1136109
George Washington Custis Lee
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Ink signature of the Confederate major general,
the son of General Robert E. Lee
George Washington Custis Lee, 1832–1913. Confederate Major General, American Civil War. Son of Robert E. Lee; aide-de-camp to Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Signature, G. W. C. Lee, on a 1¾" x 4¼" slip of paper.
Known as “Custis,” Lee was the first child and eldest son of Robert E. Lee and Mary Anna Custis Lee. His maternal grandfather was George Washington Parke Custis, the step-grandson and adopted son of George Washington.
Lee entered the United States Military Academy at West Point at age 17 and graduated first in his class of 46 in 1854. He served in the Army Corps of Engineers and later in the regular Army. He resigned his commission, about two weeks after his father had also resigned, after Virginia seceded from the Union. He served in the Virginia state militia until July 1861, when he was commissioned a captain in the Confederate Army. He became aide-de-camp to Confederate President Jefferson Davis but also served as an engineer during the Peninsular Campaign and commanded the defenses around Richmond, Virginia. He was promoted to major general in 1864 and given a field command but was captured at Saylerʼs Creek three days before his father surrendered the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia to Lt. General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.
Leeʼs rendition of his last name looks much like his fatherʼs famous signature. He has signed in brown ink. The signature is tipped to an album page trimmed to the same size. Overall it is in fine condition.
Unframed. Click here for information about custom framing this piece.
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