W. H. Perry Jr. Esq.
Dr Sir
Your father writes me, that he had sent to our
care by Express, a box “containing things, that will spoil if left long this weather”
and requests us to send them to you as soon as possible – We have been at a
good deal of trouble to try & find a conveyance, without success, and write this
hopeing it may reach you, that you may embrace the first opportunity by
some wagon comeing into town, to get the box, which has arrived. If you
see an opportunity, have it sent for to our office, and in the mean time, we will
continue our efforts to send it out, if a chance opportunity occurs.
Yrs Respy etc
McKinney & Duprey
MSS 7786-d
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
1862 May 25 5 miles of R[ichmon]d.
My Dear Father
We are still hanging
around Richmond & to a superficial
observer both armies are in a
state of inactivity tho’ behind
the curtain I believe they are far
from being so. It’s true occasi-
onal skirmishes come off, but none
of any importance lately. Yesterday
some Yankees crossed the Chick-
ahominy, where we had no pickets,
^ ‘surprised’ & flanked a regiment of Louisianians
killing 20, wounding more. These
little disasters happen only from
the neglect of our officers. I
think every single disaster
which has happened to us
during the war could have
been avoided if our different
authorities had done their duty.
[page 2]
I have never thought Jefferson
Davis a great man- he has
proved a mean executive. I
have no doubt that New Orleans
Norfolk, Nashville all might
have been saved. Thro’ unpardon-
able neglect Richmond came
near being given up. But
for the city authorities I have
no doubt she would now be
in Yankee hands.
Our company ought to be very
grateful for the protection which
Providence has given it.
It has not lost a man by death
since the war began. At Willi-
amsburg a gun from another
battery fighting by our side
had 4 killed, 7 wounded. Our whole
company had 2 wounded. At
Dam No. 7 other batteries with us
[page 3]
suffered proportionately as much,
& we nothing. Those killed by
us at Wmsburg. were killed by
the enemys sharpshooters from
our own rifle pits, whi: a regiment
of cowardly south Carolinians
gave up at an early hour
in the day & thus left the ar-
tiller exposed to this heavy
fire all day. The S.C.’s have
shown their chivalry since
the war began by run-
ning whenever they had an
occasion to fight – save
Hampton’s Legion. That has
fought. They are looked
upon with great contempt
by some of our troops.
I do not think a fight will
be put off long – both sides I
suppose will soon be ready
[page 4]
for it & our soldiers think they
are sure of victory. Since
I wrote to you ^ ‘mother’ I have been
in camp one mile this (North
East side of Richmond, until
last evening when we
moved down here. I received
mother’s letter wh. she gave
to Frank Wms. several days
ago. Direct yr. letters as I told
her in my last to Rd. [Richmond] care of
Mr. Herring or not as you like, but
instead of 7th Brigade put
General Griffith’s Brigade. I
have been expecting every day
your promised letter, but it has
not yet come. It is possible I may have
to draw upon yr. generosity again soon & get
some money from McKinney & Duprey. Our company has
determined to change its uniform & a new one costs
43 dollars, but I intend to replace it as soon
[written upside down on the top of page 4]
as I draw from the confederacy what
she owes me – it will be amply suffi-
cient. Write me in your next letter how
[written upside down on the top of page 3]
John K. Jones is. Is Henry M. Neblett
still at home? Give my love to Mrs. Dunkum
[written upside down on the top of page 2]
& family. My Dear Father how much
I love you all at home you know.
[written upside down on the top of page 1]
With the deepest affection I am
Yr Son W. H. Perry Jr.
Perry is in Brig. General Richard Griffith’s Brigade. Griffith was mortally wounded on 29 June 1862 at the battle of Savage’s Station.
MSS 7786-d
We are still hanging
around Richmond & to a superficial
observer both armies are in a
state of inactivity tho’ behind
the curtain I believe they are far
from being so. It’s true occasi-
onal skirmishes come off, but none
of any importance lately. Yesterday
some Yankees crossed the Chick-
ahominy, where we had no pickets,
^ ‘surprised’ & flanked a regiment of Louisianians
killing 20, wounding more. These
little disasters happen only from
the neglect of our officers. I
think every single disaster
which has happened to us
during the war could have
been avoided if our different
authorities had done their duty.
