Family correspondence – Williams Carter Wickham (1820-1888) with his wife, Lucy Penn Taylor Wickham (1830-1913) and young children, 1861 November-December

Wickham writes a very detailed letter about the detrimental effects of fighting the Civil War on their own home soil, his dinner with General Cocke, whose ardor for the war has cooled considerably, the wasting of their best resources in an unnatural strife, and the devastation wrought by both occupying armies (November 3, 1861); and mention of Colonel Robertson and General Stuart (November 7, 13, and 29, 1861). Writing from Camp Frontier after an absence of three days, he describes a plan for a force of nine companies of cavalry and three regiments of infantry, all under General Stuart, to cut off an enemy encampment near Alexandria, but this was prevented by the arrival of more Federal forces in the area near Pohick Church and describes his activities as a member of the scouting party (November 13, 1861); furnishes a description of his strategy when in new territory (November 21, 1861); shares his belief that the Yankees will advance along the Evansport line, chiefly by water, but with a land force on the telegraph road, otherwise believes that they will go into winter quarters (November 24, 1861); and repeats a report from Mr. Porcher [of South Carolina?] that some of the coloured people had been shot by the Confederates and that some of the people offered to work on the entrenchments for the Yankees for pay (November 28, 1861). Wickham is still waiting for word on any advancement against the enemy and a describes the Federal forces arrayed against Virginia (December 4, 1861); Wickham shares his wish to command a full regiment of cavalry if he cannot have his first preference to be at home with Lucy, his shock at hearing about the death of Mr. [Cooke?] and his efforts to secure a furlough for Church to go home for the funeral (December 14, 1861).