A Civil War dated telegram blank inscribed and secretarially signed on behalf of Confederate General Robert E. Lee (1807-1870), as: "No knives pikes / are needed at this time. / R.E. Lee / Genl." Issued from Richmond, Virginia on May 30, 1862 and probably received at or near Atlanta, Georgia. The partly printed and partly handwritten blank is printed "Milledgeville and Macon Telegraph Line, / Connecting with all Lines, East, West, North and South" along the letterhead. Expected wear including flattened paper folds and minor discoloration. An isolated rusted paper clip impression is found along the top edge, else very good to near fine. 4.875" x 7.675." Accompanied by its original transmittal envelope docketed in part as "Genl Lee." Expected weathering.

General Robert E. Lee had been appointed as Acting Confederate Secretary of War and principal military advisor to Confederate President Jefferson Davis in mid-March 1862. On May 29, 1862, Lee rode out from Richmond to review Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston's preparations in advance of the Battle of Seven Pines, which was planned for a few days later. Evidently, Lee determined that no extra military supplies like knives or pikes from Georgia were needed. All of the troops and resources of the Confederacy were at Lee's disposal; in fact, just six weeks earlier on April 19, 1862, General Lee had called for troops from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia to head towards Richmond.

The Battle of Seven Pines (sometimes called the Battle of Fair Oaks) took place on May 31-June 1, 1862 near Sandston, Virginia and on the banks of the Chickahominy River. After General Joseph E. Johnston's initial successes, which resulted in the dislodging of two Army of the Potomac corps from the area, the Union forces promptly recovered. Both sides claimed victory, yet the tactical results were inconclusive. The Battle of Seven Pines was one of the bloodiest military engagements then to date, with 11,000 casualties from both sides. It also marked the closest point that Union forces would ever get to the Confederate capital at Richmond: about 8 miles to the east.

Lee sent this telegram to Georgia Governor Joseph E. Brown (1821-1894). Governor Brown's tenure from 1857 to 1865 covered the entire span of the Civil War. Although Brown had strongly advocated for secession in 1861, he resisted Confederate policy pertaining to inscription and impressment. By 1864, Brown called for the South’s surrender since most of Georgia lay in ruins after Sherman’s March to the Sea.

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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