1862 November 23 near Fredericksburg, Va.

Sunday Nov. 23^d 1862

2 Miles of Fredericksburg

My Dear Father

Your letter reached me just before I left

Culpeper – I had answered before this but have

been so situated that I could not. We left Culpeper

Tuesday morning about day & after three days of

most disagreeable marching reached this neighbor-

hood. Since then we have been so constantly

moving about, cutting roads &c. that I have

not had an opportunity, until now, to write.

Our division came down – Lee & Longstreet came

along – the officers of this company think the

latter’s whole corps is here also – I suppose this is

at present the threatened point. Yesterday Day be-

fore yesterday the town was summoned to sur-

render, Lee declined. The women & children were

given until five last evening to leave. All day

yesterday they were leaving by every means of

conveyance. A good many really nice ladies,

(apparently), were walking, some of these quite old.

It was truly a distressing sight – all seemed

however in fine spirits, the most of them

laughing & gay as usual. From appearances

I think Lee intends to [word lined out] make some fight

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should the enemy attempt to cross just here – It

seems to me however it could be easily turned by

the enemy a few miles below this place with the

assistance of their gun boats. I thought from

your last letter that you seemed to think the

enemy was between General Lee’s army & Richmond.

This is ^ ‘or was’ not so. Jackson & Longstreet each command

corps – each corps is commonly estimated at about

40,000. I have had no opportunity of estimating

their strength. These two corps embrace

the army of the Potomac – Jackson’s I suppose

is still in the Valley. General Pendleton insis-

ted on making us horse artillery & offered us the

very best equipment the Confederacy could

furnish but it was declined – Another com-

munication came to McCarthy to the same

effect at General Lee’s special desire but was again

declined – We were to be put with his son’s bri-

gade, Lan’s old colonel, this brigade has just

been formed – The 9^th Va. has been exchanged

for & put into it. I will want of clothes –

An outer shirt – I suppose however you all will

be unable to furnish that & I can probably get

one on as good terms as you can. Also a pr of

pants. – one or two or three pair socks. One under flannel Shirt –

I do not want any of these at present & I could not carry

them & would lose them. I can not write any more just now. I will

try & write again soon. My best love to all. most affly

Yr son W. H. Perry Jr.

[Written in the top margin on page one: ]“Direct to this place – My dear father I wish to see

you very much & often think of you all. I would

write more now but the orderly sergeant is just about to

leave for head-quarters & by him I must send this.”

William Hartwell Perry,  Richmond Howitzers

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 7786-d