Gordonsville, May 11th 1863
Mr. Mc Cauley
Dear Sir,
After leaving Salem I spent two days in Lynchburg then came on to the place but learning that it would be decidedly "billious" to go home went to Stauton met the command and next day came back to this place and finally succeeded in getting home where I found my friend "cooling down" from the great excitement produced by the Yankees. You have no doubt learned the of the raid - which was indeed a very bold affair - but accomplished very little with respect to Public affairs. Privately however they did a great deal. Bacon corn horses & negroes suffered and utter desolation with respect to that species of property is seen in their tract Happily only six of them came to my Father and after abusing him for some time threatening his life if he did not tell them where his horses were hid, finally proceeded to break open his Meat House but fortunately our pickets came up and captured every one and gave them a free ride to Richmond. I visited the Battlefield at Chancellorsville yesterday. They commenced fighting at a place called the Wilderness (an old hotel 16 miles from Fredericksburg - on the turnpike from the latter place to Orange CH. Gen. Jackson succeeded in getting between the
enemy and the Rapid River and
drove them down the Turnpike 5 miles to
Chancellorsville. Constant fighting was
kept up until 12 o'clock on Sunday night
& commenced early again Sunday mor
ning. I don't think I ever witnessed such
destruction to wood, and it almost a
miraculous that any of our men escaped
who were stationed in their range west of
their fortifications (which they constructed
in one night). but fortunately four Brigades
belonging to Longstreet Corps. having attacked
from the south side forced them from
their position forced them back toward
Elies Ford in that movement our Soldier
charged them both from Jacksons &
Longstreets corps and slaughtered them
by thousands. Longstreet himself was
not present. The immortal Jackson was
badly wounded by our own men as you
have no doubt heard and fears are entertain
ed that he will not live. he is at Guineas
Depot. reported to have Pneuomnia, which
if true, I fear will be fatal.
Many Yankees were unburied yesterday
the detail made by the Yankees seemed
to be very lazy. at least they do not
display as much energy in intering
their dead as they do in throwing up
fortifications - which they do with remar
kable rapidly. The loss estimated
on our sides is put at ten thousand, that
of the enemy at thirty thousand. all told
killed missing & wounded. It is probable
that the estimate of the enemy is
too high. About ten thousand missing ...