Hd. Qrs. Cav. Brigade
Purcellville Nov 1. 11.30  A.M.
Philomont 
To General R B Marcy
Chief of Staff
General
       My Command has
arrived at this point & I am
now sending out scouts in different
directions–About one hundred
rebel cavalry left this place
hastily on our advance & took
the road to Middleburg–
    I am told there’s a force
of rebel cavalry & infantry
at Upperville—
           Have not heard
yet from Gen. Bayard-
        My force is so small
not over fifteen hundred
men–that I find myself
obliged to work my men very
hard to do the duty required
of them–For want of horses
the dismounted men left
behind have not come up

[page 2]
& many of my old horses
are becoming unfit for service
by disease, colic & Rotten hoof–
     Yesterday Stuart captured
a number of 1st Rhode Island
cavalry (Stoneman’s) beyond this
place–some say a squadron
but I doubt that number–
    Could not that regiment be
sent to me–they are only
covering the ground I now
go over & are in my way–    

                  Very respectfully
                    A. Pleasonton
                      Brig. Genl

My scouts have gone to Union
& Bloomfield—

MSS 495

[from the diary of Jesse Calvin Spaulding, Co. F., 25th Massachusetts]

Friday
Oct 31
Same as usual this forenoon, Inspect
tion this afternoon.  Finished reading “Pride
and Prejudice” a book which I got. Got news from an
expedition which went from here Saturday, that they
had a skirmish and we also heard cannon-
ading this noon, but dont know what it was.  May God
protect our friends and grant them the
victory if consistent with His will.

MSS 11293

                                            October 31st 1862

Dear Mama,

                         I believe I have written to all
at home since I last wrote to you & I will
drop you a few lines this morning to let you know
that I am well &c. We are now in Clarke County
on the turnpike leading from Charlestown to Berry
ville about 15 miles from Harper’s Ferry.Soon after I
wrote to Nannie our army moved down from Bunker
Hill to a point on the B & O rail-road below Martinsburg
where we remained until we had torn up & burnt
about 25 miles of the railroad track.  The whole
road is,during the war, in possession of the Yankee
Government & whenever we are not in possession
of this part of Virginia, it is of the greatest service
to them; all of their supplies being transported
over this road.  The road is torn up by our Generals
I think, in anticipation of having to fall back from
this section of the country soon.  When the Yankee
Government took the road at commencement
for the War, they it promised the company to place
the road at the end of the War, in the same
condition it was when they took it & to do this now will
cost them an immense sum of money.  After we finished
this job we fell back again to BunkerHill where
we remained two or three days & day before yesterday we
arrived at our present Camp.  The general impression
is that our army is falling back towards Gordonsville

[page 2]
upon the same old lines it held last winter.  There is very
little forage up in this country & I suppose it is too far
from Richmond to transport it.  Our Camp here is
about 3 miles from the Shenandoah river, and apparently
in one of the finest portions of Virginia.  the farms around
here are magnificent & there are a good many very
fine looking country residences.  I went out about
5 miles from Camp yesterday “foraging,” down the river.
I stopped about 2 O’Clock at a beautiful place right
on the bank of the river owned by a man named Lewis.
I went in & bought a peck of magnificent apples
& got one of the best dinners I ever saw.  I met with two
ladies, one rather an elder lady–the other very young &
very pretty, but both married. This morning I met with
Cousin George Carrington; he is in a battery raised in
Charlottesville & commanded by Wm.McD. Carrington
I don’t know what the middle name is, but he is a very
nice young man & is a Halifaxian.  I had a good
long chat with cousin George, but he had little
or no news to tell.  I have never met with Cousin
Wattie: he has not been with the army since the
battle of Cedar Run.  I saw Leigh Robinson a few
days ago; he was was very well.  I suppose you
are still at Uncle Watt.s?  I wrote to aunt Mary
since I wrote to Nannie, but have received a
letter from neither of them yet.  I am very anxious
to hear from you all.  cousin George Carrington
tells me that old Col Bailey is dead.——-

[page 3]
I must now close, mam, for there is really
nothing more to write about.  I have a plenty of
clothing now of every kind & the boys say
I am getting as fat as can be.  When I write
again, I will probably be nearer home &
if we do get down about Gordonsville
this winter I mean to go home anyhow.
Dirct your letters as heretofore “Care
Capt Wm. D. Brown, Chesapeake Artillery
Ewell’s division, Jackson’s army, Win=
chester.”  I have not been stamping my letters
lately, because it is impossible to get any
stamps up here & the mails are too uncertain
to enclose the postage.  Give my best love
to Nannie Bee[?] Cary  & little Hannah & to
Uncle Watt & write immediately to
                                       yr devoted Son
                                       James P. Williams

P.S.  You can send this up to Papa & Aunt
Mary.
           J.P.W.