[page 2]
I have never thought Jefferson
Davis a great man- he has
proved a mean executive. I
have no doubt that New Orleans
Norfolk, Nashville all might
have been saved. Thro’ unpardon-
able neglect Richmond came
near being given up. But
for the city authorities I have
no doubt she would now be
in Yankee hands.
Our company ought to be very
grateful for the protection which
Providence has given it.
It has not lost a man by death
since the war began. At Willi-
amsburg a gun from another
battery fighting by our side
had 4 killed, 7 wounded. Our whole
company had 2 wounded. At
Dam No. 7 other batteries with us
[page 3]
suffered proportionately as much,
& we nothing. Those killed by
us at Wmsburg. were killed by
the enemys sharpshooters from
our own rifle pits, whi: a regiment
of cowardly south Carolinians
gave up at an early hour
in the day & thus left the ar-
tiller exposed to this heavy
fire all day. The S.C.’s have
shown their chivalry since
the war began by run-
ning whenever they had an
occasion to fight – save
Hampton’s Legion. That has
fought. They are looked
upon with great contempt
by some of our troops.
I do not think a fight will
be put off long – both sides I
suppose will soon be ready
[page 4]
for it & our soldiers think they
are sure of victory. Since
I wrote to you ^ ‘mother’ I have been
in camp one mile this (North
East side of Richmond, until
last evening when we
moved down here. I received
mother’s letter wh. she gave
to Frank Wms. several days
ago. Direct yr. letters as I told
her in my last to Rd. [Richmond] care of
Mr. Herring or not as you like, but
instead of 7th Brigade put
General Griffith’s Brigade. I
have been expecting every day
your promised letter, but it has
not yet come. It is possible I may have
to draw upon yr. generosity again soon & get
some money from McKinney & Duprey. Our company has
determined to change its uniform & a new one costs
43 dollars, but I intend to replace it as soon
[written upside down on the top of page 4]
as I draw from the confederacy what
she owes me – it will be amply suffi-
cient. Write me in your next letter how
[written upside down on the top of page 3]
John K. Jones is. Is Henry M. Neblett
still at home? Give my love to Mrs. Dunkum
[written upside down on the top of page 2]
& family. My Dear Father how much
I love you all at home you know.
[written upside down on the top of page 1]
With the deepest affection I am
Yr Son W. H. Perry Jr.
Perry is in Brig. General Richard Griffith’s Brigade. Griffith was mortally wounded on 29 June 1862 at the battle of Savage’s Station.
MSS 7786-d
Thursday, May 19, 2011
1862 May 19 4 miles of Richmond
My Dearest Mother
I received to day yr. let-
ter of the 9th with a P. C. of the 10th
sent through Mc Kinney & Drefuss. In
my last I suggested you direct to
Richmond. Do so to care of George
J. Herring (alias fish). It will be my qui-
kest way of getting them. This I put
first lest I might forget to mention
it. You do not dear mother know
how sorry I feel at hearing of Dear
little George’s sickness. Give him
a warm kiss for me & tell him I
have always since in the army
wanted to see him a great
deal – but I had rather be with
him now when sick, than at
any other time. Oh! How I hope he
is now relieved from that
painful disease. Tell him I
have occupied all the ^ ‘spare’ time
[page 2]
I had to day, before our march
commenced & since until now
late in the evening, in cooking
It being my turn to day & one
cook having left us about
a month ago for fear of be-
ing cut off from his woman
who lives in Orange Co. We have
tho a prospect for getting another
in a very few days. I begin to
think I am one of the experts
in camp as to cooking. Tho’ you
^ ‘or’Julia would not consider
me so. I have written home, two
or three letters since the fight at
Williamsburg. I suppose you have
received them before now. I will
not say anything about it now – I
expect I talked too much about it then.
too much. We have fallen back to
this place or the vicinity of Rcd.[Richmond]
I see the enemy’s newspaper ac-
page 3]
counts state they had 20:000
men on the field & we fifty. I wrote
the no. we had and on the field.
