The Virginia in the Civil War Message Board

1st Confederate Account of Lee's Mill, Va

Camp Near Malone's Crossing,
July, 30th, 1864.

My Dear Sister: I received your letter yesterday, which was not dated. I noticed, however, that it was mailed on the 21st.

As I know how eager you all must be for news concerning the regiment, I will proceed at once to give you an account of its movements for the last two days.

Evening before last General Butler sent around an order stating that the Fourth and Fifth regiments would hold themselves in readiness to march yesterday morning at one o'clock, which order was obeyed, and the two regiments started off, taking with them all the wagons of the brigade. Every one all this time was quite curious to know where they were to go, and what was going to transpire. In a short time it was found out that Major Melton, brigade quartermaster, had bought from a gentleman in the enemy's lines 45,000 pounds of oats, and fodder, and fifty beef cattle, which it was intended the command should bring off. The whole affair proved an entire success, as the command, after going four miles into the enemy's lines, brought off everything without firing a gun.

When on the return to camp, and when every one thought all was quiet, a courier came dashing up with orders for the Fourth and Fifth to go to the relief of the Sixth regiment, which was on picket at a place called Lee's Mills, as the enemy had in force attacked; the courier also reported that two squadrons of the Sixth had been captured. The Fourth and Fifth, of course, started at full speed for Lee's Mills, the Fourth in front, and my squadron in front of the regiment. After going a short distance, much to the surprise of all, the advanced guard commenced a tremendous firing of small arms, and the order was at once given to dismount to fight. In a few minutes the firing became general, and in a short time the Yankees were in full retreat. It seems that this force of the enemy was a heavy reconnoitering party, which accounts for no one knowing that they were there. My squadron was the only one that suffered any loss. I had in my company one man (W. H. McDonald) severely wounded in the leg, and one horse killed; in my junior company Lieutenant Weatherby seriously wounded, one man killed, and two wounded. Our two regiments, after driving the enemy some distance, heard that the Yankees had also fallen back from Lee's Mills, consequently they returned to camp.

The Sixth regiment was driven back some distance and lost heavily in officers and men. The report of the two squadrons being captured has not yet been denied, but I think it must be a mistake. Hampton's Division is the only cavalry on this side of the James River, all the rest crossed to the north side four days ago.

The cannonading at Petersburg yesterday morning was the most severe I ever heard; it far exceeded anything I ever heard at Charleston. The enemy undermined Captain Pegram's battery, the works where two of our South Carolina companies were stationed—which two I do not know—and blew up the whole concern, amounting to about two hundred feet, of ground. Poor General Stephen Elliott is mortally wounded, and Colonel Fleming, of the Twenty-second regiment, is killed. We drove the enemy back some distance, and captured a number of prisoners.

Wilson has recovered and returned to camp from the Huguenot hospital, where I left him. He is a little thin, but is quite well.

Tell father I sent a list of the casualties of my company to the Keowee Courier, and as I did not know how much money to send, I wrote to the editor to send the bill to him, and will be much obliged if he will settle it for me.

Tell mother please to make me two more shirts out of some thin and strong cloth, as the two she made out of the yellow cloth are almost gone. She will have a good opportunity of sending them to me by my men, who are going home after horses. "Don and Sheriff" are not looking so well for the last three or four days, as they have been getting but little to eat.
Love to all.

Your affectionate brother,

From Butler and His Cavalry pp. 293-294