Lee, Robert E., as Confederate General

Autograph letter signed ("R E Lee"), 1 page (10 x 7 3/4 in.; 255 x 197 mm) on a sheet of blue-ruled blue paper, Headquarters [near Richmond], 15 July 1862, to Colonel Fitzhugh Lee ("My dear Fitz"), with original buff-paper autograph field cover signed ("R E Lee | Genl"), directed to "Col: Fitz Lee |1st Cavl"; a few tiny pinholes at intersecting folds.

Autograph letter signed ("R E Lee"), 1 page (10 x 7 3/4 in.; 255 x 197 mm) on a sheet of blue-ruled blue paper, Headquarters [near Richmond], 15 July 1862, to Colonel Fitzhugh Lee ("My dear Fitz"), with original buff-paper autograph field cover signed ("R E Lee | Genl"), directed to "Col: Fitz Lee |1st Cavl"; a few tiny pinholes at intersecting folds.
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Having turned away McClellan's army from its advance on the Confederate capital, Lee looks to improve the conditions of Union prisoners at Libby Prison, "At first the Hospitals were overtaxed & men Could not be had to bury the dead & the Sufferings of all were increased."

Lee's nephew Fitzhugh had written to his uncle about the suffering of wounded prisoners of war held in Richmond's not-yet-notorious Libby Prison. While empathetic to the plight of the prisoners, Lee is emphatic in assigning the principal responsibility for the situation to the Union commanders. "I have just recd. your letter of 13th. I am very Sorry to hear of the Sufferings of the wounded prisoners & wish I could relieve them. I proposed to Genl McClellan on Sunday before the battle of that day to parole & send to him all his wounded if he would receive them. Since that the arrangement has been made the sick & wounded are now being Conveyed to him. This will relieve them very much & enable us to devote more attention to those retained. In addition The enemy has at last agreed to a general exchange of all Prisoners of War & Genls [John A.] Dix [USA] & D. H. Hill [CSA] are to meet tomorrow to Commence the negociation. I hope in this way much relief will be afforded. At first the Hospitals were overtaxed & men Could not be had to bury the dead & the Sufferings of all were increased."

Fitzhugh Lee had mentioned that among the wounded Northern prisoners was Major Henry B. Clitz, who had served with Robert E. Lee during the Mexican War. Clitz had been captured at the battle of Gaines's Mill (first Cold Harbor), the third, and largest, of the Seven Days Battles. While offering to assist his former comrade, Lee voices a somewhat ironic indifference to his position: "Friend Clitz ought to recollect that this is a matter of his own Seeking & he has only to blame him Self. I will Still be happy to do for him all I Can & will refer your letter to the Director of the Hospital if I can find him." Lee was evidently able to do quite a bit for Clitz, who was exchanged just two days after this letter was written. Before returning to the field, Clitz served for a year as commandant of West Point.

The original envelope accompanying this letter is Lee's earliest known autograph field cover (see Van Dyk MacBride, "The Autographed Field Letters of R. E. Lee: A Census," in The American Philatelist, Vol. 73, Jan. 1960; and Daniel M. Telep, "The Autographed Field Letters of General Robert E. Lee: Chapter Eleven," in Confederate Philatelist, Jan.-Feb. 1981).