper, as poverty is at all times inconvenient, but perhaps more felt in old age. I have had a great many offers from other publishers as N. Y. & from some in Hartford & Cincinnati, but have declined making any final arrangement. Indeed I have made little or no progress in the work. Mr. R. has been anxious to announce it, but I have refused. I want to get official data, which I now have sent, & want to see my way clear to completion. The Country I know will be flooded with histories of the line, but I do not think the time has arrived when it will hear the truth. What is your opinion?" In fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope addressed in Lee's own hand.
On March 21, 1862, Marshall was appointed to the personal staff of General Robert E. Lee, a longtime family friend, with the rank of captain. Marshall served as Lee's aide-de-camp, assistant adjutant general, and military secretary, and was present with Lee during all the major battles of the Army of Northern Virginia. Additionally, he was responsible for the writing of Lee's after-action reports during the war and later drafted Lee's acceptance of the terms of surrender following the Battle of Appomattox.
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