Document has a preprinted header that reads “SENATE CHAMBER, RICHMOND, VA.” with a handwritten date of “16 JANY.” The year of “1878” has the 18 pre-printed with the 78 written in with ink. The rest of the document is in Lee’s hand and explains to a Mr. Cook that as soon as he returns home Lee will procure an autograph of his father to send to him. He goes on to say that for an autograph of General Jackson Mr. Cook should write Gov. John Letcher in Lexington, Virginia. At the time he wrote this letter W. H. F. Lee was serving as a Virginia State Senator.

The document meas. approx. 8.00 x 10.00 with bold legible writing and a signature that is not bold but strong. There is one vertical fold line running the length of the document approx. 2.75 inches from the right edge but this is barely noticeable. The back of the document has some excess paper along the left edge where the document was once glued into an album. This has caused a light shadow on the front left edge. Overall the appearance of the document is clean.

William Henry Fitzhugh Lee was the second son of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. W. H. F. also known as “Rooney” Lee was born on May 31, 1837. He attended Harvard University and after graduation he joined the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1857. He served in the 6th US Infantry in the Utah War against the Mormons. He resigned in 1859 to work his farm called White House which was on the banks of the Pamunkey River.

At the start of the Civil War Lee served in the cavalry and was eventually promoted to Colonel of the 9th Virginia Cavalry. After the battle of South Mountain he was promoted to Brigadier General. He saw action at Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Brandy Station where he was wounded. While recuperating he was captured. He remained a POW until February of 1864. Upon his return he was promoted to Major General and commanded a Division in the Cavalry Corps. He surrendered along with his father’s Army at Appomattox.

After the war he returned to farming and politics. In 1875 Rooney was elected to the Virginia Senate, serving until 1878. He was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives in 1887. He served in the House until his death in 1891. He is interred in the Lee Chapel at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, with his parents and siblings

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