More letters of Hugh exist regarding the battles of that year. His last letter to his father was dated August 24, 1862, from the Banks of the Rappahannock.
My dear father,
You are al no doubt anxious to hear from T and myself. We have not had another battle though there has been some sharp skirmishing, and the roar of artillery has been almost incessant for several days past. We have moved some distance up the banks of the Rappahannock each day, halting occasionally to throw shells at the enemy and receive some from them. ......General Stuart has just captured 300 prisoners, destroyed a large number of Yankee wagons, bringing off the horses, and found the trunks of General Pope and thirt other officers at a railroad station. ......T. is now behind the Army, sick with jaundice. He is able to go about and I have just heard that he is with a citizen making his way toward Gordonsville. He has the surgeon's permission. I deeply regret that I did not see him again and furnish him with more money before he left. He must be transferred to the Cavalry because he cannot stand the Infantry service.
The order has just come to cook 3 days rations, and it is probable that we shall move forward in the morning but no one knows.
This has been very little like the Sabbath....The busy preparations for tomorrow prevent any enjoyment of the Sabbath. However, Dr. Stiles is to preach to the Brigade this afternoon, and I hope to hear him. It requires a great struggle to keep the busy scenes around me from driving all devotion from my heart. They ought to have a contrary effect. I ought now more than ever seek my strength, my happiness, my allin God. How can I live without Him? With Him no storm can disturb my peace, no danger can come nigh, no harm can befall me which will not do me good.
I feel greatly relieved at T's absence. I hope he may not return until the shock of battle I see approaching is past. ....God will give us victory, and enable us to crush the infamous man who now leads "The Grand Army of the Glorious Union." When Lincoln presides, with Halleck as Military Chief at Washington and Pope is the first commander in the field - how can they triumph over our leaders who are as distinguished for their piety as they are for their bravery and skill?
I send you three hundred dollars. Of this I wish you appropriate one hundred dollars for T's outfit for the Calvary, one hundred be held subject to my order, and one hundred as a donation to the Confederate States Bible Society and our Committee for the publication of religious tracts and Books.
Give my warmest love to all at home. You are constantly in my mind, firmly engraved upon my heart. Write when you can to your devoted son.
Hugh
On August 25th, 1862, Captain Hugh White's company was part of the 27,000 man army that Jackson led in a great semi-circle west to the Shenandoah Valley and then east through Manassas Gap and on to Bristow Station and Manassas Junction, a two day march of over 50 miles. The stage was set for the second great battle of Manassas. There was hard fighting August 27th and 28th. But the real battle began on August 29th. On that day, the 4th Virginia Infantry was able to pur in line only 180 men, 76 of whom became casualties. Colonel W.T. Poague in his memoirs tells of attending a prayer meeting that evening which was led by Captain Hugh White. The next day, August 30th, 1862, there were 21 more casualties in the 4th Virginia, including that of Captain Hugh Augustus White. The battle was a victory for the Confederate forces. But, as reported by Dr. James Robertson who wrote a history of the 4th Virginia Infantry, "The western Virginia regiments never fully recovered from a bitterly contested struggle."
Here is a letter from General Stonewall Jackson to Dr. W. S. White, father of three sons fighting for the Confederacy but moreso, fighting for freedom from oppression. Dr. White was the pastor at the Lexington Presbyterian Church where Stonewall Jackson had met him and they had become friends. Both men were concerned with the state of mens' souls as well as with the state of the war in which they found themselves. General Jackson, for one thing, was involved with Dr. White in the establishment of Sunday schools for "colored" children. (the language of the time). One letter is from a soldier who reports Jackson - in the heat of battle preparations - rode up beside him and commented on these Sunday Schools with good hopes of their continuance and effect.
Below is a snippet from General Jackson's letter to Dr. W.S. White, dated March 9, 1863.
My Dear Pastor,
Your letter of the 5th inst. was handed me yesterday. I am much obliged to you for it and thankful to God and to yourself for the deep interest you take in the Army. I felt that if you were a young man that you would delight to labor in the Army. Though your health will not admit of such constant labor yet I trust that you will find it convenient to come and preach a few sermons. I do not feel that I can accurately express by letter the inducements that exist for Christian labor among our troops. If you could come and spenda few days and see for yourself, I believe that good would be accomplished not only by our labors here but by the impressions which you would carry away.
(the next section is about General Jackson seeking more Ministers of the Gospel to be sent to his Army. Evidently Dr. White wanted Gen. Jackson to so state publicly his desires but the General was hesitant because, "This I shrink from doing because it looks like presumption in me to come before the general public and even intimate what course I think should be pursued by the church (people of God). I have had so little experience in church matters as to make it very proper it appears to me to keep quiet beyond the expression of my views to friends. Whilst I feel that this is the proper course for me to pursue and the one which is congenial to my feelings, yet if you and Col. Preston after prayerful consultation are of the opinion that my name in connection with my wishes will be the means of doing good, I do not desire any sensibility that I may have to be a drawback in the way of doing good. I desire myself and all that I have to be dedicated to the service of God. .....
My views are summed up in a few words which are these. Each Christian branch of the church should send into the Army some of its most prominent ministers who are distinguished for their piety, talents, and zeal and that such ministers should labor to produce concert of action among Chaplains and Christians in the Army. These ministers should give special attention to preaching to regiments which are wihout chaplains, and induce them to take steps to get chaplains, to let the regiments name the denominations from which they desire chaplains selected and trhen to see that suitable chaplains are secured.A bad selection of a chaplain may prove a curse instead of a blessing. If a few prominent ministers thus connected with each Army would corially cooperate, I believe that glorious fruits would be the results.......I would like to see no question asked in the Army as to what denomination a chaplain belongs; but let the question be does he preach the Gospel. The neglect of the spiritual interests in the Army may be partially seen from the fact that not half of my regiment have chaplains. .....Give my love to Mrs. White ......
Very truly yours,
Your friend,
T.J. Jackson