The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-04-11
WAR LETTERS OF THOMAS
 CAFFEY--DEA7H OF LOMAX
Montgomery Volunteer Writing Home Tells of the Deadly Fight at Seven Pines and the Montgomerians Who
 Were Killed.
Were KfNod.

Thomas carsy. the author of the .ac-' yempanying War Letters" was q mem Der of. the we'll known Alabama fam py of that name, He was practising Jaw In Montgomery when the great yAte he went to the front win the Metropolitan Guards. Montgomery company. The published letters were written from the front to members or 'his family in Alabama Preserved py them all these years they are noS pub 1ished. ~
 VII.
 Drury.s Biuff. four piles south of Rich
 Mond. May 27th. 1862.
 Dear Mary--I wrote William few days ago and as have chance 10 send to Petersburg today VIII write you few lines. I expect you all are anxious to hear as often as possible from this part of the world. and every opportunity have I will write to some member of the family. Since have been here the Yankees have advanced to . point seven miles from the city of Richmond and I have no doubt but 0ae of the greatest battles eyer fought on this continent will come on in very short time. On Saturday last a. considerable fight came off some three miles from us on the opposite bank of James River. in which am informed We were defeated with loss of 500 men killed. find it impossible to get particulars as the papers have as little to say as possible, but I am afraid the affair is more serious than rumor has at. The Yankees I am informed are now at a place called Mechanicsville, which is only three and a half miles from Richmond. and I am afraid If something is not done soon to give them a check or defeat that they VIII soon occupy the capital of the Confed- eracy.
 while am now writing can hear ehe sound of cannon some miles away to our left on the other side of James River. and I have no doubt battle IS being fought by Generals Mcclellan and Johnston. As we are on the ex- treme right of the army we will. I imagine. take no part in the fight unr less the Yankees make movement on Petersburg, which I apprehend they will not do if they fall taking the city If Richmond. I hope and believe we will give them defeat heres that VIII dispose the minds of the people of the North to make peace and convince them of the utter iknpossibility of sub suratinr the South. The 4th and 9th Alabama Regiments are only three miles from us. but I have not yet seen John and Hugh Caffey. but l intend crossing the river tomorrow Tor that purpose. Some of the boys belonging to the above named regiments visited us yesterday and from them learned our kinfolks were all we'll They are fin the brigade of General Longstreet and we are under General Malone, ana if these commanders ever lead their respective brigades into battle you wtli hear a good account of them.
 I hear nothing from Beauregard, put hope he is prepared td give the fan- kees such reception as they will not fancy much.
 When Norfolk was evacuated lost all my clothing and blankets. and as we had a heavy frost last night l felt the loss very sensibiy. I hope to DC able to replace them soon.
 am in very good health now. have been. improving ever since came to Virginia, and am now about as stout as ever was in my life. Hooper and the rest of the boys are all well. When you write direct to Petersburg. Va, 10 care of Captain Phelan. Love to all. win write again in few days. What has become of Wfihamf
 Thomas. SIo TO O HE BOUGHT TO-DAY.
 Near Richmond. Va.
 May si, 1862. Dear Mary:
 think a battle will be fought to- day. General Mahone's Brigade, com posed of the 3rd Alabama. the 12th, the 9th and the fist Virginia Regiments. have orders to march and open the att tack on the enemy some four or i've miles distant. We have an awful amount of sickness in camp. in conse- 0uence of having to lie in the open air. Last night and yesterday evening 1t orHa all of us were completely drenched. The company to which I belong num- bers ninety eight privates and forty eight are all that are reported for duty this morning. Flux and diarrhoea are doing their work among us, especially among new recruits: John Fierce we left about fourten miles from our pres ent position on the Petersburg and Richmond Railroad. Hub is in the hos pitai here. Will write again soon Direct your letter to Richmond.
 Your brother,
 Thomas. P. &. Hoop and While are we'll. . TX.
 Near Richmond. Va.
 June 3. 1SS2. Dear Mary:
 I wrote Ma a few hours after the late battle at this place and promised to give more details as early as possi- ble, which I now proceed to do and on Yankee paper at hat. On the 2Sth inst. an order was sent to General Malone to move his brigade from Drury's Bluff to Richmond. which he proceeded to do the same night. We reached this city the next morning and went into camp about four miles below the city. On Sunday morning we re- ceived orders to move and proceeded to a point five miles from our camp and ten minutes after our arrival were led into action.
 tell you that language fails to ex> press the horrors of battle. and I, fov one. am satisfied never to see another think that all will agree that the fight was one of the most desperate ot the war and the list of killed and