Evening star., 1898-08-20
FOUND AFTER KNOX FIRE.
Letter Written by Gen. Lee When He
Was Lieutenant.

Letter Written by Gen. Lee When He
Was a Lieutenant.
Every now and then something valuable
or interesting comes to the front relic
of the Knox fire of July 1894. Besides the
great monetary value of the goods and
chattels destroyed, the losses were as
great. If not greater, no doubt. in letters
and papers of historic value. if their real
valuation could be established. Among
such that have recently come to light IS a
letter written by Gen. Robert E. Lee when
ieutens Mt in the United States service,
dated in 1885, and as a good deal has been
done recently by the government and pub
lished in the newspapers in regard to coast
defenses. particularly adjacent to Spanish
possessions. and liable, as it was supposed,
to attack by the enemy, this letter is quite
interesting. 1t was found among the de-
bris after the Knox fire by Mr.. Charles
Popham Hunt a well-known newspaper
man, and given by him to DIR. Samuel F.
Lewis OF this city.
The handwriting is perfectly plain and
iesible. ard. excepting parts of few
words. easily supplied, which were along
the charred edges, the entire letter is in
tact, and is as follows:
ENGINEER DEPARTMENT,
washington, d. c.
Capt. w. H. Chase, Corps Engineers,
Pensacola, Fla:
Sir: Yours of ulto., reporting your
views as to what portion of land ought to
be reserved for defense or public works at
the junction of St. Marks and Wacul!a
rivers. has been laid before the Secretary
OF War He directs that you proceed to
St Marks, without loss of time, and lay
off the ground occupied by the site of the
old fort and all the buildings mentioned in
your report, allowing on the outside of the
walls sufficient space for an exterior ditch,
to which you will add one hundred feet
space comprehended within the line thus
6aC hn1 Nd fh4 y, VI
rivers at their junction, together with a
right of way reserved for the United States
You will also lay off exterior to this re-
serve ten acres of land. to be granted to
the Tallahassee Railroad Company, in COM
pliance with the law of Congress. copy
of which was furnished with your instruc-
tions on the 10th of March last.
Il am. &C.,
(By order) "R E. LEE,
Lieut.. and Asst. to Chief Engineer
The paper is properly indorsed, and was
doubtless embodied in a report of Capt.
Chase, May 5, 1885.
The handwriting of Gen. Lee at that
date differed In detail with that of the
time when he was in command of the Army
of Northern Virginia. but retaining strik-
ing similarity in general outlines.
The letter of Gen. Lee with which this
order. issued as lieutenant was compared
is Itself a very interesting and most val
liable one, having been written when his
army was in the utmost straits for some
thing to live upon. It is the original letter.
and is in possession of the Confederate
Veteran Association of this city, which
also owns the original draft of Gen. Lees
farewell address to his soldiers after the
surrender at AppomattoX. The letter re-
ferred to above is characteristic one, full
of pathos. announcing the plight of his
men before they were surrendered.
1t reads as follows:
"AMELIA c. H, 4 Apl., 90
ITO the Citizens of Amelia c. H.. &c:
The army of n. Va. has arrived here to-
day, expecting to find plenty of provisions,
which had been ordered to be placed here
by r. r., but to my great surprise ana re-
gret, find not a pound of subsistence for
man or horse. 1 must therefore appeal to
your generosity and charity to supply us
as far as each one is able the wants OF the
brave soldiers who nave battled for your
liberties for four years. We require meat
beef cattle, sheep or hogs-fiour, mea'. corn
and provender in any quantities that can
be spared. The Q. Ms and Comm's of
the army will visit you and make arrange
ments to pay for what they receive. or
give the proper vouchers or certificates.
feel assured that all will give to the extent
of their IaeaIS.
Very respect,
"R. E. LEE, Gem"