1861 June 1 Manassas Junc.

Camp Pickens
My dear little Nannie:
I reply at once to your third
sweet letter (dated 31st ulto) which has just been
handed me on my return from a visit to three
Yankee prisonor prisoners & two horses captured
last night by our men in a little fight at
Fairfax Court House, some twelve or fifteen miles
east of this – It is reported here that about
85 well armed Lincolnites on horse back attacked
about 30 of our Riflemen at the above named
place in the night & that after three desperate
charges on the part of the foe they ^ ‘(the four)’ were re-
pulsed leaving the abovenamed three prisoners, six
horses, with several guns & pistols in our hands
it is said that they gathered up their dead and
wounded behind them & made a precipitate
retreat – We have nothing to deplore but the
death of the gallant Capt. Marr & the fact
that the Prince William Cavalry were not

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no condition to extend and in which event
we could have captured the whole party –
I send you in this a hair from tail of one
of the captured horses & would like very well
to have been permitted by the sentinels over
the Yankee miserable looking prisoners to
have plucked from their heads a similar
something to send you – They look dirty
& lie together on the ground with hats over
their faces pretending to sleep; turning about
occasionly without looking up – I regret to have
to confess that I feel no pity for them – I have
not yet seen Genl. Beauregard who is reported to
have arrived here in the last hour –

Our Battery has not yet been attached to
any particular command – as I stated in my last
we went five miles up the country with Col
Kershaws Regiment to meet a foe not there & I
will not be displeased if we are attached per-
-manently to his command – It is not always
the case that Batteries open a fight; but usually
so when the ground will allow it –

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I have not yet seen Mr Doby – I am very
much obliged to the Mr. Mrs. & Misses Rutherfoord
for the kindness extended to you & hope some
day to be able to be kind to them – The people
of Richmond need not feel alarm for we will
be able to drive back the Lincolnites if no more
than two to one advances towards that, this or
any other place – I am truly sorry to hear
of the continued illness of your Aunty – Mr Canty
of Camden was in our tent to day & spoke very
kindly of her your Mother & your Aunt Catherine.
Clark occasionally gets a letter from home where
all are reported as well &c – I get the Lynchburg
Republican regularly – The Home Guard & Rifle
Greys are still here – I wish you could be here
with us – I know you would enjoy it & feel less
care on my account – The troops began to day
to throw up breastworks & I am surprised to
see how expeditiously they work – New troops
arrive every day -
Our horses are becoming accustomed

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to the Battery drill & we have an advantage
in drivers over the Howitzers –

I can think of nothing more just
now – I will try to write every day – I write
now on one of our Caisons out doors under
a cloud that I hope will send rain to
settle the dust & cool the atmosphere –

I always write too hurriedly, when
surrounded by confusion & you must not
take these pencil scrawls as a fair sample
of my writing -

Kiss Lizzie for me & tender my love
to your Aunty wil and my kindest regards
to your Uncle -

You know my love for you & it is
hardly necessary therefore to subscribe myself
Very affectionately & devotedly
Your own
“Choctaw”
Confederate artillery captain William King of Lynchburg, Va., to his wife Annie K. Leftwich King.

Captain Marr was John Quincy Marr, 17th Va. Inf.
Col Kershaw was Joseph Brevard Kershaw, Colonel of the 2nd South Carolina Regt.
MSS 6682