A Guide to the Lee Family Papers, 1861-1864

Biographical Note

During the Civil War, E. J. "Jeff" Lee served in the 17th Louisiana Regiment of the Confederate Army alongside his brothers George M., Henry Clay, and William. The brothers were stationed in military camps and cities throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, and Virginia and often wrote their sister Sarah C. "Sallie" and her husband Jordan G. Taylor in Louisiana. Henry Clay Lee’s daughter Sally Elizabeth Lee (1878-1963) married Charles W. Boner in the 1890s and later Leon Westmoreland, following Boner’s death.

Scope and Contents

Comprised of Civil War correspondence, the Lee Family Papers, 1861-1864, document the activities of brothers E. J. "Jeff" Lee, George M. Lee, Henry Clay Lee, and William Lee while fighting in the Confederate Army. Primarily from Jeff to his sister and her husband, Sallie and Jordan Taylor, the letters describe regimental maneuvers for the 17th Louisiana Infantry, skirmishes with the U.S. Army, the health of the soldiers, and military life in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Virginia. In addition to the handwritten missives, the collection includes a typescript copy of one original letter in poor condition and a Photostat of an envelope.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research use.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Lee Family Papers, 1861-1864, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.

Processing Information

Basic processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with funds from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) for the Briscoe Center’s "History Revealed: Bringing Collections to Light" project, 2009-2011.

Detailed Description of the Papers