1862 September 16 Alexandria

                                   1862
        Alexandria Sept 16th
            Dear Phebe
                        We find our
selves again back to the old
place having been ordered
here in hot haste last night
the rebels in the city taking
advantage of our absence to
make a demonstration in favor
of Jeff Davis.  When we marched
from here we left the 68th ill
inois and they were pretty roughly
handled.  the rebels are enjoyed at
their successes and
believing that Jackson was
to triumph throwed of[f] the
mask which so illy covered
the reason which was in therm
grew insolent and insulting.
Our sudden appearance in full
force supprised the scoundrels
who supposed we were far
away towards Mannassas

[page 2]
Our instructions were brief
"Put all into the slave pens
who have not got a pass was
the order"  Do not parley with
them put the bayonet to them
if they refuse to obey: Only one
ventured on the dangerous
ground.  He refused to go
into the slave pen when
ordered to do so, and he paid
the penalty on the spot a
bullet through his head
tells the whole story: and showed
the rest beyond a doubt
how they were to be served
we had no further trouble
and last night was as
quiet as usual.  We shall
probably stay here a few
weeks; although we cannot
tell certainly.  You can
send the box directed as
before the shirt I refered

[page 3]
was my other under shirt
you may send it if you are
a mind to I do not care
much about it; and while
I think of it I wish you
would write whether you
ever received my clothes and
boots & which I sent
home.  I have got my shirts
they are just what I wanted
I wish you would send
me a hundred postage stamps
we cannot get them here
and if my patent leather boots
have reached you you may
send them to me if I can
not carry them I can
sell them.  Please send
the cheese.  I have written
to Sanford; and enclosed
a note to you I wrote
to him that the fight
could not be long

[page 4]
delayed it has proved as
predicted, before this you
will read the accounts of
the battles for the last 48
hours we have been listening
to the distant roar of cannon
as it comes reverberating from
the hights of hagerstown, all
day yesterday it raged at eve
there was a lull: We did not
know the result, and waited
patiently.  We were patrolling
the citty of alexandria in stern
silence, about 2.o clock this
morning the stillness was broken
the untied noise of perhaps
75 heavy cannon borke[sic]
out from across the Potomac
and these with the signal light
the blowing of the steam
whistles of the transports
and the rush of couriers told
the story: Victory Victory--
the wore was caught and
amid shouts and yells
we came back to our tents
this morning at 9 o clock
The rebels are still to day

[page 5]
and as they set in their
homes to day and think
of their fathers brothers
sons who joined Jackson
and whose bodies thousands
on thousands now strew
the ground for miles
their reflections must be
indeed be bitter: Ladies
to: Mothers, Wives & sisters
are included in this com
pany and to day they walk
the streets in silence with
pale & anxious faces: and
it is the hardest of all our
duties to drive them from
the street but it has to be
done, such are the are the[sic]
orders: strange indeed that
they should be so blinded
to their own interest, but
crushing defeat will cure

[page 6]
them of the delusion under
which they labor.  God
only knows the end, but
it seems to me that we
are approaching the end
of this rebelion. They cannot
stand the overwheming [sic] now
being rolled upon them
and it seems to me that
they must give it up: time
will tell however--Then let
us most patiently firmly
relying on god believing
in faith that all will
be for the best Give
my love to all the folks
yours ev  Josiah

PS I have Just got
Harriets letter much
obliged JWP

Josiah W. Perry,  Co. K, 33rd Massachusetts

MSS 2215