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General G.W.C. Lee
Captured at Sailor's Creek by the 37th Mass.
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Sailors Creek Research
Author Frank White has requested that I post the following message:
The 37th Massachusetts Regiment engaged in a fierce battle with the retreating confederates of the Army of Northern Virginia on April 6, 1865 at Sailors Creek, Virginia. During this battle, confederate Major General George Washington Custis Lee, eldest son of the famed Robert E. Lee, was captured by union forces in the heat of battle. There developed after this battle a significant controversy around which union outfit captured Custis Lee, with the 37th Massachusetts and 121st New York both laying claim to the capture. This event is significant for two reasons. The first, the capture of Custis Lee had to weigh heavily on the mind of his father Robert E. Lee, so much so that he exchanged correspondence with General Grant on this topic prior to his surrender at Appomatox. Did the capture of his beloved son Custis in some smalll way factor into his decision to surrender the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomatox? The second, the accounts of Custis Lee's capture given by the 37th Massachusetts and the 121st New York are so different that the historical record on this point is still an open footnote. As an aside, a member of the 121st New York received the Congressional Medal of Honor for the capture of Custis Lee, an honor that the 37th Massachusetts vigorously challanged. This is a fascinating story!
I have conducted extensive research on this topic and plan to publish my work, setting the historical record straight. I am happy to discuss this topic with anyone that is interested. In particular, I am interested in receiving photocopies of any 37th Massachusetts letters, journals, or diary entries or reminiscences that mention the Battle of Sailors Creek, April 6, 1865. In exchange for your help, I will send you a free copy of my published work. Naturally, I will reimburse all costs associated with making and mailing the photocopies.
I may be contacted at frank.e.white@accenture.com
Warmest regards,
Frank White
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