1861 June 20

My dear Ma;
We are all well in camp at this
time and continue to be well satisfied.
I have become fully initiated into camp life
and am really well pleased with it;
hope I may continue to like it as well.
There is little news with us and this life begins
to assume with me a monotonous appearance
always accompanying a system of regula-
tion and order. To vary the routine there was
a false alarm in camp last night & every
fellow thought that the Yankees were ap-
proaching. The rumor was started by a fright-
ened sentinel and in a few moments all hands
were ready, equipped, and anxious for a fight –
The orders were to get ready and sleep on arms;
our family was ready in the shortest notice
and Ed like an old & experienced soldier was
fast asleep in five minutes saying beforehand
that he had seen something of the sort before.

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The novelty was exciting to me and it was some
time before I slumbered; I was not the least fright=
ened and would have gone out cheerfully if
necessary. All the men sent to take the bridge
I spoke of in my last returned safely yesterday
with one exception, a wounded fellow; the wound
was very slight and he is fast recovering.
Our company was not ordered out on the expedi-
tion but two members of it, Virgil Carroll and
Fendol Chiles, went with the other men independ-
ently. We have become very well fixed in our
quarters at this place and are very much
pleased with the situation. Only one of our
men have been sick and he with a subject
disease, rheumatism. Henry Chiles left
the Hospital at Winchester when we came from
that place and has nearly if not quite recov-
ered from his spell.
We will march from this place early tomorrow
towards Winchester; rec.d [received] the notice this after-
noon; expect to reach Winchester by Sun-
day at dinner time. I conjecture that we


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will join Genl. Johnson’s forces in the direct-
ion of Martinsburg; our regiment is under
his command. It seems really discour-
aging & senseless for us to have marched
way up here, remained three days, and now
to go directly back without having accom-
plished more. The men are all anxious
to push forward towards Wheeling or
some point farther north; for my part
I am as well satisfied stationed or march-
ing anywhere or in any direction as I cd.
be under any circumstances. We are
all ready and waiting for a fight
whenever the fanatics on the other side
may see fit to approach us; our men
are in fine health and good spirits,
feel confident of the justice of the cause
we are here to maintain by force of
arms. Be not uneasy about your
soldier sons, dear ma; but trust to Prov-
idence for our protection and wel-
fare. It is dark now and I must

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close quickly to get this in the
mail. Inform Garrett’s friends
of our removal as also other friends
of our boys – With much love to
you and hopes of a speedy term-
ination of our difficulties and a
happy reunion with you all,
I remain
Your Aff. Son
F. Pendleton Jones.





We will write again in a day or two Henry C & the others are very well.

MSS 13407