Beschreibung:

LEE, ROBERT E., General, C.S.A. Letter signed ("R E Lee Majr. Genl Commandg.") with initialled postscript ("R E L") to General Philip St. George Cocke; "Head Quarters Virginia Forces Richmond, Va.," 24 April 1861. 3 pages 4to, slight fold separation, tears and small piece torn from blank portion of top margin, without loss, tiny hole to right portion of both leaves, also without loss. THE DAY AFTER HE TAKES COMMAND OF VIRGINIA'S FORCES, LEE STIPULATES THAT "INVASION OF OUR SOIL WILL BE CONSIDERED AS AN ACT OF WAR" Very likely to be the earliest war-date Lee letter in private hands, vividly portraying the myriad problems Lee had in trying, on short notice, to organize Virginia's defenses against the Union. "Your dispatch...is at hand. I rejoice that you so fully recognize the proper policy to be pursued, and initiated it on your arrival. Continue it till compelled to change. I am endeavouring to organize the Military of the State. Two 8-inch Colombiads [cannons], with implements and 100 rounds of ammunition go to you today. Captain Walker, with four rifled 6 pds. [six-pounders] was dispatched by the Governor [Letcher] to the Potomac before my entering on duty. Direct him to report to you, and assign him service where you deem best. "Lieut. Simmes, State Naval Forces, has been ordered on duty to the Potomac, above Acquia Creek, he will be under your orders [next line deleted but readable]. Select points of rendezvous on, or near the Rail-Roads leading to Alexandria -- Leesburg would be a suitable point for forces on that road, such points on other roads as you think convenient. Establish your Head Quarters as necessary. Establish Camps of instruction, and have your troops instructed in the use of their different arms. Make the necessary arrangements for their support. No bacon is to be had in Virginia. Consult with merchants in Alexandria as to the feasability of obtaining bacon from Ohio [a Union state!], or Kentucky, if this is not practicable, beef & mutton must be your meat ration.; the [Shenandoah] Valley of Virginia will naturally suggest itself to you as the point, from which this part of the ration can be obtained. "Let it be known that you intend to make no attack; but, invasion of our soil, will be considered as an act of war. Very few officers of experience have as yet reported [for assignment], as soon as possible some will be sent to you. In reference to the regimant to be raised by Mr. Funsten, I will state, that, in Conformity to an Ordinance of Convention, Volunteers are accepted by Companies. When organized into Regiments, the Field Officers are appointed by the Governor & Council. It is not believed now, that the enemy will attack you, should he do so however, and you are not able to maintain your position, fall back with your forces on your reserves, on the route to Gordonsville..." In a postscript, Lee directs: "Unless you can remove the Light boats , to places of safety, where they will be secure, destroy them , and remove the bouys, ao as to interrupt the navigation of the Potomac as effectually as you can...." To the best of our knowledge this is the earliest of Lee's wartime letters to Cocke, and without doubt one of the earliest Lee letters after joining the Confederate cause. Wartime Papers of Robert E. Lee , ed. C. Dowdey and Louis H. Manarin, 1961, contains only one letter, to Ruggles, of this date. Virginia seceded from the Union on April 17. The following day Lee was offered and declined command of the Union armies being raised to suppress the rebellion. He returned to his home in Alexandria, and resigned his U.S. Army commission on April 20: "At the time I hoped that peace would have been preserved; that some way would have been found to save the country from the calamities of war; and I then had no other intention than to pass the remainder of my life as a private citizen" (Lee to Reverdy Johnson, 1868, quoted by Downey and Manarin, p.4). Ironically, Lee was granted only a single day, Sunday