1862 Oct[ober] 31 Brandy Station, Culpeper County

My Dear Father
We fell back three miles – to this place a few
days since, in consequence of our infantry support
being withdrawn = Georgia regiment – it was ordered to
Richmond – here there is a regiment of Cavalry – Our
pickets extend to the 2d. station this side of Manassas.
A party of Yankees tried to cut off the cars a short
time since but did not succeed & we took 22 prisoners.
The army news is of some importance if true.
It represents Jackson having gone into Maryl-
and & found no Yanks – hence it is presumed they
have gone to the South – side – At any rate it is true
that General Lee arrived at Culpeper C. H. last
evening – wh: presages, I reckon, the falling back
of his army. I suppose McClellan is preparing for
a late fall if not a winter campaign.
Mother’s letter of the 20th was received several days
ago. Her plan to have the box at Mck & Duprey’s sent
back home I reckon would be the best. I see no
probability that I can get it soon, if at all. Con-
tinue to direct your letters to Culpeper C. H.
We are now encamped in a house, on a very large
& fine farm. Owned & occupied by a Mr. Miller until the
war commenced. Formerly the place was quite a
cultivated one I imagine. There are fine falls in the
garden &c. &c. indicating some taste but seem
to have been very much neglected of late years.
James Barbour’s pl residence or his residence before the
war is about one mile from here – quite a handsome
brick building. Nearly all the country here is
open & stuck with grass – Timothy predominating –
f large fields of this is left uncut. The Yankees

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not allowing our the citizens to cut it, when they
were at home & could procure the means. It is not
necessary I suppose for me to say that the people
in these counties are as warm & as universally in our
cause as in any other portion of the Confederacy
whatever..
Wrote to Ms K & Duprey a few days
since for 10 dollars. Separated from our brigade we
have been unable to draw any money for four
months wh: is now owed us by the government.
An officer has now gone to Winchester to day &
draw it for us. He is a expected back in a few
days. We have had some quite heavy frosts
but to day it is quite warm. We are camped on
a hill with a full view of the mountains & would
have a beautiful view but for the eye sore of
yankee devastation.
It is now a little over one year since I entered
the army & a sad expe-rience it has proved. The diffi-
culties & inconveniences are not regarded when they are once
over – but the sad feelings & sights will never be for-
gotten or as ^ ‘the Rev’ D. C. Harrison said those bloody cuts were
too deep. &c.&c. He said in one of his last letters that
he was always cheerful but never felt anything
like gaiety of spirits & then assigned the above reasons.
I see no prospect whatever of a termination of the
war for some time. A young man in our
company received yesterday a letter from his brother
in New York City – He sais [says] that in New York there
is as much a civil war as there ever was any where
all but the actual resort to arms. A private letter, re-
ceived, by a northern member, from New Haven repre-
sents a similar state of feeling there. But you know
that I do not hope good from this service. My dearest father
Give my best love to all. Affly yr. son W. H. Perry Jr.

1861 October 22 Culpeper Co

My Dear Mother,

The dull
monotonous camp life we were
leading at Culpepper C. H. contin-
ues – tho’ a little changed the lo-
cation we are about 10 miles
from that place – having moved
several days ago – on the
R.R. just where it crosses
the Rapohannock & about
8 [miles]from the Warrenton Junc-
tion. I received father’s two
letters of the 6th & 13th 5 days
ago. Continue to direct to Culpr.
Court House. We draw our
mail thence. Occasionally
companies or regiments are sent
on the cars farther on but
they make no stay.
I saw yesterday 4 miles
lower down the river at
Kelly’s ford – Kelly’s Mills, the

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place factory I believe from
which you used to get woolen
goods. There are none to be had
there now however. This
country immediately along here
on the line of march of the
enemies & our army is complete-
ly devastated – But going off
a little it is not so much so.
The houses are generally deser-
ted or if the owner is at home
only partially cultivated. The
Rapahonnock [as spelled] has bottoms
at least a mile in width &
covered with fine hay which
has been only partially
preserved. We get butter at
50 cents, milk & butter – milk
rather high. That These
articles are about all we are
able to purchase for love or
money. There would be no
safety whatever in sending
me any clothes now. But if you