James Peter Williams, 1844-1893, later a freight agent and last superintendent of the Lynchburg division of the James river and Kanawha Canal Company

MSS 490

   Encamped on the Summit Point & Berryville Road
                             October 31st.  Clark Co Virginia

Friend Wm [McCauley[]
                  Sir, your letter written att Uncle Hikman’s
and kindly carried by cousin Daniel came to hand in due
time and was thankfully received by me and perused with
interest–I was glad to learn that you were enjoying yourself
so well among your friends–I should have liked very much
to share some of those sweets of kind friends with you
but circumstances forbade it–I am sorry that your hand
is not yett well   I had hoped that you would not be troub-
led with it again–As you were homeward bound I
learned that you in company with cousin Annie & Phillip
spent the night at my Father’s–How much I should
liked to meet you there–I supposed ere this you would
have written me a letter, in response to the one I wrote you
while encamped on the Opequon river.  I was quite
unwell from the 21st of Sept. till the 1st Inst.  Since that
time I have been in the enjoyment of good health–
  Our Battery has not been engaged in any fight since the
Battle of Sharpsburg.  Our old Brigade was engaged
in a skirmish on the 1st Inst. Colonel Reynolds
commanding the Brigade was severely wounded–
also major Williams of 5th Va. Regiment–The loss in killed
and wounded are estimated at about thirty–On the
day of the fight our Battery was ordered to unite with

[page 2]
the 1st Regiment of Va. Artillery, commanded by Col.
Brown of Richmond, Lieutenant Colonel–Mr Coleman
late professor of the University of Va.  We are the reserve
Artillery for General Jackson’s Corps–Therfore[sic]  for-
tunately or unfortunately for us as the case may be we es-
caped the fight–The Regiment consists of six compa-
nies–each company has a battery consisting of four pieces-
the guns of the regiment are Howitzers, three inch rifled, and
Parrott guns–Our battery consists of two twenty  Pounder
and two ten Pounder Parrott guns–Tuesday the 28th we left our
camp near Bunkerhill, and on the evening of the same day we
arrived at this place–We have orders to leave this place this even-
ing or int he morning for Snicker’s Ferry–on the Shenandoah
river–Jackson’s entire corps is in the immediate neighborhood
of this camp–I suppose we are going into eastern Virgin-
ia-Everything is quiet-There are a few yankees yet at
Harper’s Ferry–On last Sunday we had a fine ran-
It has been somewhat cool here–also extremely dry-
I saw your brother the other day–He is well and
sends his compliments to you–We received a letter
from you not long since–I received a box of provisions from
home last Monday–Since than our mess has been enjoying camp
life very much–I have nothing more of interest-
give my best regards to Uncle & Aunt and all the rest of the family
Please write soon,   Yours in kindness
                                        David

               Direct yours:
David Link
    Rockbridge Artillery
  1st Virginia Regiment Artillery
        Commanded Col. Brown Command’g
                             Jackson’s Corps
                                  Winchester, Va.

MSS 14953

                                                            Oct. 31st. 1862
                             Brandy Station. Culpeper County   
My Dear Father
                   We fell back three miles – to this place a few
days since, in consequence of our infantry support
being withdrawn =  Georgia regiment – it was ordered to
Richmond – here there is a regiment of Cavalry – Our
pickets extend to the 2d. station this side of Manassas.
A party of Yankees tried to cut off the cars a short
time since but did not succeed & we took 22 prisoners.
     The army news is of some importance if true.
It represents Jackson having gone into Maryl-
and & found no Yanks – hence it is presumed they
have gone to the South – side – At any rate it is true
that General Lee arrived at Culpeper C. H. last
evening – wh: presages, I reckon, the falling back
of his army. I suppose McClellan is preparing for
a late fall if not a winter campaign.
     Mother’s letter of the 20th was received several days
ago. Her plan to have the box at Mck & Duprey’s sent
back home I reckon would be the best. I see no
probability that I can get it soon, if at all. Con-
tinue to direct your letters to Culpeper C. H.
     We are now encamped in a house, on a very large
& fine farm. Owned & occupied by a Mr. Miller until the
war commenced. Formerly the place was quite a
cultivated one I imagine. There are fine falls in the
garden &c. &c. indicating some taste but seem
to have been very much neglected of late years.
James Barbour’s pl residence or his residence before the
war is about one mile from here – quite a handsome
brick building. Nearly all the country here is
open & stuck with grass – Timothy predominating –
f large fields of this is left uncut. The Yankees

