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.”