Lee, Mary Custis, 1808-1873 to Norvell Caskie
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01440.01 Author/Creator: Lee, Mary Custis, 1808-1873 Place Written: Lexington, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: October 2, 1870 Pagination: 2 p. : Height: 25 cm, Width: 19 cm Order a Copy
Mary writes of her husband Robert E. Lee's sudden illness. "He has taken very suddenly & alarmingly ill after a day of rather harrassing mental fatigue but is now better & the Dr. gives us good hope he will soon be well again though he is still confined to his bed & indeed lies in our dining room where he was taken sick & we have been unable to move him up stairs..." Mentions that it has been raining for days and that floods have carried away bridges and people's winter supplies. She informs that there is a break on the Central railroad and many people visiting in town have been unable to leave. She discusses visitors they have had and mutual acquaintances. She mentions the whereabouts of her children, William Henry Fitzhugh and Robert Edward, and comforts Caskie on the death of her baby with sympathetic words. Letter written five days before Robert E. Lee's death. Recipient's name comes from text of letter as it is not addressed.
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