Our brigade have marched a-
round Richmond & are now on
the Mechanichsville turnpike wh:
runs out towards Old Church
in Hanover county. I tell this that
you may have an idea of the move-
ments of our troops. Our Picketts
were run in to within 2 ½ miles of
us this morning, but were strength-
ened & returned to their position
about 7 miles down the Rd. I think
a battle will be somewhere about
Richmond before a very long
period of time has elaspsed, or
strategical moves on a most
gigantic scale. I did not know
until to day your mule had been
hurt – how was it done? It is
probable that the organi-
[page 4]
zation of our army compa-
ny will be revised & we will
have a new election. It is
possible Mc Carthy may be
beaten. I was quite glad
to hear of that . I think Jery [?]
is so much better off
than I thought. I sincerely
wish I was at home to see
the beautiful (the prettiest flo-
wers I have ever seen) & deli-
cate flower by Julia’s house)
in bloom, but more than
I might see my friends.
7 A.M 20th my Dear mother I could not fin-
ish this last night before dark. Nothing
active this morning seems to be trans-
piring. We got a cook (a slave) this mor-
ning, paying $10:00 a month for him. I
don’t see how General McClellan can claim
a victory at Wmsburg. We certainly had fewer men
a engaged – took more prisoners than they did –
killed & wounded more men than they did – took
every piece of artillery they had on the field.
[A fragment of a letter in this file may be the ending of this letter. See below.]
Tho’ the mud prevented us from bringing it ^ ‘all’ off; we did
bring the most of it away. At the close of the day our
position was exactly the same as in the morning
when the battle began. We were on the retreat or
the defensive, yet succeeded in making the
battle ground beyond the enemies lines. And
only resumed our retreat, according to original
intentions, when we felt disposed & when the
enemy did not see fit to molest us. It
seems we drove the enemy’s gun boats
back on James river. There has both in
Richmond & in the army great fear been felt
[Next page]
lest gun boats should reach it. The people
of Richmond are very violent against Mr. Presi-
dent Davis for his criminal neglect of its
defence; until within [?] a very short period. Do
not forget to direct to Richmond care of George
& Herring. I am sorry Tom & Patsy are sick.
Give again my love to little George. How long
has Diphtheria been prevailing in our
neighborhood.[?] Is it the same that
was prevalent in the upper end of
Lunenburg before I left home.[?] I must
close. Dear Mother farewell
Yr. Affly W.H. Perry Jr.
I received to day yr. let-
ter of the 9th with a P. C. of the 10th
sent through Mc Kinney & Drefuss. In
my last I suggested you direct to
Richmond. Do so to care of George
J. Herring (alias fish). It will be my qui-
kest way of getting them. This I put
first lest I might forget to mention
it. You do not dear mother know
how sorry I feel at hearing of Dear
little George’s sickness. Give him
a warm kiss for me & tell him I
have always since in the army
wanted to see him a great
deal – but I had rather be with
him now when sick, than at
any other time. Oh! How I hope he
is now relieved from that
painful disease. Tell him I
have occupied all the ^ ‘spare’ time
[page 2]
I had to day, before our march
commenced & since until now
late in the evening, in cooking
It being my turn to day & one
cook having left us about
a month ago for fear of be-
ing cut off from his woman
who lives in Orange Co. We have
tho a prospect for getting another
in a very few days. I begin to
think I am one of the experts
in camp as to cooking. Tho’ you
^ ‘or’Julia would not consider
me so. I have written home, two
or three letters since the fight at
Williamsburg. I suppose you have
received them before now. I will
not say anything about it now – I
expect I talked too much about it then.
too much. We have fallen back to
this place or the vicinity of Rcd.[Richmond]
I see the enemy’s newspaper ac-
page 3]
counts state they had 20:000
men on the field & we fifty. I wrote
the no. we had and on the field.
