Augusta County: Philip H. Powers to [?], May 4, 1864
Summary:
Powers describes recent troop movements and despairs of the deaths and
casualties around him.
[No name]
Wednesday May 4 1864
My letter had hardly reached the office and I was lying down suffering with neuralgia, when I heard the Genl's clear voice say "pack up." I knew what was coming and [illeg.] as I was got up and went to work. we moved this afternoon some five mile towards Fredericksburg. And are in camp by the road side. I am hardly able to march but I hate to be absent at such a time and do not wish to go to the Hospital, so I will struggle on - hoping the neuralgia will leave me tomorrow - I will sleep in a house to night. The Whole Army is in motion and the great battle will soon begin. There are [illeg.] notes [illeg.] which I will [illeg.] down as I can and send you for a letter. Good night -
Thursday-- I have had a bad day. My love-- Such a terrible pain in my eye.
We moved about fifteen miles closer down ... battle had commenced on our left
with Ewells Corps. His firing was terrific but [illeg.] Stuart told me a
while ago that the old wooden leg soldier with his veterans whipped the 4th
Yankee Corps badly - Capturing 2000 prisoners and 4 [illeg.] -- our loss
heavy. Genl. Jones (from Charlottesville) and Genl. Stafford killed. Also poor
William Randolph was [illeg.] [illeg.] [illeg.] of the 2nd Va. The
Regt. [illeg.] to lose its commanding officers. Randolph was just wounded
last week. I saw him & his wife at John Ballords. They were in fine
spirits. He remarked that he thought bad luck had run with the regt. long
enough. He thought it would
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change and he escape. God, not
luck, [unclear: disposer] of our lives. And he [illeg.] poor fellow
- has fallen another martyr to Southern liberty and his young wife, so bright
and happy a few days ago, is today a widow and her unborn baby fatherless. Oh
the dreary [illeg.] hearts that this day has made, and the blacker day
[illeg.] [illeg.] tomorrow! I feel sad and [unclear: wretched]
over it all. My [illeg.] has gotten [illeg.], but my heart grows sick
when I think of the awful scenes around me. Genl. Lee and Genl. Stuart are in
fine spirits. May God give us a victory and [illeg.] this cruel war! This
is a dreary [illeg.] country. Most [unclear: fifty] [illeg.]
sickness for many miles, not a house and not an open field. Nothing but a
wilderness of trees and
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underbrush and marsh and perfectly flat.
We are in a small field by the road side about 2 miles from the city of Battle -
And here are Genl. Lee and Genl Stuart's Hqrs -- and an
infinity of wagons and artillery. But I must try to get a place to
sleep. I am taking Quinine hoping to drive off Neuralgia tomorrow. Have seen
Jim today. Adieau -
Friday morning -- What a din. What an uproar! -- the very heavens seem
filled with sound. And in the midst of it all I sit by the road side and write
to you my dear Thanking God that you do not hear what I hear, nor see what I see
this awful day. The battle recommenced about sun-rise and as I write seems to
be raging
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with intense fury. Oh how my heart sickens as I listen
and think of the untold misery arising from this bloody day. Have you ever
imagined a battle field and its vicinity, the throng of men hurrying to &
fro, the trains of wagons and artillery passing and repassing apparently in
inextricable Confusion. All is bewildering to the spectator. And yet how
strange that one master mind should control all and bring desired results from
this Chaos of War. At intervals there is a perfect Calm, and you might imagine
all over, when suddenly the whole heavens reverberate with the clamor of the
contending hords -
Genl. S. has gone off in fine spirits to lead his Cavalry. May God protect
him this day is my earnest prayer -
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It is now 8 o'clock and the last report from Genl. Lee was that he was
driving the enemy back handsomely. This seems [illeg.] from this sound. The
firing having ceased in the centre - but Ewell is still keeping it up on the
left. Longstreet came up this morning. I think we will whip them and be able
to tell you tonight. My head is much easier today but I feel weak. Jim took
breakfast with us. He managed to have something cooked even on the
[unclear: verge] of the battle field at 5 o'clock. So far as heard from
we have been successful in the day's fight - And the Yankees are falling back.
The fighting has not been as continuous as I expected this morning. No
artillery hardly can be used - But my impression is that the fight will be
renewed tomorrow - in fact
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is not over for today -- firing is
still going on.
I am sorry to tell you Genl. Longstreet was wounded in the shoulder to day - they say by our own men. His wound is not considered dangerous. Genl. Jenkins was killed today and Col. J. Thompson Brown was. A courier is just going off and I send this. The field of battle is between Chancellorsville and Verdeersville in the Wilderness. I write again tomorrow.
Ever yours
P.H. Powers
Excuse my paper
