1862 October 9 Culpeper, Va.

            
                               [“Oct. 9, 1962” written in top margin.]
                         Culpepper C. H.
                         Sept. 9th 1862
My Dear Father
                       We came here last Monday
having laid over one day – Sunday –at
Rapid Ann Station, i. e. where that river
is crossed by the Alexandria & Gordonsville
R. R. We averaged 18 miles a day. The
men did not suffer any on the march
except a few from sore feet. We had
fine weather – one or two days being rather
warm for comfort. Seven miles from
this place we came on the battle
field of Cedar River or more properly
slaughter’s mountain – The battle being
on the foot of this mountain –
Jackson’s position was a splendid one.
The mountain is a considerable one
Its base is open – the sides higher up & its
top covered with woods – in the latter
Jackson had his forces safely massed
& masked partially - & it is of great im-
portance to find a place of safety in
which to put the army when the battle
is beginning & to keep the reserves
near at hand & fresh when wanted.
Not having any such place within

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several miles damaged us a good-
deal at Malvern Hills. The finely used
artillery of the enemy generally fills the
country with shell in open country
for that distance. Thus Jackson had
a fine position sweeping the open land
in front with his artillery & able to see
every movement of the enemy. Even
had either of his wings been turned
it would not have mat[t]ered much.
     I think it is intended to keep
us here, if the officer command-
ing the front has the power. There
were previously two pieces here man-
ned by infantry companies – They were
sent off this morning _ I suppose
we are considered as taking their
place. The officer has indeed made
some remark indicating or rather
stated positively that he had been
wanting some good artillery for
some time & now he had it he would
keep it. There are here two regiments
of cavalry & three or four companies
of artillery infantry. We have alarms
of course frequently as is always the
case on advanced posts – this is hardly
I suppose such a post. The alarm

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we have just had seems to have been
caused by a small body of cavalry 1500
strong & one piece of artillery which is now
believed to [be] 12 miles from here on the
Rap[p]ahannock. Our force is almost
13 hundred all told. Tell mother I did
not get my box – but that one of our
company who is in Richmond & had
not yet come up told me he would
try & get it when he came up – I
expect him every day. If we stay
here any time I will have a few oppor-
tunity of making some lady acquaint-
tances – but I don’t know whether
I will take advantage of it or not.
My mind is so slow that it gen-
erally fails to please ladies. I
don’t expect there are any very pretty
ones in town, but some who from
their position ought to be very intelligent.
     The people here are quite down
upon the [words lined out] Yankees, who
behaved very badly destroying all
the gardens &c around town & swear-
ing at the women, they made them-
selves particularly obnoxious to that
sex. The country here is a most
splendid one – the soil & rivers resem-

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ble Albemarle country very much.
But the land does not seem to be as
rich – however in its present delopi-
dated condition I ought not to judge
it. It certainly does not appear as
well as it did when I passed through
it last spring. We now have our
camp within 150 yards from the
place we spent a week in last
spring. We get the papers here every
day very regularly in the evening of
the day on which they are published.
I am almost sorry I chose the
whig for you – it seems to me to
have become a good deal
duller than ever. You know
however that I never fan-
cied it much. Our position does
not afford any advantages of
knowing the movements of troops
or different plans in view &c.
We have to rely on the papers more
than ever. My dear father my
great regret on leaving Richmond
was that it would place me
farther from the dear ones
at home. I have not yet received
a letter since leaving Richmond – di-
rect to this place. With my best love
to mother & George. With much love
                               W. H. Perry, Jr.

William H. Perry, Jr.,  Richmond Howitzers

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 7786-d