1861 July 24 Fairfax Station [Virginia]

My darling Jennie

Yesterday evening our Regiment & Col
Hills moved forward to this place the
Balt[imore] & Tennessee having gone before as
far as Fairfax Ct House--I am well
& hearty & expect to Remain here a day
or two collecting arms ammunition &
prisoners left by the Enimy[sic]--The rout
of the dogs is worse than I thought
they ran back in great disorder &
confusion leaving everything on the
Road at Fairfax Ct House they were
met by reinforcements who tried to
get them to return but they swore
they would not again fight the Rebels
that they could not be whiped[sic] & it was
no use to try it--they cursed Lincoln
Scott & the entire administration--And
they in turn cursed the men for run-
ing Great confusion we learn prevails
in Washington--A large number of their
field & Brigade officers were killed & wound-
ed & those that surrendered ran disgracefully
We learn that they estimate their loss at

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over 2000 killed & wounded. It is I believe
the greatest victory on record and
the beauty of it is that our brigade
won it--and Davis & Beauregard both
acknowledged it by promoting Col
Elzy[sic] our Brigade commander The
Yankeys say when we charged them
with our peculiar yell they thought
us over 120 000 men & ran
but not until they gave us a heavy
fire of 15 minutes which at intervals
was repeated I have not seen any
of the boys since the fight

Yours
E. T. H. Warren

Maryland born Arnold Elzey Jones, 1816-1871, a West Point graduate and veteran of the Seminole and Mexican wars, was in command of the arsenal at Augusta, Ga., and promptly turned it over to the Confederate government before traveling north to join the southern forces at Manassas where he commanded the 1st Maryland Infantry.

"Our peculiar yell," i.e. the famous rebel yell

In July 1861, General Elzey's Brigade consisted of the 1st Maryland Infantry, 3rd Tennessee Infantry, and the 10th and 13th Virginia Infantry regiments. The 1st Maryland was often referred to as "Baltimore" and one of the slogans used at the time, both in a serious and derogatory tone, was "Go it, Baltimore."

Col. Hills would be the 13th Virginia Infantry [John P. Mann IV]

MSS 7786-g