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have any keep them & I will
let you know when to send
them & how. I will want some
this winter – especially a pr. of pants –
these were “fixing” to make when
I was at home. I could not
carry any more clothes than I
have now even if I had them.
I will also want socks before
any- thing else & an outer yarn [?]
shirt ^ ‘ after later’ I think it probable
the jacket you made me
last winter will last this
winter. The Democrats seem
to be carrying the north in their
elections. I doubt very much
if it does us any good – more
than probable it will do
us harm. They are at least
as much for war as the
Republicans I reckon. Here is
a fine opportunity to talk
politicks, I mean war politicks,
but letters were made not
for that purpose – I had rather

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write & be written to about
something else. Father men-
tions the fact that the people are
quite despondent. Never was any
people so prone to despondency.
So much so that I some times
think or rather fear the
southern people are not as
brave as they might be. It
is remarkable that not with-
standing the soldiers desire
peace so much they mind a
reverse much less. I can’t tell
how much Lee’s army is suffer-
ing from want of clothes &c.
But I expect the accounts you
hear are too nearly true. But
certe [ certes or verily] the commissary is most
fraudulently administered.
The box you sent me in still
in Richmond– I told a young man
who remained in Richmond to bring
it when he could – he will probably
do so. I also told him to open it
& destroy whatever was in it that
would injure. My dear Mother give my
best love to father, George & all.
Farewell & affly.
Yr. son, W. H. Perry Jr.

1862 October 9 Culpeper C. H.

My Dear Father
We came here last Monday
having laid over one day – Sunday –at
Rapid Ann Station, i. e. where that river
is crossed by the Alexandria & Gordonsville
R. R. We averaged 18 miles a day. The
men did not suffer any on the march
except a few from sore feet. We had
fine weather – one or two days being rather
warm for comfort. Seven miles from
this place we came on the battle
field of Cedar River or more properly
slaughter’s mountain – The battle being
on the foot of this mountain –
Jackson’s position was a splendid one.
The mountain is a considerable one
Its base is open – the sides higher up & its
top covered with woods – in the latter
Jackson had his forces safely massed
& masked partially - & it is of great im-
portance to find a place of safety in
which to put the army when the battle
is beginning & to keep the reserves
near at hand & fresh when wanted.
Not having any such place within

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several miles damaged us a good-
deal at Malvern Hills. The finely used
artillery of the enemy generally fills the
country with shell in open country
for that distance. Thus Jackson had
a fine position sweeping the open land
in front with his artillery & able to see
every movement of the enemy. Even
had either of his wings been turned
it would not have mat[t]ered much.
I think it is intended to keep
us here, if the officer command-
ing the front has the power. There
were previously two pieces here man-
ned by infantry companies – They were
sent off this morning _ I suppose
we are considered as taking their
place. The officer has indeed made
some remark indicating or rather
stated positively that he had been
wanting some good artillery for
some time & now he had it he would
keep it. There are here two regiments
of cavalry & three or four companies
of artillery infantry. We have alarms
of course frequently as is always the
case on advanced posts – this is hardly
I suppose such a post. The alarm

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we have just had seems to have been
caused by a small body of cavalry 1500
strong & one piece of artillery which is now
believed to [be] 12 miles from here on the
Rap[p]ahannock. Our force is almost
13 hundred all told. Tell mother I did
not get my box – but that one of our
company who is in Richmond & had
not yet come up told me he would
try & get it when he came up – I
expect him every day. If we stay
here any time I will have a few oppor-
tunity of making some lady acquaint-
tances – but I don’t know whether
I will take advantage of it or not.
My mind is so slow that it gen-
erally fails to please ladies. I
don’t expect there are any very pretty
ones in town, but some who from
their position ought to be ^ ‘very’ intelligent.
The people here are quite down
upon the [words lined out] Yankees, who
behaved very badly destroying all
the gardens &c around town & swear-
ing at the women, they made them-
selves particularly obnoxious to that
sex. The country here is a most
splendid one – the soil & rivers resem-

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ble Albemarle country very much.
But the land does not seem to be as
rich – however in its present delopi-
dated condition I ought not to judge
it. It certainly does not appear as
well as it did when I passed through
it last spring. We now have our
camp within 150 yards from the
place we spent a week in last
spring. We get the papers here every
day very regularly in the evening of
the day on which they are published.
I am almost sorry I chose the
whig for you – it seems to me to
have become a good deal
duller than ever. You know
however that I never fan-
cied it much. Our position does
not afford any advantages of
knowing the movements of troops
or different plans in view &c.
We have to rely on the papers more
than ever. My dear father my
great regret on leaving Richmond
was that it would place me
farther from the dear ones
at home. I have not yet received
a letter since leaving Richmond – di-
rect to this place. With my best love
to mother & George. With much love
W. H. Perry, Jr.