81. ROBERT E. LEE (1807-1870) Confederate General and commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, arguably the most brilliant commander of field armies in American history. Fine content war-date A.L.S. "R. E. Lee", 1p. 4to., "Near Richmond", July 31, 1862 to "My Dear Cousin Eva" whom he again calls "Sweet Eva Mason" at the bottom of the letter. In full: "I am very sorry to learn by your letter of the 29th the continued indisposition of your brother Landon. He should not return to duty till able. As to his preference for outdoor work I can understand. He might be detailed for office work till able to take the field. If he desires cav'[alr]y duty , by making application for any Comp'[an]y he may select, & obtaining the approval of his Command'g officers & of the other officers to which he wishes to go, provided the Comp'[an]y is in this Army, he can be transferred. He will have however to provide himself with a horse, & I fear he will find it a hard Service. Either of the Fitzhugh Lees would be glad to have him I know - & if I can do anything for him or your anyone let me know, Very truly your Cousin R. E. Lee". Boldly penned and in very good condition. With holograph envelope, possibly in Lee's hand (if so, very hurried). Lee and Eva Mason were rather distantly related cousins. She was the daughter of Dr. Richard C. Mason and Lucy B. Randolph and lived with her family on an 800-acre estate called "Oakley" in Fairfax Co., which was originally owned by Signer George Mason. Landon Randolph Mason, the subject of the letter, served as a private in the 17th Va. Inf'y from April, 1861 until he was discharged for disability six days after this letter was written. He then entered the 39th Battalion, Va. Cavalry as a First Sergeant but was eventually transferred to serve with Mosby's Rangers. He remained with the partisans until the Spring of 1865 when he was captured by Union forces. With much supporting material. War-date letters from Lee to family members are very rarely seen. $15,000 - 20,000