Thomas J. Goree to S.W. Goree, July 23, 1861
[Goree Family Papers MSS.]
Centreville Va July 23d 1861.
My dearest Mother,
Ere you receive this you
will no doubt hear of the great battle fought
and victory won by us on the 21st Inst.
And it will be but natural that you feel a
great anxiety to know if I came safely out
of it. Although a considerable portion of
the time, I was exposed to a very heavy fire
of shell and grape, I am happy to inform
you that I did not receive a scratch.
But to be honest, I will say that I was
pretty badly frightened. And it was time
to be when you could constantly see men
being killed and wounded in but a few paces
of where I was. I wrote you on the 20th of
the fight on Thursday, also what disposition
I had made of myself. We fully expected
an attack all day on Saturday the 20th,
but the day passed off without any.
Early however on the morning of the 21st,
we were awaked by the rattling of the Enemy
artillery wagons. We saddled as soon as
possible and placed our Brigade in position.
We had hardly done so before they com-
menced throwing their infernal shells
at us. Every thing indicated that the
main attack was to be made against
Genl Longstreet. And we were fully pre-
pared for them, but it seems that they
had seen enough of him on the 18th.
We soon saw that the demonstration against
us was only a feint and that the main
attack would be made at some other
point. And so it was. While they were using
their artillery against Genl Jones, Genl
Longstreet and Genl Bonham, the main
body of their forces were moving
against Genl Cocke 4 or 5 miles above.
They wished to keep us in apprehension
of an attack, so as to prevent reinforce-
ments going above. We could hear
the fight (which lasted 8 long hours)
going on above and were anxious to be
in it, but were afraid to leave our
positions. Genl Longstreet solicited
and received once, permission to advance
an attack the Enemy in their rear and
to take the batteries which were pouring
shell and grape into us all day, but
before he crossed his men, the order was
countermanded. If this had been done
[remainder of letter is missing]
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