Description:

Robert E. Lee
Meadow Bluff, WV, October 29, 1861
Confederate General Robert E. Lee Submits Status Report Before Returning to Richmond
ALS

ROBERT E. LEE, Autograph Letter Signed, to John B. Floyd, October 29, 1861, Meadow Bluff, [(West) Virginia]. 2 pp.

In this letter to Confederate General John B. Floyd, General Robert E. Lee provides an update on the wounded in hospitals and supplies for the troops in western Virginia before returning to Richmond. Floyd, who had been Governor of Virginia (1849-1852) and United States Secretary of War (1857-1860), remained in charge of troops in western Virginia.

Confederate President Jefferson Davis had recalled Lee to Richmond to serve as his military adviser. Lee went on to take command of the Army of Northern Virginia in June 1862. In February 1862, Floyd took command of Fort Donelson in northwestern Tennessee, which he fled before it surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant that same month. President Davis relieved Floyd of command, and he died in August 1863.

Complete Transcript
Hdqrs: M. Bluff
29 Oct 1861
Genl Jno: B. Floyd
Commdg Army of Kenawha
Genl
I advised you in my letter of the 20th of the necessity of the return of the troops under Genl Loring to the Huntersville line, & of the withdrawal of the line Legion to this place.
The latter force with Col Clarkes regt: N. C. Vols: are here encamped. All the sick requiring Hospital treatment, belonging to the troops operating in this valley, have been sent to the Hospitals. A portion of the Mississippi regt: Col Russels, is encamped here, & reported by the Attending physician as doing well. The sick at the Blue Sulphur are improving, some deaths have occurred there, & the Hospital is badly managed. I gave in a visit to it, all necessary instructions, but the difficulty lies in the execution of orders. There is no proper person in charge. Lt Col Venable was absent.
I shall visit the Hospitals at Lewisburg & the White Sulphur to day & proceed thence to Richmond, I have endeavoured to find a better encamping ground than this at this season of the year, & one more defensible with the present force, but have not succeeded. The scarcity of water is the obstacle. There is a full supply of provisions for the troops & I have sent back the wagons to bring up all the clothing that may be at Jacksons river for the regts: here stationed.
Col. L. Lucius Davis is in command of the troops, who is directed to keep you advised of occurrences.
I have the honour to be
Your Obt Servt
R E Lee
Genl Commg

Historical Background
From May to December 1861, Union forces under Major General George B. McClellan invaded the western portion of Virginia to prevent Confederate occupation of the area. Brigadier Generals John B. Floyd and Henry A. Wise were in charge of Confederate troops in the Kanawha Valley. Confederate President Jefferson Davis sent General Robert E. Lee, the commander of the Virginia militia forces, to western Virginia to coordinate the various Confederate forces in the region.

During the summer of 1861, the Union Army concentrated its forces to protect the main highways through western Virginia. Brigadier General Joseph J. Reynolds commanded the Union garrison on Cheat Mountain to protect the Staunton and Parkersburg Turnpike. From September 12 to 15, General Robert E. Lee attempted to surround the Union garrison atop Cheat Mountain. It was the first time Lee led troops into combat, but poor communications among the Confederate commands, the mountainous terrain, and terrible weather thwarted Lee's plans. After the battle, the two sides occupied the same positions. Within a few weeks, Lee withdrew from Cheat Mountain to Sewell Mountain, 65 miles to the southwest. On October 30, President Jefferson Davis recalled Lee to Richmond after he had achieved little in western Virginia.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 7" x 9.125"
  • Medium: ALS

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