1861 September 1 Camp Fairfax [Virginia]

My dear Ma;
As I c’d not get my letter off yesterday I will
write a little more to you this morning just to let you know what I’ve
been doing since my return to camp. We were excused from all drills
Friday as ^‘we’ were so much fatigued. We were reviewed Friday evenin^'g'
by Gen. Longstreet & staff & Gen. Elzy. Perhaps I ought not to tell tales out
of school, but can hardly help speaking of old Elzy, he was so drunk
on dress parde review that he c'd hardly set on his horse & just before he
got to the ground I saw him have a tremendous fall from his horse; he gets
drunk nearly every day now, I wish we c'd get rid of him.

We had inspection yesterday & Battalion drill & dress parade in
the evening; a letter ^'to Col Hill' was read on dress parade from Col Stuart compli-
menting us very much for our conduct at Munson's hill. We heard yes-
terday that they had been skirmishing near Minson's ever since we left.

There seems to be a general movement among with the troops now, they've
moved up higher from about Centeville, Fairfax CH & all around here. I w'dn't
be surprised at our moving at any time, but we w'd not move very far
I know...I was very sorry I did n't see Uncle James. We miss Wm.
Russel very much, used to see a great deal of him. I wish Pa c’d get
over to see us, a good many citizens have been here lately, but I reckon
all of them had business….the box by Granville Mason[?] came saf
safely, the birth cake was very nice & I am very much obliged for it.

My best love to Ada & thank her for the nice present she sent me.
Thank Sister for them…..Tell Sister & Miss Daisy that we passed Falls
Church, & I saw their Bro. Reid’s church & the people there told Henry Chiles

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that Reid was a notorious rascal & he is now at the North..
Bro Jno. received a letter from Sister Page yesterday written Wednesday.
We’ve not had the yesterday’s mail, but will get it this morning.
Henry Chiles say’s he got the worth of some of y’r money in Reid’s church,
for it sheltered him from the rain one night, Henry says the count^‘r’y
about Falls Church is not quite as poor as Mr. Reed said it was, for it is a
better country than Louisa. I must now stop so as to get this in the
mail in time. Excuse all mistakes & bad writing. All are well. Our best
love to all at home & every body at Louisa CH, to Nancy & Co.
Your devoted & most aff. son
Edloe

P. S. Please have Pen’s & my old hats sent by the first opportunity, & some
some soap. Best love to Cap. Murray & tell him we are get[t]ing on finely &
can still beat anything on the ground drilling. Let me hear from Joe
Brooks when ever you can; I feel very unea^‘s’y about him.
Ed

General Arnold Elzey, 1816-1871, a veteran of both the Seminole campaign and the Mexican War, had recently been promoted brigadier by Jefferson Davis on the field at First Manassas. He distinguished himself in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862 and the Seven Days at Richmond where he was severely wounded. Upon recovering he was promoted to Major General and given command of Dept. of Richmond where he organized a local defense brigade of government clerks.
[Cpl. William J. Brooks, discharged 5/22/61 “for unsoundness of body”.]

MSS 13407