Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870 to John MacKay
Order a pdf of this item here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01070 Author/Creator: Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870 Place Written: Hampton, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: June 26, 1834 Pagination: 4 p. ; 25 x 20 cm Order a Copy
Written to his friend "Jack," in a lighthearted and comfortable manner. Lee arrived in Fort Monroe as an engineer in 1831 to improve works and build Fort Calhoun. Many of Lee and MacKay's mutual friends were there and Lee updates MacKay on their lives. He wishes MacKay could be there to enjoy "fine times." Lee mentions the ladies in the area, "As for the daughters of Eve, in this country they are framed in the very poetry of nature & would make your lips water & fingers tingle. They are beginning to assemble to put their beautiful limbs in this salt water . . . " Lee remarks briefly on people filling cabinet positions and closes by celebrating the death of the Marquis de Lafayette. Lee and MacKay became friends as cadets at West Point together. Lee's signature is cross-written on p. 4 as part of the address leaf. Written at Fort Monroe
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.