Heading: (Wilson, General James Harrison – archive)
Author: Lee, Fitzhugh
Title: Letter from Fitzhugh Lee, onetime Confederate general, to James H. Wilson, criticizing the appointment of Leonard Wood as a major general, and Elihu Root’s role in defending Wood; with carbon copy typed letter in reply from Wilson
Place Published: Richmond, VA & Wilmington, DE
Publisher:
Date Published: Feb. 13 & Feb. 17, 1904
Description:

Includes:

• 
  Autograph Letter signed by Fitzhugh Lee ("Fitz Lee"), addressed to Wilson as "Major Gen." 23 lines, in ink, on plain sheet of writing paper.


• 
  Typed letter (carbon) signed in ink by James H. Wilson, on letterhead. 22 lines.

Interesting pair of letters regarding General Leonard Wood, who saw action during the Spanish American War in Cuba, and then in the Philippines during the insurrection that followed. From Lee: "...Army officers I met seem to think Root's testimony was rather hard on you. I was told also that after Root testified that Wood behaved so gallantly at 'Bloody Ford' an officer said Wood was not there..." To which Wilson replies, in part: "I am not at all surprised that Root lied when he gave his favorable testimony in behalf of Wood's alleged gallant behavior... I would not put it past him to lie on any occasion in behalf of a client... What an outrage was perpetuated upon the army in making [Wood] a Major General..." Both Lee and Wilson served in Cuba with Wood. Lee's letter starts with the writing quite large, and as he runs out of space it becomes smaller, and the signature is almost miniscule.

The two letters are pinned together, with rust mark from an earlier paperclip; both with offset of blue typing from a small note used to identify them, affecting the lower left portions; very good.