Robert E. Lee Special Orders Signed Explains What His Men Are Fighting For

  
He is arguably the most brilliant commander of field armies in American History. Within months of his surrender to Grant and the close of the Civil War, Lee became the president of Washington College where he would remain until his death. HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT CIVIL WAR-DATED SPECIAL ORDERS MANUSCRIPT LETTER SIGNED BY ROBERT E. LEE AS GENERAL TO THE SOLDIERS FROM MISSISSIPPI IN THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA. Historically important Civil War-dated special orders manuscript letter signed by, R. " to the soldiers from Mississippi serving in the Army of Northern Virginia thanking them for their sacrifices and explaining exactly what they are fighting for four months before the start of the Overland Campaign: "Hd. 10th January 1864, Special Orders, Soldiers of Mississippi! It is with great gratification that the Commanding General announces to you the joint resolutions of thanks passed by the Legislature of your state. It is a just tribute to that conduct which in every campaign and on every battle field of the Army of Northern Virginia has won for you his highest ordination.

He remains with you, your gallant leaders, and brave comrades who have fallen. May you cherish their memories and emulate their deeds. From her wasted fields and deserted houses, Mississippi calls upon you to vindicate her honor and achieve her independence.

FOUR MONTHS BEFORE THE START OF THE OVERLAND CAMPAIGN, GENERAL LEE THANKS HIS MISSISSIPPI SOLDIERS FOR THEIR SACRIFICE AND EXPLAINS EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR. The content of the letter is dictated by Lee and handwritten by his aide-de-camp Walter H. Taylor; one page; measures 8.5" by 7.5"; in very good condition with toning, minor fading to the text, and fading to Lee's signature that is still legible; and nicely matted and framed with a photograph of Lee and several images of Confederate flags to an overall size of 28.5" by 15". IT IS WITH GREAT GRATIFICATION THAT THE COMMANDING GENERAL ANNOUNCES TO YOU THE JOINT RESOLUTIONS OF THANKS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF YOUR STATE. IT IS A JUST TRIBUTE TO THAT CONDUCT WHICH IN EVERY CAMPAIGN AND ON EVERY BATTLE FIELD OF THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA HAS WON FOR YOU HIS HIGHEST ORDINATION... FROM HER WASTED FIELDS AND DESERTED HOUSES, MISSISSIPPI CALLS UPON YOU TO VINDICATE HER HONOR AND ACHIEVE HER INDEPENDENCE.

Wartime special and general orders signed by Lee are nonexistent on the market and primarily owned by institutions.