1862 October 22 Culpeper County, Va.

         
                         Oct. 22nd 1862         
                                 Culpepper Co.   
My Dear Mother,
                              The dull
monotonous camp life we were
leading at Culpepper C. H. contin-
ues – tho’ a little changed the lo-
cation we are about 10 miles
from that place – having moved
several days ago – on the
R.R. just where it crosses
the Rapohannock & about
8 [miles]from the Warrenton Junc-
tion. I received father’s two
letters of the 6th & 13th 5 days
ago. Continue to direct to Culpr.
Court House. We draw our
mail thence. Occasionally
companies or regiments are sent
on the cars farther on but
they make no stay.  
     I saw yesterday 4 miles
lower down the river at
Kelly’s ford – Kelly’s Mills, the

[page 2]
place factory I believe from
which you used to get woolen
goods. There are none to be had
there now however. This
country immediately along here
on the line of march of the
enemies & our army is complete-
ly devastated – But going off
a little it is not so much so.
The houses are generally deser-
ted or if the owner is at home
only partially cultivated.  The
Rapahonnock [as spelled]  has bottoms
at least a mile in width &
covered with fine hay which
has been only partially
preserved. We get butter at
50 cents, milk & butter – milk
rather high. That These
articles are about all we are
able to purchase for love or
money. There would be no
safety whatever in sending
me any clothes now. But if you

[page 3]
have any keep them & I will
let you know when to send
them & how. I will want some
this winter – especially a pr. of pants –
these were “fixing” to make when
I was at home. I could not
carry any more clothes than I
have now even if I had them.
I will also want socks before
any- thing else & an outer yarn [?]
shirt ^ ‘ after later’ I think it probable
the jacket you made me
last winter will last this
winter.  The Democrats seem
to be carrying the north in their
elections. I doubt very much
if it does us any good – more
than probable it will do
us harm. They are at least
as much for war as the
Republicans I reckon. Here is
a fine opportunity to talk
politicks, I mean war politicks,
but letters were made not
for that purpose – I had rather

[page 4]
write & be written to about
something else. Father men-
tions the fact that the people are
quite despondent. Never was any
people so prone to despondency.
So much so that I some times
think or rather fear the
southern people are not as
brave as they might be. It
is remarkable that not with-
standing the soldiers desire
peace so much they mind a
reverse much less. I can’t tell
how much Lee’s army is suffer-
ing from want of clothes &c.
But I expect the accounts you
hear are too nearly true. But
certe [ certes or verily] the commissary is most
fraudulently administered.
     The box you sent me in still
in Richmond– I told a young man
who remained in Richmond to bring
it when he could – he will probably
do so. I also told him to open it
& destroy whatever was in it that
would injure. My dear Mother give my
best love to father, George & all.
   Farewell & affly.
               Yr. son, W. H. Perry Jr.

William Hartwell Perry of the Richmond Howitzers

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 7786-d