1861 August 5 Camp at Monterey

Dear Father
I received a letter from
you a few days ago, containing a check of the bank
of Va. at Lynchburg, for one hundred and thirty
dollars, and I am much obliged to you for sending
it to me. I had already written a letter to you
before receiving yours, giving you some account
of our battle at Rich Montain so far as I
had any certain knowledge of it, I saw a piece
in the newspaper from one, who said he was an
eye witness of the battle, in which it was stated that
the conduct of Col. Pegram was not only faulty as
a General but that he was wanting in personal
courage, or intimates as much. I have heard
officers who were present in the engagement
say, they never saw anyone cooler or braver,
and when under fire having fallen or jumped
from his horse his aid reported him dead to
Col. Scot, and gave up all hope of the battle
at his fall, I also received another letter from

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you yesterday, in which you said there were
complaints of me in the county from my company,
as being harsh, and not attending properly to
the sick. In answer to the first charge, I would
say, that unless I had been strict in discipline
at all times when on duty, and exacted instant
obedience without question, I would not have
been able to have saved my company in the
retreat from Rich Mountain. I mentioned
in my last letter that no other captain could
move his company forward, when advancing
up the hill to attack the enemy, and none
other restrain them, when we commenced the
retreat, but I was obliged to hold my company
back and take the rear to prevent confusion,
this I could not have done if they had not
been accustomed to instant obedience, And
when, during our retreat from Rich Mount, we were in
two miles of Beverly, which was occupied by six thousand
of the enemy, and five thousand of them were
coming down upon or rear, they did not think
of a surrender, but obeyed instantly my order to
march across the fields, without even a path, toward
the mountain, with a guide totally unknown to us
and, who might have led us into the hands of the

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enemy, but again when within thirty five miles
of Monterey and not more than forty five miles
from Staunton, my company wished to go to
Staunton thinking it probable that the enemy
might hold Monterey, I told them it was my
duty to go near enough to be certain of the fact.
They did not hesitate to folow me, Although
Capt. Jone's company, which was along with us,
said they would go to Staunton, no matter
what their captain said or did, When I heard of
this mutinous conduct I stood out in front of
his company and told them all, that if I was
their captain and any man of them dared to
move toward Staunton without my order I
would blow his head off with my pistol, after a
little Capt. Jones came up to me and said I
was wright and that he would follow my advice,
we heard no more of Staunton on the rest of our
march. Some of the most relyable men in the
company told me that although most of the company
were disatisfied with my strict discipline in
Richmond and some time after we left, they
were convinced that they were saved at
Rich Mountain by it, and were well satisfied.
There are a few no doubt, who hate work and are

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who are still disatisfied. As to the other charge
I understand it well. When we arrived at Mounter
Monterey, the rest of the regiment petitioned to
be allowed to retire to Staunton or Richmond,
And I refused to enter into the petition, or go
back without positive orders from the general.
This did not please some cowardly men in the company.
At that time they were sending back the sick
to Staunton every day, and I immediately
found fourteen sick men who petitioned to be
allowed to go to Staunton. I examined them and
sent two who were sick to Staunton, and told the
others that as I could see nothing in the world
the matter with them, I believed it was fear of
the yankees, and they should not move a
step. It does not take many men to make a
great noise. I had a warning against too great
levity in disipline last week, in Capt. Shoemakers
company. He is a very mild man, and has
a very badly disciplined company. They sent in
a request to him to resign saying, they could no
longer endure his harsh treatment. He commands
the Danville artilery company. Tom has not been
very well since the last few days, but he is better this
morning and I hope will soon be well again. I have
been well since I left Richmond and I think I have
fattened up since my retreat from Rich Mountain.
General Lee is over in our division, but none knows
what are his plans, or where or when he is going to move.
None of Gen Garrett's command have been sent
forward, and we think, that distrusting us, reasonably, they
will not send us forward for some time.

Your affectionate son

Wm. B. Bruce

Captain, Co. K. 20th Virginia
MSS 2692