Rob I could not write to him for want of time. My heart is always
with you and my children. May God guard and bless you all is the
constant prayer of

"Your devoted husband,

"R. E. Lee."

To my mother, still at the Hot Springs:

"Sewell's Mountain, October 7, 1861.

"I received, dear Mary, your letter by Doctor Quintard, with the cotton
socks. Both were very acceptable, though the latter I have not yet
tried. At the time of their reception the enemy was threatening an
attack, which was continued till Saturday night, when under cover of
darkness we suddenly withdrew. Your letter of the 2d, with the yarn
socks, four pairs, was handed to me when I was preparing to follow,
and I could not at the time attend to either. But I have since, and
as I found Perry in desperate need, I bestowed a couple of pairs on
him, as a present from you. the others I have put in my trunk and
suppose they will fall to the lot of Meredith [His cook--a servant from
the White House], into the state of whose hose I have not yet inquired.
Should any sick man require them first, he shall have them, but Meredith
will have no one near to supply him but me, and will naturally expect
that attention. I hope, dear Mary, you and daughter, as well as poor
little Rob, have derived some benefit from the sanitary baths of the
Hot. What does daughter intend to do during the winter? And, indeed,
what do you? It is time you were determining. There is no prospect
of your returning to Arlington. I think you had better select some