Nov. 29th 1862
My Dear Father
I have not received a letter from
you since we got to this place. And one of
the company, who has entered a substitute,
leaves tomorrow & I take the opportunity
to send a letter. Every thing is quiet. I never got
to Fredbg., not being allowed to go. But some
of our company muster up a sufficient
excuse to take them there occasionally – they
say the enemy’s pickets stand in full view
on the other side of the river, which is
here about two hundred yards & ours on
this side. The town looks almost as if
it was deserted. The citizens are returning
slowly to town. The shelling of the cars,
which I wrote to you of, scared one lady to
death. She was however sick before.
You inquired if the army was much
destitute. I can not give a satisfactory
answer. Longstreet’s whole corps is here – but
I have seen only a few save those who
are in our brigade. Of these a good
many are without shoes. They do not
appear to be much in need of other
clothes – unless they would like to wash
[page 2]
and change clothes; then I suppose they have
no change. Socks I fear are not used
much. Tents are not used – but flys –you
saw one fly around Richmond. Indeed
the infantry have none of these – I
suppose they could be procured, but
the infantry could not transport them
& would lose them on the first move. The
authorities seem to be more anxious than
heretofore to furnish them & are supply-
ing some – but not enough - hitherto she[?]
has[?] been very negligent in that de-
partment as well as in the commis-
sary – this latter does not improve – all
a soldier draws is meat, flower & a little
salt. A Colonel of a Mississippi regi-
ment said a few days since that
there were two hundred men in his reg-
iment without shoes – I did not believe
him. He also said they had subscribed
1500 dollars for purchasing them privately.
If mother has any homespun flannel
a very good over shirt could be made out
of it if she could dye it. Brown or a lead
culler or any dark culler would do. Please
ask her to make such a shirt, for an
outer shirt, if it is convenient to dye
[page 3]
it. But do not let her give herself any
trouble – I will not probably want them for
some time but when convenient if she will
make those articles. I will call for them
when I want them.
There were two crops of wheat about
in Culpeper where I went along-
The farmers not having the means
to get it out of the straw – conse-
quently, I suppose, we could not
bring it & had to leave it behind.
Sunday 30th
My Dear Father
Night caught me last
night before I could finish it writing.
Mr. Bradly starts immediately so I can
write no more. The mail came
just now, but no letter for me from
home. Our cook is sick, & I
am cook to day. We bought a
turkey yesterday for 2 dollars
& I must devise some way of
cooking it. None of our
cooking utensils are large enough
except a camp boiler & it has
been suggested to boil it.
Farewell Dear Father
W. H. Perry, Jr.
[page 4]
There is nothing new this mor-
ning. Give my best love to Mother, George & all.
Does Lan’s health improve?
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
1861 November 23
2 Miles of Fredericksburg
My Dear Father
Your letter reached me just before I left
Culpeper – I had answered before this but have
been so situated that I could not. We left Culpeper
Tuesday morning about day & after three days of
most disagreeable marching reached this neighbor-
hood. Since then we have been so constantly
moving about, cutting roads &c. that I have
not had an opportunity, until now, to write.
Our division came down – Lee & Longstreet came
along – the officers of this company think the
latter’s whole corps is here also – I suppose this is
at present the threatened point. Yesterday Day be-
fore yesterday the town was summoned to sur-
render, Lee declined. The women & children were
given until five last evening to leave. All day
yesterday they were leaving by every means of
conveyance. A good many really nice ladies,
(apparently), were walking, some of these quite old.
It was truly a distressing sight – all seemed
however in fine spirits, the most of them
laughing & gay as usual. From appearances
I think Lee intends to [word lined out] make some fight
[page 2]
should the enemy attempt to cross just here – It
seems to me however it could be easily turned by
the enemy a few miles below this place with the
assistance of their gun boats. I thought from
your last letter that you seemed to think the
enemy was between General Lee’s army & Richmond.
