1862 June 27 near Richmond, Va.

[letter of William H. Perry of the Richmond Howitzers, begun on June 26th, continues]

     June 27th 6 ¼ A.M. Last night our army drove
the enemy steadily before them several miles. Until
they came to a very strong position  naturally & where
they (the enemy) also had strong earth works & heavy
guns mounted. There the battle raged heavily until
a quarter to nine last night, then it entirely ceased
until five minutes to four this morning – when And
there it is still raging with great violence. The
enemy being protected by a marsh & two very
large mill ponds. General Griffith says this
morning that it was A. P. Hill’s command that did
most of the fighting last night. This is not the
Hill who was with us a Leesburg., but a Virginian..
He also says Jackson has not yet struck a blow.
But is held in reserve with twenty two thousand men.
This body of Jackson’s I believe is equal to fifty thous-

[page 3]
sound Yankees. Various & amusing are the conjec-
tures as to whether the fire is drawing nearer or
againg going back to the left. The former indi-
cating success to us, the latter to the enemy. I
have just seen the Whig and Dispatch account   they
are true in the main. Only they would convey the im-
pression that we took the last battery we charged
last night; wh: isn’t true.
7 A.M. The heavy firing of that battery has ceased
& the musketry has gradually worn around to the
right. This shows that we are again successful & the
battery is either taken or driven off – the first prob-
ably as it was of heavy guns. There is now as far
as the ear can judge almost a cessation. Around
this side of the Chy. river there is no fighting yet. One
heavy gun just opposite on this side has commenced
firing since the taking of that battery, on the eve-
my across the swamp.
10 minutes past 10 A.M. – Our lines have driven or rather ad-
vanced down the river below the white camps, which we
lookd at, half a mile. No firing has occurred
since it ceased as above mentioned. But ^ ‘our troops’ have
steadily advanced in line of battle. From this
side we could see squads of Yankees flying
in confusion. A Lieutenant of the 8th Pensylvania
crossed over this side & was taken prisoner; he
states that his enemy regiment was retreating
when last he saw it & concluded to take care of him-

[page 4]
self. Away over towards the Pamunkey we saw
clouds of smoke suddenly rise & cease as if they
were destroying powder.   15 Past eleven.
across the river some of our army is thrown two miles
below this point & no firing yet. What it means I don’t
know; but if our lines on the other side continues to
advance those of the enemy on this side will be in an
ugly fix. There is still no fight on this side. The
Examiner had not a correct account of yesterday’s
fight. It is about dusk. I was about commencing
to note to days proceeding as much well as my confined
opportunities would allow when in consequence of shells
beginning to fall in our camp we were ordered
to move camp. Reports which come in & seem true
indeed some are true I know. Say I was vastly mis-
taken as to the heavy loss which I imagined both
sides had received last night. The loss is represented
as very insignificant. (Send me some paper & an envel-
ope in your next letter I may be separated from my
knapsack as I now am). They have been fighting
or advancing on the other side of the river all day.
From the position we used the telescope at the fighting was
could be seen off to the right – We, they say, have charged
a battery there three or four times to day. No artillery was
taken yesterday save one siege gun left by the enemy.
As far as they were driven back they succeeded in
destroying every thing. A good deal of artillery & some
infantry fighting has occurred just in front of us on
this side the river this evening. No important result

[Written upside down on the top of page 4.]
that I know of, save heavy loss to some infantry. I have

[Written upside down on the top of page 1.]
given you an incoherent account of things just as they
occur to me. 28th. 9 A.M Accounts, official, & therefore
I suppose true represent the enemy as being completely
routed all beyond the Ch y. river. That will leave, if it be

[page 5]
true a large force, say from 30  to 50 thous-
and men (making a very rough guess)
of the enemy on this side of the Chy. river.
If the enemy beyond are completely routed,
this large force will have no means
of getting provisions or of getting away;
unless they whip our army in their
front which, have splendid fortify-
cations or unless they retreat by cut-
ting their way through our army
in the rear, wh: will I suppose take
a position near enough to the river to
have it as a barrier, If they do the first
they will not be much better off than
before they whipped us. For the most of
our army is, I think, beyond the river,
If they attempt the latter, it seems they
must be routed.  Lee if things go well
will be immortal. McCellan [McClellan] probably
dropped. And if we really whip them
Virginia & my dear home free. It
seems to be true that their whole force
beyond the river, where they made a last

[page 6]
desperate stand, was very large & rein-
forced from this side, & was completely
routed including their reserve. Heaven
grant these accounts may be true! The ac-
counts, where that stand was made & which
we could see by walking a few hundred
yards, say we took at that place 32 pieces
of artillery (Probably exaggerated). This was so
far from us that we could see sheets of flame
from the infantry, but not hear a sound.
     From the artillery we could only hear a rumb-
ling sound & see immense clouds of smoke
rising.  3 ½ P.M. All is quiet along here.
Jackson is I suppose in the rear of
the enemy & has possession of the R. R. Bridge
across the Pamunkey & this has cut off their
communications & retreat. Bob Knight has
been home sick, he returned to camp
a few days since, but for 4 days he has
been back close to Rd. [Richmond] with the wagons,
still indisposed. His father he tells me has
sold fifteen thousand dollars worth of clover
to the Confederacy & not one third of the clover
[Written upside down in top margin on page 6.]
is as yet exhausted. Will he not be able
if to pay for his farm if this continues?
My Dear Father all the particulars of the fight
you will learn more or less accurately from the papers


[Written upside down in the top margin on page 5.]
but they might be interesting as they seem to me. I send
mother an extract from Dispatch confirming my statement
of the local in which Mr. Wagon was killed. I send also
5 cents as a curiosity to George. My best love to all.
I send this off by the commissary this evening. Ever dear
[--] W. H. Perry, Jr.

[Written upside down on the bottom of page 6.]
     Jackson, Longstreet, Hill &c can’t be heard to day
but are doubtless at work.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards;  with thanks to Robert K. Krick who determined that two loose pages 5 and 6 belong to this letter]

MSS 7786-d