1862 May 25 near Richmond, Va.

      
                                 Sunday 25 May 1862   5 miles of Rd. [Richmond]
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.

William H. Perry, 1836-1915, of the Richmond Howitzers; afterward a lawyer in Virginia


[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]


MSS 7786-d