Letter from Gen. McRae to his wife, dated April 22, 1862:
I expect the conscription act is creating quite a stir in White making many men old and many men boys again. It is a good law. Can’t you make my age out to be thirty five? Or is it thirty three?

Letter from Gen. McRae to his wife, dated July 11, 1862:
Many of the men are deserting. The men now in the service are nothing to be compared to the regular volunteers.