Our brigade have marched a-
round Richmond & are now on
the Mechanichsville turnpike wh:
runs out towards Old Church
in Hanover county. I tell this that
you may have an idea of the move-
ments of our troops. Our Picketts
were run in to within 2 ½ miles of
us this morning, but were strength-
ened & returned to their position
about 7 miles down the Rd. I think
a battle will be somewhere about
Richmond before a very long
period of time has elaspsed, or
strategical moves on a most
gigantic scale. I did not know
until to day your mule had been
hurt – how was it done? It is
probable that the organi-
[page 4]
zation of our army compa-
ny will be revised & we will
have a new election. It is
possible Mc Carthy may be
beaten. I was quite glad
to hear of that . I think Jery [?]
is so much better off
than I thought. I sincerely
wish I was at home to see
the beautiful (the prettiest flo-
wers I have ever seen) & deli-
cate flower by Julia’s house)
in bloom, but more than
I might see my friends.
7 A.M 20th my Dear mother I could not fin-
ish this last night before dark. Nothing
active this morning seems to be trans-
piring. We got a cook (a slave) this mor-
ning, paying $10:00 a month for him. I
don’t see how General McClellan can claim
a victory at Wmsburg. We certainly had fewer men
a engaged – took more prisoners than they did –
killed & wounded more men than they did – took
every piece of artillery they had on the field.
[A fragment of a letter in this file may be the ending of this letter. See below.]
Tho’ the mud prevented us from bringing it ^ ‘all’ off; we did
bring the most of it away. At the close of the day our
position was exactly the same as in the morning
when the battle began. We were on the retreat or
the defensive, yet succeeded in making the
battle ground beyond the enemies lines. And
only resumed our retreat, according to original
intentions, when we felt disposed & when the
enemy did not see fit to molest us. It
seems we drove the enemy’s gun boats
back on James river. There has both in
Richmond & in the army great fear been felt
[Next page]
lest gun boats should reach it. The people
of Richmond are very violent against Mr. Presi-
dent Davis for his criminal neglect of its
defence; until within [?] a very short period. Do
not forget to direct to Richmond care of George
& Herring. I am sorry Tom & Patsy are sick.
Give again my love to little George. How long
has Diphtheria been prevailing in our
neighborhood.[?] Is it the same that
was prevalent in the upper end of
Lunenburg before I left home.[?] I must
close. Dear Mother farewell
Yr. Affly W.H. Perry Jr.
Monday, April 18, 2011
1862 April 18 [Warwick County]
5 P.M. Dr. Palmer says he is going to
Yorktown to morrow. I will send this to him
this evening to mail there, by our cook who
[page 2 between the lines]
who comes twice a day (3 miles); before day & after
night to bring our meales. The approaches
to our position behind the breast works
are too dangerous for him to come during
the day, made so by sharp shooters
of the enemy, who are said to be paid
fifty dollars a month. the enemy at-
tempted twice each night to cut the Dam
just opposite us but failed. We drove
him back by infantry. Those who were
at the battles of July 16 & 21st. & Oct. 21st say
they do not think the firing was ever
at any one time heavier than the fight
of the evening before the last was. Our
men are claiming a heavy loss on the
Yankee side. Some say seven hundred.
A man who was in it & at Bethel says
he knows their loss was much greater
here than at Bethel. There wounded are
still unburied. There sharp shooters will
not let us go down to the dam to get
them & bury them. Two of our men
started down to reclaim one of their
wounded, who was on our side, but
[page 3 between the lines]
was fired on & had to return. We are behind
pretty substantial breast works. But
since leaving Magruder's line better.
I do not think it as strong as I have
above stated. General Johnston is at
prresent down here.
Your letter has not yet come. Dearest
father I am well. I love you all a great
deal & think of you
Our men in a breast work 50 yards
in advance of us say we with our
two guns dismounted, one of the
enemy's guns yesterday morning
one of our guns fired at their works. The
other at infantry. Again goodbye my
dear father. W.H.P. Jr.
