1861 September 17 Camp Blair

My dear Ma;
I do n’t feel very much like
writing this evening but will try to write a short letter at least.
Pen gave all of you a full acct. of our last trip to Munson’s
Hill in his letter to Lute, so I will not have much news to give.
We had a right rough time of it the first day & night, but had a very
pleasant time the balance of the week. We had to whip the Yankees
out of Lewensville the first day & then go right on picket that night
[This is actually “Lewinsville”. Edloe spells it correctly on his page two.]
in the rain; you never saw such a mad set of fellows in your life
as we were the night we went on picket in the rain, we could have
almost skin[n]ed old Major Terrel[Terrill], he certainly treated us very badly,
& I hope we may never go under his command again. We were all delight=
ed when Col [James A.] Walker took charge of us, he has gotten well
though looks rightbadly yet. It is real[l]y amusing to hear our pickets talking with
the Yankee pickets, our nearest pickets would holl say Bull
Run, to the Yankees, which made them very mad & they would always
shoot at our boys whenever they would say Bull Run or cheer for Davis.
The Yankee pickets are in sight of our line, but ^‘not’ near enough
to be damaged much by our balls, & they have breastworks at
every post & don’t show themselves much. The evening we left
David Magruder was badly wounded; he with some others, (some of
our Co.) were trying to creep upon some Yankees who were on post
when he was shot; it was a very foolish & dangerous thing & it
is a wonder more of them were not shot. I am afraid Davy’s
wound will prove fatal, his Father came here last night, he went
to Falls Church this morning to see him. I never intend to
creep upon a Yankee on his post, (unless I am ordered) because

[page 2]
nothing can be gained by it & it is very dangerous & then I don’t
think it is exactly right……I don’t think we will have to go to
Munson’s anymore directly, for Uncle Phil Ashby told me that his
(Longstreet’s) Brigade w’d move near Munson’s to remain permanently.
Gen. Johnston has He[a]dQuarters right near us, he is only
a mile, on the road to Fairfax CH. Two or three Regts. have moved
near us in the last week. Fairfax Station has become a very
busy place, another depot & two bakeries have been put up recently,
I don’t think they have commenced using the latter yet…..
We expect to be reviewed this evening, if the weather don’t prevent,
by Gen. Johnston. Generals J Johnston & Longstreet have both
complimented our regiment very highly for the se^‘r’vice rendered at
Lewinsville, their compliments to us will be published I reckon.
Bro. John has written a piece for the Dispatch, giving an
account of our trip, it will be out in a few days. I suppose
you’ve seen the Federal account of the fight. We’ve heard something
about a fight between Floyd & Rosencrantz, but do not know
whether it is true or not….We’ve had a hard rain, but it is
clear now. Yr letter was received while we were at Munson ‘s.
I am very sorry to hear of so much sickness about [word lined out] ^‘home’
feel right uneasy about the baby. My love to all & tell her not ^ to’ get
impatient to get up, remind her of my being in bed with the
same disease four months & tell her not to eat too much. I was very
glad to hear from Joe. Brooks…… Tell Jess[?] Porter he must
weigh his boy over again, I am sure the scales were wrong, for
he wrote Cap. Murray word that it weighed nineteen pounds…
My best love to all at home, Aunt Cynthia’s, all of my friends
& accept a large share for yrself. I will add some more
to this tomorrow. Excuse all mistakes, bad writing &c. I will
write again soon. Yr devoted & most aff son
P. E. Jones.
[page 3]
Wednesday morning
Dear Ma;
As there is no drill this morning before
breakfast, I will write a little more. We’ve been excused from five
oclock drill, don’t have but two drills a day now; company drill at
eight & Batallion drill at five P. M, dress parade at six. We did n’t
have the review we expected to have had yesterday, may have this
morning or evening. Our compliments were read out yesterday on dress par=
ade, we are all get[t]ing proud of our Regt, call it the “Bloody” 13th….Festus
Cowherd is adjutant now……..I heard from Will Ashby a few days
ago, he was better, did n’t think he had Fever. Jimmie Pettus is better this
morning, I am in hopes that he will not have Fever, others are better….
Henry Chiles told me to tell you that he tried his best to go home this
time, he went to Manassa[s] a few days ago with some sick men, but
could not get off, the sick men started yesterday. I was sure that Henry
w’d get off, wish he could have gone. we expect Dock back in a few
days, miss the old fellow right much, as well as Jess. Porter.
Pen is on guard today, will be relieved this evening. Pretty’s senten^‘ce’
was read out on dress parade yesterday, it was very severe, his com=
mission is to be taken away for a month, he is to forfeit one month’s
pay & be reprimanded by Col. Hill in presence of the Regt……..
I heard from Magruder this mo^‘r’ning, he was a little better, is not
able to be moved home…….I have given you all the news I can
think of just now, so I must bring my letter to a close. My next letter
shall be to Lin Kent. I am real[l]y ashamed of myself for not an=
swering Miss Daisy’s highly appreciated letter, but know she will
not think anything of it. Tell Joe I will answer his letter soon,
but he must not wait for me to answer write. I commenced this yester=
day, but & it is now about one oclock & I’ve not finished it yet, I’ve
been inter[r]upted so often…….I’ve just finished a glorious

[page 4]
camp dinner, had chicken soup, potatoes, tomatoes, buttermilk
&c &c….We do n’t need anything now. When you send us boxes, don’t
be we would rather have potatoes & such things than cake, we know it
would be more convenient to you….Bro. John will write in a few
days. Garret spent sends love to all. We expect letters from home
tomorrow. All of us are well. Henry is ailing with a boil on
his leg. Pen & Bro. Jno. unite in love to all – best love
to Nancy &c P[lease] Kiss all of my baby friends. Your fond son
Edloe.
Mrs. A. P. Jones. Fairfax station
Louisa CH.

MSS 13407
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