1861 Sep[tember] 13 Camp "Blair"

Don't be alarmed my darling at the caption
of my letter the camp is not changed only
the name--heretofore we have had no regu-
lar name, but by a sort of common consent
it has been called after the station by an or-
der published to day it has been named "Blair"
after a distinguished officer of that name. Our
regiment has at least begun to observe a
little the appearance of decency--the men
have received their pay and good clothes, all
grey begin to appear. I forgot in my let
ter mailed this morning to thank you for your
prompt attention to the bees --I would cer-
tainly appropriate a few frames out of the
old hive--but you must put empty ones
in their places--wish I was there to help
you take & eat them. You will all enjoy
it I know & I hope now the bees, in re-
membering that it is the result of my
own attention--I expect you will all have
a good word to say of me every time you
eat it. when you see Stephen I suppose
he will have a great deal to talk about
& many complaints, but it dont matter about

[page 2]
his complaints I dont expect him to do much
more than make both ends meet--He ought to
have abut 2000 feet of inch plank to make
pens & other conveniences at the farm--For in-
stance he must have a shed for his horses a
pen for the hogs--& a sort of temporary place
for his corn &c but you & he together can
best tell what he needs.

I promised to say something about your
coming down to see me--I want you to come
bad enough but not just now I mean
not for 10 days or two weeks yet to come
and I will tell you why--I am not very
much in the habit of saying much about
what is before us--but am now so well sat
isfied that a great movement is about to be
made that I will not hesitate to express
my opinion to you-what is to be done
or how we are to do it I cant say--but
it is true that our troops have nearly all
been advanced Beaureguard has taken up
his HdQuarters at the Court House, large
amounts of ammunition have been moved
down--The enimy too is active--the last
night in removal of "[ ? ]" they were
in motion a greater portion of the night
probably, our movement is only to meet
and oppose any movement he may make

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and possibly the enimy is only moving to meet
an anticipated movement by us. Another thing I
dont understand why we are sent down so near
the Yankey lines with so small a force and
then put in a position where we can so very
easily be surrounded, unless it is to offer such
inducements as will lead them to make anoth
er attack on us out side of their intrenchments
and thereby bring on another grand engage-
ment--I dont know & dont understand it at all
I am only satisfied from what I have seen, that
inactivity is no longer either our policy or
that of the enimy--we have got to fight another
great battle before winter sets in --both sides
are after it & know it will come on--and both
are now maneuvering their troops to get the
advantage & such watching the other & by the
way we too have a great baloon here & I am
told everything ready to send it up when
we see proper. and in view of all this I think
you had better say nothing about a visit for
a fortnight at least, and if no movement
is made in that time then come down as soon
as I say ready for you--In view of the fact
that our brigade has since the battle of ma
nas[sas] occupied an advanced position and
have all the time been not only on the post
of danger but really made frequent forced marches

[page 4]
to get there and while there drew extra duty
of the most dangerous sort--I am inclined to
think we will not have much to do with
the next fight--Besides this place is not

now the most important depot for supplies
and will require no small force to guard
it & in being here will likely be left
to do the work we have been doing at this
point. If this be true & I will be able to
know whether it is or not in the next
ten days you will have a pleasant
time visiting me at this place.

I will send this up by Capt Kennys
boy Azak--If he can take it I will
also send an empty box with a bucket
in it--and you can send me on monday
by Azak a bucket of butter & a few to-
matoes in the bargain. Billy Madison
got to camp last night & called to see
me this morning. Billy is now pre-
paring a breakfast for him--He left
his wife & two children in Texas. He
showed me a likeness of his wife
I told him she was almost as pretty
as my wife, but looks much older
I did not tell him the last. write
soon. Love to all
affectionately
E T H Warren

Capt Kenny is James Kenney, Captain of Co. B, of the 10th Virginia Infantry [John P. Mann, IV]

MSS 7786-g