Yorktown to morrow. I will send this to him
this evening to mail there, by our cook who
[page 2 between the lines]
who comes twice a day (3 miles); before day & after
night to bring our meales. The approaches
to our position behind the breast works
are too dangerous for him to come during
the day, made so by sharp shooters
of the enemy, who are said to be paid
fifty dollars a month. the enemy at-
tempted twice each night to cut the Dam
just opposite us but failed. We drove
him back by infantry. Those who were
at the battles of July 16 & 21st. & Oct. 21st say
they do not think the firing was ever
at any one time heavier than the fight
of the evening before the last was. Our
men are claiming a heavy loss on the
Yankee side. Some say seven hundred.
A man who was in it & at Bethel says
he knows their loss was much greater
here than at Bethel. There wounded are
still unburied. There sharp shooters will
not let us go down to the dam to get
them & bury them. Two of our men
started down to reclaim one of their
wounded, who was on our side, but
[page 3 between the lines]
was fired on & had to return. We are behind
pretty substantial breast works. But
since leaving Magruder's line better.
I do not think it as strong as I have
above stated. General Johnston is at
prresent down here.
Your letter has not yet come. Dearest
father I am well. I love you all a great
deal & think of you
Our men in a breast work 50 yards
in advance of us say we with our
two guns dismounted, one of the
enemy's guns yesterday morning
one of our guns fired at their works. The
other at infantry. Again goodbye my
dear father. W.H.P. Jr.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
1862 April 17 [Warwick County]
My Dear Father--I wrote this yesterday but had no
opportunity to send. Capn Pals intended leaving to day
but in consequence of a little battle last evening and an ex-
pected one to day did not go. The enemy came over with about
two regiments & tried to turn some breast works on the
warwick river. They killed a Colonel of a North Carolina regt.
and about ten men. They were driven bck leaving about
a dozen dead on our side but is said a good many more in the
pond thr wh: they waded. Our battery was ordered down & came
three miles at full gallop but entered into no engagement
last evening. They ^'the enemy' through up a breast work for 10 guns
during the nght. They have been firing all day with
sharp shooters. The cannon did not fire many
rounds. We fired at some regiments who
doubled quicked it out of the field this morning.
Of course it is impossible to tell if we injored
them. Our battery is behind breast works & no one
injured. But two Georgians were killed in the trenches
with us this morning. I write in the trenches.
I cannot write more now, & we slept last
night in the field with noting but big coats. The
sun to day is quite opprressive. I will try & add
another postcript before sending this.
opportunity to send. Capn Pals intended leaving to day
but in consequence of a little battle last evening and an ex-
pected one to day did not go. The enemy came over with about
two regiments & tried to turn some breast works on the
warwick river. They killed a Colonel of a North Carolina regt.
and about ten men. They were driven bck leaving about
a dozen dead on our side but is said a good many more in the
pond thr wh: they waded. Our battery was ordered down & came
three miles at full gallop but entered into no engagement
last evening. They ^'the enemy' through up a breast work for 10 guns
during the nght. They have been firing all day with
sharp shooters. The cannon did not fire many
rounds. We fired at some regiments who
doubled quicked it out of the field this morning.
Of course it is impossible to tell if we injored
them. Our battery is behind breast works & no one
injured. But two Georgians were killed in the trenches
with us this morning. I write in the trenches.
I cannot write more now, & we slept last
night in the field with noting but big coats. The
sun to day is quite opprressive. I will try & add
another postcript before sending this.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
1862 April 16 Warwick County
My Dear Father,
We left Richmond Saturday
& reached here last Sunday eve-
ning, coming on a boat down
James river. The country ap-
pears almost a wilderness.
Few houses are inhabited
indeed there were very few hous-
es about here. We are about
seven miles from Yorktown.
The line along here runs along
a very small stream. But this
has been dammed up & is
thus made about three
hundred yards wide. Across
this the Yankee pickets are
stationed & firing is constantly
going on between the two
hostile pickets. The army
on one side are lying about
[page 2]
two hundred yards in the rear
of the pickets, Our posi-
tion is the strongest I have
seen--redoubts are thrown
up every 150 or 200 yards for
both infantry & artillery.
