1861 July 8 [no place recorded]

My dear Lute:

Your long letter was recd. some days ago & I was
truly glad to hear from you as I shall always be so long as
I am blessed with feelings to appreciate a Sisters tender love;
You folks at home can scarcely picture in imagination the
eagerness with wh we look forward to the arrival of mail & the
delightful pleasure we have upon reception of communication
from home. Your letter was a long while reaching me but it
was a real treat to receive it and I assure of my dear ap-
preciation of its merits. We have once more reached Winchester
after a tramp of 18 miles. Helen Louthan & Miss Mary came
up to see us on Tuesday the second instant and we boys were in
the act of enjoying their company and a nice dinner which they
brought with them when we recd. orders to pack up all our bag-
gage and get ready for marching with our blankets only to be
carried with us. Helen had to cut short her visit and in a
few moments after some running & hurrying all were ready
to march, we knew not where. Henry Chiles was left to take care
of the sick, our tents, baggage, &c. The night on the road was a
grand one – there were sixteen regiments on the march and with
the cannons, horses, wagons, harness, &c, the scene was impos-
ing. We marched about seven miles in short while as we had
recd. some information that lead us to believe we wd. march
into Martinsburg upon Genl Patterson [---]
eager for an engagement with the hirelings[?] who have dared
to invade the land & home of the patriot chieftains
of Mt. Vernon. It was decided by the authorities to encamp
for the night at that point; soon our usual supper was
provided[?] and all were fixing for the nights sojourn;
Garnett, John, Ed and I, spread down our oil clothes, wh we had
taken care to carry with our blankets, and for my part
I enjoyed the nights sleep & was only roused by the call to
[page ripped] at two o clock; and here I will [-] on that

[page 2]
this meal was supper & breakfast together and I was mista-
ken in what I said above. Wednesday we marched quickly to
within 6 miles of Martinsburg, to Darksville [West Va.] – a small
village on the road; our fellows did not mind this much
at all & cd. easily have gone to Martinsburg, had it been
thought advisable to do so. Here we all were anticipating a
fight as there had been an engagement between the federal &
Confederate forces on Monday evening before (of wh you have proba-
bly seen an account) in which there was a vastly superior
force on the side of the federalists; we took 47 prisoners and
killed a great many – more than a hundred it is estimated –
On Saturday our superiors were informed by scouts that the En-
emy had taken down their tents and late in the day there was
an engagement between 20 cavalry on our side & 40 of the
enemy in wh. we took 2 prisoners and killed two while none
on our side were the least injured. From this it was thought
that the Enemy certainly were advancing upon us. Our men
were indulging in quiet nap after dinner but in a short
while all were ready with cheerful hearts and anticipation
of great success the force was drawn up in a magnificent
position for a battle and Johnston is said to have remarked
in selecting it that it was about the best in Virginia, our
regiment was placed on the left of the right wing; the few
[not able to read words in crease] our possession was placed in ad-
vantageous positions & those on the left were masked
by shocks of oats and no one wd. have imagined that there
were pieces there. We waited impatiently for the enemy,
Col. Hill rode past his regiment front and rear, was pleased
with his inspection & remarked “you’ll do boys”.
Genl Johnston rode past the entire line and you never
heard such cheering in all yr’ life; he said that all
of us were in good spirits. But plague the Yankees, after
all our preparations, all our endeavors to [page torn]

[page 3]
coase[?], or persuade them into an engagement, to use
as popular phrases, “nary” Yankees came, except some
poor fellows who had been taken prisoners. The line
was broken and the several companies reluctantly march-
ed to their respective quarters. Early next morning we
were called out and an order came from Genl. Johnston
to the effect that having offered battle to the [-] Ene-
my for four days although they were vastly superior in
numbers, the sacrifice of gentlemen patriots – would
be too great, therefore we wd resume our former quarters.
We marched up here, the distance of 18 miles, resting only
a short while on the roads – the regiment walked too slow
for me and I came on in advance, reached Winchester
three hours before them & called on Mrs. Murray at the
“Taylor House”. Was very [rest of line too worn to read]
her & delighted to see a face from old Louisa. We recd. letters
from home just as we were in the line of battle
at Darksville. I found out when our Regiment was
in sight, informed Mrs. M. & she went on the Hotel porch
to see them. I then met our boys & suggested that we shd.
cheer when we passed the Hotel – When opposite the
porch we gave enthusiastic cheers – Mrs. M was sick
somewhat and is still complaining but nothing [serio-]
us I trust. We were glad to receive the boxes of eat[-].
Some of the bread in one box was moulded very slightly
with wh. exception every thing was nice & highly accept-
able in camp; they will last us some time and I will
mention that I am chief cook for our family [-]
& the boxes will save us some trouble for a while. I am
a splendid cook unless the boys flatter me very much.
Some things in the other boxes were also spoiled, ch[-]
& bread. Our tent will fare sumptuously for a while
[The last line on the page is too torn to read.]

[page 4]
I commenced with the intention of writing a longer
letter, with detailed accounts of my life from a
diary which I have kept since I reached here, But
my letter can be sent to day possibly by Mr. Loomb[-]
and I am compelled to [-] as it is already
nearly time for the stage to leave for Strasburg,
I send the face of an old soldier with his guns wh.
I hope may please you & frequently call to mind
the recollection of an old acquaintance.

Give my love to everybody. I wish I cd. see them
all but am not homesick; wish I had time over
here to write to all of them but this is a
poor place for letter writing – I have been wanting
to write to Miss Lute Payne and will first
[Cannot read words in crease here.] we remain here any
length of time. Excuse penmanship &c and
write to me soon. We are all well; our compan-
ies getting on well; some sick in hospital yet.
[W]e occupy second position of honor in the regt.
[-] on the left. All write us much love
Very Affly Yr. Bro.
Pendleton. [Jones]
P.S. Don’t forget to remember me kindly to Miss
Harris[?] and other female “critters”.

MSS 13407