and mar the purest joys and happiness God has granted us in this world;
to fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbours, and
to devastate the fair face of this beautiful world! I pray that, on
this day when only peace and good-will are preached to mankind, better
thoughts may fill the hearts of our enemies and turn them to peace.
Our army was never in such good health and condition since I have been
attached to it. I believe they share with me my disappointment that
the enemy did not renew the combat on the 13th. I was holding back
all day and husbanding our strength and ammunition for the great
struggle, for which I thought I was preparing. Had I divined that was
to have been his only effort, he would have had more of it. My heart
bleeds at the death of every one of our gallant men."

One marked characteristic of my father was his habit of attending to
all business matters promptly. He was never idle, and what he had to
do he performed with care and precision. Mr. Custis, my grandfather,
had made him executor of his will, wherein it was directed that all
the slaves belonging to the estate should be set free after the
expiration of so many years. The time had now arrived, and
notwithstanding the exacting duties of his position, the care of his
suffering soldiers, and his anxiety about their future, immediate and
distant, he proceeded according to the law of the land to carry out
the provisions of the will, and had delivered to every one of the
servants, where it was possible, their manumission papers. From his
letters written at this time I give a few extracts bearing on this
subject:

"...As regards the liberation of the people, I wish to progress in it
as far as I can. Those hired in Richmond can still find employment
there if they choose. Those in the country can do the same or remain