Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870 to William Fitzhugh (Rooney) Lee
Order a pdf of this item here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03325 Author/Creator: Lee, Robert E., 1807-1870 Place Written: West Point, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 2 June 1853 Pagination: 4 p. ; 26 x 20 cm Order a Copy
Personal letter to his son concerning his approaching manhood. Lee asks if he will be ready to meet its demands. He advises him that he has the means to educate and support his children but that Rooney Lee should select his own course. He uses Rooney's older brother George Washington Custis Lee as an example to follow. Lee discusses Rooney's chances of getting into West Point, and is doubtful that he will get an appointment. Lee indicates that he may be denied for medical reasons because of a childhood injury that resulted in the loss of part of his fingers. Lee's letter stresses discipline, education, and duty but also shows tenderness and affection for his son. Written as Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, with an initialed postscript. William Fitzhugh (Rooney) Lee was not accepted to West Point, attended Harvard briefly, then joined the army and fought in the Civil War.
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.