LEE ATTENDS TO ARLINGTON HOUSE ESTATE.
LEE, ROBERT E. 1807-1870. Autograph Letter Signed ('R.E. Lee') to General McDowell extending his leave of absence upon the death of his father-in-law George Washington Parke Custis, 1 p, 4to (250 x 198 mm), 'Arlington near Alexandria, Va.,' 24 November 1857, folds.

LEE EXTENDS HIS LEAVE OF ABSENCE IN ORDER TO FULFILL THE TERMS OF HIS FATHER-IN-LAW'S WILL. When George Washington Parke Custis passed away on October 10, 1857, Robert E. Lee took leave of his post with the Dept of Texas and returned to Arlington, the family home of his wife Mary Custis. Lee, as executor of the estate, found a complicated legal and financial state of affairs. He quickly writes here to extend the leave of absence for two months, in order to give himself time to put the estate in order. During this time, he strongly considered resigning from the army, but would return by October 1859 to help lead the capture of John Brown and the raiders of the U.S. Armory at Harper's Ferry.

In his third request for an extension dated October 22, 1858, Lee gave the thorniest part of his executorship: 'The most important point to be determined by the Court is the period of the emancipation of the slaves, which is dependent upon the conditions of the will. Justice to them requires their earliest fulfilment. I therefore feel compelled to ask an extension of my present leave of absence till 1st May next.'

As it was, Lee finally fulfilled Custis's promise and emancipated the enslaved men and women of Arlington within his five-year window, just ahead of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.

General Irwin McDowell assumed the role of Brigadier General and Commander of all the Union armies south of the Potomac. He and Lee faced off during the 2nd Battle of Bull Run. For Lee's autograph true copy of the will, see lot 197.
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