This is ^ ‘or was’ not so. Jackson & Longstreet each command
corps – each corps is commonly estimated at about
40,000. I have had no opportunity of estimating
their strength. These two corps embrace
the army of the Potomac – Jackson’s I suppose
is still in the Valley. General Pendleton insis-
ted on making us horse artillery & offered us the
very best equipment the Confederacy could
furnish but it was declined – Another com-
munication came to McCarthy to the same
effect at General Lee’s special desire but was again
declined – We were to be put with his son’s bri-
gade, Lan’s old colonel, this brigade has just
been formed – The 9th Va. has been exchanged
for & put into it. I will want of clothes –
An outer shirt – I suppose however you all will
be unable to furnish that & I can probably get
one on as good terms as you can. Also a pr of
pants. – one or two ^ ‘or three’ pair socks. One under flannel Shirt –
I do not want any of these at present & I could not carry
them & would lose them. I can not write any more just now. I will
try & write again soon. My best love to all. most affly
Yr son W. H. Perry Jr.
[Written in the top margin on page one: ]“Direct to this place – My dear father I wish to see
you very much & often think of you all. I would
write more now but the orderly sergeant is just about to
leave for head-quarters & by him I must send this.”
My Dear Father
Your letter reached me just before I left
Culpeper – I had answered before this but have
been so situated that I could not. We left Culpeper
Tuesday morning about day & after three days of
most disagreeable marching reached this neighbor-
hood. Since then we have been so constantly
moving about, cutting roads &c. that I have
not had an opportunity, until now, to write.
Our division came down – Lee & Longstreet came
along – the officers of this company think the
latter’s whole corps is here also – I suppose this is
at present the threatened point. Yesterday Day be-
fore yesterday the town was summoned to sur-
render, Lee declined. The women & children were
given until five last evening to leave. All day
yesterday they were leaving by every means of
conveyance. A good many really nice ladies,
(apparently), were walking, some of these quite old.
It was truly a distressing sight – all seemed
however in fine spirits, the most of them
laughing & gay as usual. From appearances
I think Lee intends to [word lined out] make some fight
[page 2]
should the enemy attempt to cross just here – It
seems to me however it could be easily turned by
the enemy a few miles below this place with the
assistance of their gun boats. I thought from
your last letter that you seemed to think the
enemy was between General Lee’s army & Richmond.
This is ^ ‘or was’ not so. Jackson & Longstreet each command
corps – each corps is commonly estimated at about
40,000. I have had no opportunity of estimating
their strength. These two corps embrace
the army of the Potomac – Jackson’s I suppose
is still in the Valley. General Pendleton insis-
ted on making us horse artillery & offered us the
very best equipment the Confederacy could
furnish but it was declined – Another com-
munication came to McCarthy to the same
effect at General Lee’s special desire but was again
declined – We were to be put with his son’s bri-
gade, Lan’s old colonel, this brigade has just
been formed – The 9th Va. has been exchanged
for & put into it. I will want of clothes –
An outer shirt – I suppose however you all will
be unable to furnish that & I can probably get
one on as good terms as you can. Also a pr of
pants. – one or two ^ ‘or three’ pair socks. One under flannel Shirt –
I do not want any of these at present & I could not carry
them & would lose them. I can not write any more just now. I will
try & write again soon. My best love to all. most affly
Yr son W. H. Perry Jr.
[Written in the top margin on page one: ]“Direct to this place – My dear father I wish to see
you very much & often think of you all. I would
write more now but the orderly sergeant is just about to
leave for head-quarters & by him I must send this.”
Thursday, November 10, 2011
1862 Nov[ember] 10 2 Miles of Culpeper
My Dear Father
I had written to you several days
ago, but my situation has been such that I
could not well do so. I came to this place a
few days ago. Immediately before that I
made a scout with our two guns as
far as warrenton springs. we left about 3 P.M.
& marched until 10 ½ P.M. the water falling nearly
all the time. We however camped that night
in an abandoned female school & soon dried
& slept finely. The next day we returned - the distance
was about 18 miles. Upon returning we found
our brigade & the other section of our company.
