1862 September 26 Leetown Jefferson County, Va

Headqrs 2 Cavalry Brigade
at Leetown,Jefferson Co, Va.
Sept 26 1862

My dear mother
You will perceive
from the heading of this
that I have gotten about
into my old neighborhood
  Our regiment, after having
been separated from the brigade
on detached service for 3 weeks
time, finished the duty assig-
ned us (that of collecting
arms at Manassas & forwar=
=ding them to Winchester &
Rapidan) on Sunday last
  the morning of Monday
found us at Paris, on the moun

[page 2]
=tain, 17 miles from Winchr
We were expecting to leave
that day, but our departure
was a good deal expedited by
rather unlooked for attack
which a body of the enemy's
cavalry made upon us
at 7 or 8 o'clock A.M.
  We were in number no more
than 150; & they had 10000
cavalry & 2 pieces of artil=
=lery.  Our commanding
officer, Lieut Col. Jno S. Greene
was not aware of their strength
& marched out boldly to meet
their attack   The head of
column met in the road, and
there was sharp firing for a

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minute or two, but immedi=
=ately they outflanked us, &
nothing waved our whole com=
=mand from capture & de=
=struction but a very pre=
=cipitate retreat. Our men
ran 1/2 a mile at full speed,
the enemy pressing after, shoot=
=ing & sabring; but happily
they then slackened pur=
=suit, & our regt halted &
formed & fell back in order
thro' the grass & over the river
  I do not wish to be involved
in another stampede.  It is
not pleasant to make one of
a crowd of rushing horsemen
under the circumstances

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above described.  On that occa=
=sion, however, thanks to a
kind providence, my good horse
Bill brought me out of the
throng in safety.  I went
over the river in charge of a
wounded captain, and
then trusting to my minis=
=terial character for im=
=munity, returned to Paris
to look after our wounded
  But when I got there the
enemy had left, in some
haste.  We lost 10 or 12
killed & wounded & 6 or 8
prisoners--the enemy
fully as many killed &
wounded--


[page 5]
I am tolerably well--& doing
some good, I think--I have
preached frequently
   I must close
dear love to Staige, E-
L.  Bro. [G.] & all--
In haste Yr affte son         
                Richard T. Davis
I am sorry I have no stamps
My supply is exhausted
  I hope to see Cousin Nancy &
my old Martg friends shortly
Day before yester I called
on Mr Ambler at Charleston
& the day before on Mr Suter[?]
at Berryville.  the hospita=

[page 6]
=ities of old friends are
oases in the desert of a
soldiers camp life
We have gotten no mails

[envelope]
from R. T. Davis
Chapl. 6 Va Cav.

Mrs M. J. Davis
      University of
                Va.

Richard Terrell Davis, 1830-1892, son of Professor John A.G. Davis and University of Virginia alumnus, after the war rector of St. James P.E. Church, Leesburg, Va.

MSS 7690-ah