Lee, John F., 1813-1884 to Henry Jackson Hunt
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02382.083 Author/Creator: Lee, John F., 1813-1884 Place Written: Upper Marlboro, Maryland Type: Autograph letter signed Date: January 22, 1870 Pagination: 1 p. : Height: 20.6 cm, Width: 12.8 cm Order a Copy
Lee requests Hunt's presence, but notes "The stage [inserted: U. S. mail coach] is slow, & regulated on the plan of Sumner's civil rights bill. (crowded with niggers) You might be wanting in some gallant attentions to a colored lady, & be legislated out of service for it." Suggests Hunt follow the editing principles of Benjamin Franklin (as he explained to Thomas Jefferson), in regulations Hunt is creating. At the bottom of the page, Lee implores "Dont fail me." Year inferred from content.
John Fitzgerald Lee (1813-1884) of Virginia was the son of Francis "Lightfoot" Lee II, the grandson of Declaration signer Richard Henry Lee, brother of Rear Admiral Samuel Phillip Lee, and a third cousin of General Robert E. Lee. After graduating from West Point in 1834, Lee fought in the Seminole Wars, served in the ordnance corps (commanding the Washington arsenal in 1847-1848), and as judge advocate of the Army (1849-1862), with the rank of major. When the Civil War began, he in effect remained neutral, choosing not to serve in a war against his Virginia friends and family, and was legislated out of office; replaced by Joseph Holt. He then retired to his estate in Maryland.
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