We belong to Longstreet’s Corps all of which is now
here I think. The rest, which is embraced in to
Jackson’s corps, is I suppose still in the Valley
of the Shenandoah. I do not know what
stand is intended to be made here. Our po-
sition the other side of the Court House
was taken by a battery from Norfolk – they
have been engaged with the enemy nearly
all day across the Rappahannock – with
what effect I don’t know. Stuart with
his cavalry has been fighting the ene-
my for nearly a week & falling back
before them. this looks as if the object
[page 2]
was to decoy them as far as possible
into the interior. I was over to the cavalry
camp last evening to see the Lunenburg
cavalry – A large portion of the company was
there – not being out on active duty from
the want of horses – the latter seemed in a
very bad condition – suffering from scratches &
black tongue ( they called it) & with a scarcity
of food for them. Dr. Knight had just
received a notice that a resignation which
he had forwarded was accepted. Lan is
therefore captn. of the company. Stith
Bolling is the only officer with the
company. Indeed the only one they have
except Lan. Wm Atkinson was without
a horse & wishes to start home after one soon
and to brin carry Lan’s with him wh:
had such a sore foot that I advised him
not to attempt it until his foot was
better.
We have had proposed to turn our
company into horse-artillery & joint the s
cavalry brigade – our Captn. declined that
offer.
I got from Richmond about a
week ago, the box wh: mother sent me –
before I left Richmond – the sweet potatoes was
all that was in a sound state save the
whisky Brandy – they were very fine – The
[page 3]
brandy was also very good – I thought
as good as I ever tasted; & better judges
than I am pronounced it very fine.
Morning of Nov 11th
My Dear Father we are about to
send into town this moment & I must
close to send by this opportunity – for
the last four days we have had to
keep our horses harnessed & hitched
ready to move at any moment. Here
is: h Every thing is quiet this morning
however. My best love to all –
In haste most affe.
W.H. Perry, Jr.
I had written to you several days
ago, but my situation has been such that I
could not well do so. I came to this place a
few days ago. Immediately before that I
made a scout with our two guns as
far as warrenton springs. we left about 3 P.M.
& marched until 10 ½ P.M. the water falling nearly
all the time. We however camped that night
in an abandoned female school & soon dried
& slept finely. The next day we returned - the distance
was about 18 miles. Upon returning we found
our brigade & the other section of our company.
We belong to Longstreet’s Corps all of which is now
here I think. The rest, which is embraced in to
Jackson’s corps, is I suppose still in the Valley
of the Shenandoah. I do not know what
stand is intended to be made here. Our po-
sition the other side of the Court House
was taken by a battery from Norfolk – they
have been engaged with the enemy nearly
all day across the Rappahannock – with
what effect I don’t know. Stuart with
his cavalry has been fighting the ene-
my for nearly a week & falling back
before them. this looks as if the object
[page 2]
was to decoy them as far as possible
into the interior. I was over to the cavalry
camp last evening to see the Lunenburg
cavalry – A large portion of the company was
there – not being out on active duty from
the want of horses – the latter seemed in a
very bad condition – suffering from scratches &
black tongue ( they called it) & with a scarcity
of food for them. Dr. Knight had just
received a notice that a resignation which
he had forwarded was accepted. Lan is
therefore captn. of the company. Stith
Bolling is the only officer with the
company. Indeed the only one they have
except Lan. Wm Atkinson was without
a horse & wishes to start home after one soon
and to brin carry Lan’s with him wh:
had such a sore foot that I advised him
not to attempt it until his foot was
better.
We have had proposed to turn our
company into horse-artillery & joint the s
cavalry brigade – our Captn. declined that
offer.
I got from Richmond about a
week ago, the box wh: mother sent me –
before I left Richmond – the sweet potatoes was
all that was in a sound state save the
whisky Brandy – they were very fine – The
[page 3]
brandy was also very good – I thought
as good as I ever tasted; & better judges
than I am pronounced it very fine.
Morning of Nov 11th
My Dear Father we are about to
send into town this moment & I must
close to send by this opportunity – for
the last four days we have had to
keep our horses harnessed & hitched
ready to move at any moment. Here
is: h Every thing is quiet this morning
however. My best love to all –
In haste most affe.
W.H. Perry, Jr.
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