Hd Qrs in the Saddle
May 9th 1862
My Darling
Wife –
Blessed be God
that giveth us the victory.
The battle of
Wmsburg was fought and won on the 5th. A glorious affair, brilliantly achieved by the rear portion
(Longstreet’s) of our army. On the 4th
My Brigade distinguished itself, and on the 5th by its attitude, and
maneuvering under constant fire prevented the enemy’s leaving the woods for the
open ground, thus narrowing his artillery scope of fire. I consider the most brilliant feat of the 5th
to be a dash of the Stuart Horse Artillery to the front, and coming suddenly
under a galling fire of the enemy from the woods from a reinforcement of the
enemy, wheeled into action sustaining in the most brilliant manner the fortunes
of the day till the Infy could come to its support, and all the time under a
continuous Infy fire of 200 yards or less distance. For myself I have only to say that if you had seen your
husband you would have been proud of him.
I was not out of fire the whole day.
The day before (4th) the Cavalry made several charges, and
Lawrence Williams told the bearer of a flag of truce that I came within an ace
of capturing my father-in-law. Our
cavalry charged their cavalry handsomely and were they were entirely
routed. Their artillery captured, the
Cavy flag of the enemy was captured but the 4th Va cavy
lost its standard-bearer & flag.
Col Wickham was
wounded on 4th and Major Paine, severly wounded on the 5th. Robertson is sick in Richmond. The Floyd County Militia in Pelham’s battery
behaved in the handsomest style astounding every one beyond measure. I only got them as I passed through Richmond. The 3 Va Cavalry (Col Goode) is now in my
Brigade and made a handsome charge. We
were without rations & therefore had to withdraw that night from the field,
leaving our wounded with the ladies at Wmsburg – the enemy was driven from the
field entirely. God bless you.
Yours
J.E.B.Stuart