The long range artillery of the enemy
will not give him the same
advantage over our short range
pieces which they had in
the mountains. Artillery duel-
ling has been constant along
the line since we came but
our battery has not been in
it. I met Bob Beverly the
other day at a sick camp
we passed on the road; he
said he was going home.
Mr. Watkins told me that
Alick Cralle had gone or
was going home also; but
he said Alick was heartily
[page 3]
tierd of the war & would prob-
ably not return but get a
substitute. I believe he is
now sick; in consequence
of our march. I hhave not re-
ceived a letter very lately--
Direct to Yorktown & I must
take the chances for getting
it from there. The mail
is not now very regular. I
suppose it will improve
as soon as the stir is over.
News papers can not now be
had, but I suppose we get
all the important news.
Things sold higher in Richmond
than I expected--for a very in-
different pr. of gray pants I
had to give 10 dollars & for
an indifferent pr. of shoes
9 dollars. Every thing in Richmond
was quiet & orderly. I saw no
[page 4]
one from the country except
Wm Brag & the two Stokes. From
there of course nothing interest-
ing was to be learned.
It has been quite warm since
I came down here & is still
so; it is not as pleasant a
country as I have been in
since in the army. Mr. Thainter
you know was tryint to get
up a cavalry regiment; he
did not succeed, & came near
not getting up his own com-
pany in consequence. Not more
than 30 of the R.E.[?] cavalry have
reenlisted Mr. Watkins told me.
A gret many of the troops
I have seen since down here
have not reenlisted. Give my
best love to all. And know dear
father I alsways love you as much
as is possible. Yr. affectionate son
W.H. Perry, jr.
We left Richmond Saturday
& reached here last Sunday eve-
ning, coming on a boat down
James river. The country ap-
pears almost a wilderness.
Few houses are inhabited
indeed there were very few hous-
es about here. We are about
seven miles from Yorktown.
The line along here runs along
a very small stream. But this
has been dammed up & is
thus made about three
hundred yards wide. Across
this the Yankee pickets are
stationed & firing is constantly
going on between the two
hostile pickets. The army
on one side are lying about
[page 2]
two hundred yards in the rear
of the pickets, Our posi-
tion is the strongest I have
seen--redoubts are thrown
up every 150 or 200 yards for
both infantry & artillery.
The long range artillery of the enemy
will not give him the same
advantage over our short range
pieces which they had in
the mountains. Artillery duel-
ling has been constant along
the line since we came but
our battery has not been in
it. I met Bob Beverly the
other day at a sick camp
we passed on the road; he
said he was going home.
Mr. Watkins told me that
Alick Cralle had gone or
was going home also; but
he said Alick was heartily
[page 3]
tierd of the war & would prob-
ably not return but get a
substitute. I believe he is
now sick; in consequence
of our march. I hhave not re-
ceived a letter very lately--
Direct to Yorktown & I must
take the chances for getting
it from there. The mail
is not now very regular. I
suppose it will improve
as soon as the stir is over.
News papers can not now be
had, but I suppose we get
all the important news.
Things sold higher in Richmond
than I expected--for a very in-
different pr. of gray pants I
had to give 10 dollars & for
an indifferent pr. of shoes
9 dollars. Every thing in Richmond
was quiet & orderly. I saw no
[page 4]
one from the country except
Wm Brag & the two Stokes. From
there of course nothing interest-
ing was to be learned.
It has been quite warm since
I came down here & is still
so; it is not as pleasant a
country as I have been in
since in the army. Mr. Thainter
you know was tryint to get
up a cavalry regiment; he
did not succeed, & came near
not getting up his own com-
pany in consequence. Not more
than 30 of the R.E.[?] cavalry have
reenlisted Mr. Watkins told me.
A gret many of the troops
I have seen since down here
have not reenlisted. Give my
best love to all. And know dear
father I alsways love you as much
as is possible. Yr. affectionate son
W.H. Perry, jr.
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