A large number of letters from Henry Clay Deshields to his wife can be found online as part of the Library of Virginia's Legacy 150 Project (Sesquicentennial). Deshields served as Quartermaster of the 40th Virginia and beginning in 1862 for Colonel Brockenbrough's brigade (with the rank of Major). Although most of the content is family oriented, Deshields mentions his duties occasionally. On 5 April 1863 he writes that the quartermasters were busy preparing for an active campaign by buying horses and mules, repairing wagons, getting clothing for the soldiers, paying them, and sending back extra baggage. On 2 May 1863 he was arranging for ambulance and ordnance trains to follow the troops, while the baggage trains went to the rear. He was temporarily made the division's Chief Quartermaster, but was soon back with the brigade going into the Gettysburg campaign. On the retreat, Yankee cavalry captured seven of his brigade's wagons including drivers and teams, probably at South Mountain on the night of 4/5 July 1863, and he mentions the loss of about 20 teamsters at Williamsport in the "teamster's battle." His remaining wagons made it across the rising Potomac river but their contents were soaked. Detailed accounts by Quartermasters are not common, making this set of letters valuable. Deshields writes well; he attended the University of Virginia for at least a time around 1850. He was born on 11 April 1832.