[page 2]
not allowing our the citizens to cut it, when they                           
were at home & could procure the means. It is not      
necessary I suppose for me to say that the people
in these counties are as warm & as universally in our
cause as in any other portion of the Confederacy
whatever..
     Wrote to Ms K & Duprey a few days
since for 10 dollars. Separated from our brigade we
have been unable to draw any money for four
months wh: is now owed us by the government.
     An officer has now gone to Winchester to day &
draw it for us. He is a expected back in a few
days. We have had some quite heavy frosts
but to day it is quite warm. We are camped on
a hill with a full view of the mountains & would
have a beautiful view but for the eye sore of
yankee devastation.
     It is now a little over one year since I entered
the army & a sad expe-rience it has proved. The diffi-
culties & inconveniences are not regarded when they are once
over – but the sad feelings & sights will never be for-
gotten or as the Rev D. C. Harrison said those bloody cuts were
too deep. &c.&c. He said in one of his last letters that
he was always cheerful but never felt anything
like gaiety of spirits & then assigned the above reasons.
     I see no prospect whatever of a termination of the
war for some time. A young man in our
company received yesterday a letter from his brother
in New York City – He sais [says] that in New York there
is as much a civil war as there ever was any where
all but the actual resort to arms. A private letter, re-
ceived, by a northern member, from New Haven repre-
sents a similar state of feeling there. But you know
that I do not hope good from this service. My dearest father
Give my best love to all. Affly yr. son W. H. Perry Jr.

William H. Perry, Richmond Howitzers

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 7786-d

[from the diary of Wesley A. Hammond, Co. E, 42nd Virginia “Dixie Greys”

 Friday 31st. Dr. promised
to take me before the board to day
no board met.  pretty well satisfied
studied a good deal – set up pretty
late looking at moon & stars and
meditating on the wonderful works
of God –

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 5526

[from the dispatch book of General Alfred Pleasonton]
 Hd.Qrs. Cav. Brigade
Purcellville, Oct 31, 4 a.m.

To General Bayard
   Commanding Cavalry
        Philomont–

General-
       I have just recd
a dispatch from Gen.
McClellan’s Hd.Qrs, directing
that no attack be made
upon the enemy at
Snickers Gap until
further orders from those
Hd.Qrs,  I presume these
orders will be communicated
to you–This order renders
my consultation in reference
to a reconnaissance un-
necessary as I am
directer to perform
other duties in the

[page 2]
the same order–
   I am, General, very respectfully
          Your obt Serv’t
                A. Pleasonton
                   Brig General
                   Comdg. Cav. Brigade

MSS 495

Hd.Qrs  Cav Brigade
Purcellville, Oct 31 7.30 a.m.
To General R. B. Marcy
Chief of Staff
Your dispatch o 8 P.M.
rec’d–I sent you word by
signal last night that my
aid found Gen. Bayard
20 miles from here beyond
Aldie, that General Bayard
concur in my views, viz, that
it would not be safe to
move on & leave Snickersville
in the enemies possession–
That he had appointed an
interview nine o’clock
this Morning at Philomont
to plan a attack on
Snickersville–this was
rendered unnecessary by
your dispatch of 10.45 P.m.
desiring no attack
                  to be made

[page 2]
until more troops are on this
side of the Potomac–
  This last request I have
sent to Gen. Bayard for his
information–I have given
him all the knowledge I possess
concerning the enemy–
   He sent me word that
the rebels day before yesterday
had sent 1000 cavalry from
Warrenton to Ashby’s Gap-
but that they went off
from there yesterday.–
   As soon as any infantry
comes up I shall send
towards Ashby & see what
force they have there–
     I am, Very respectfully
            Your obt. Serv’t
               A. Pleasonton
                  Brig. General,
                     comdg &——–

MSS 495

Hd. Qrs. Cav. Brigade
Purcellville, Oct 31, 5. P.M.
To General R.B. Marcy
     Chief of Staff—
My aid-de-camp, that was
sent to Gen. Bayard has
just reported he came upon
Stuarts cavalry, some two
thousand between Philomont
& Aldie. They fired on him
& compelled him to return to
Philomont–they came in
from Union–Did not see
any guns–It is said
Stuarts designs going to
Middleburg by the way of
Aldie–My Aid reports
considerable picket firing
about Aldie on the pike–
This is Bayards force–
they have met–I shall
not probably be able to
communicate with Bayard

[page 2]
but will use every exertion
to push after Stuart if I
find out his direction in time–
    Some infantry ought
to move up & occupy this
place in case I leave–
Another Horse Battery would
be of service out there also
    This is I suspect a
move on the part of Stuart
to divert attention from
the movement of their
army which I think
is [?]
            Very respectfully
              A. Pleasonton-
               Brig. Genl

MSS 495

Hd. Qrs. Cav. Brigade
Purcellville, Oct 31, 8. 30 P.M.
To General R.B. Marcy-
     Chief of Staff—

General–
   My scouts are just in
from the Mountain north of
Snickersville–they succeeded
in reaching the top & had
a view of the Shenandoah-
large camps were on this
side of the river on the Snicker
Gap road —  the signal
station has been taken
away from the mountain–
    They heard the rumble
of artillery in the Gap–
    From several sources
I hear there is about
6000 men in the Gap.

[page 2]
all accounts agree that
cavalry infantry is necessary
to take possession of this
Gap–the road up the
mountain north of the Gap
will require work–

            I am, General very respect
         fully
              A. Pleasonton-
               Brig. Genl

MSS 495