1861 October 21 Camp near Centreville

My darling wife

I received your letter this Evening an-
nouncing your safe arrival in H[arrison] B[urg] I am
very sorry to learn that you are in so much
distress and more pained at the cause of
it and am sorry to say that it is now
entirely impossible for me to leave the ar-
my even for a half day, which you will
readily perceive in time when I tell you
the facts as they are now presented to me
It is now well understood among our
Generals that in the next ten days the
fate of our confederacy is to be settled by
the issue of probably the greatest battle ever
fought. what I stat I get directly from
army head quarters & therefore know it to
be reliable--I explained to you either in my
letter to you or [?] the position of our
army. It is a very strong one & well concentra
ted. Our generals are Reliably informed
that the Enemy are advancing in full
force both on the front from Centreville
to Union Mills and against our left, which
Rests beyond Cub Run on the Warrenton
turnpike--with the intention of making
the great fight against our left. We
are of course fully prepared to meet them
but ultimate success depends on our
being prepared to make a protracted &
bloody fight. Our Generals will meet
them with the full idea that they come
prepared or they think to conquer overcome us--but Relying

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on the desperate courage of men fighting for
their homes & their wives & children & trusting in
that God who has never forsaken us they con-
sequently expect a victory--which they are pre
paring to make so complete that it will ter-
minate the war. This must occur within
the next ten days, probably in less time,
for the Column under Banks is now crossing
the Potomac--10 000 men have advanced from
Arlington to Drainsville and yesterday & today
have been forcing back Genl Evans command
which remained in the direction of Leesburg
as an advanced Guard--we have heard their
fireing distinctly--Thus you will perceive
that now is no time for me to be absent
from my Regiment and Especially as Gibbons
is sick--But as soon as the fight is over
if I survive it, I Expect no difficulty in
getting a short leave of absence--but if I
perish then I can only leave to the pro-
tection of our merciful Father my poor
wife & helpless little babies. My heart bleeds
when I thnik of your helpless situation and
can only hope & pray for the best. As Genl
Elzie[sic] remarked to me yesterday Evening "we
must never think of ought but victory--must
fight desperately & to the last & Hope for the
best." On the eve of a great
battle like the one now anticipated we cant
help but think of those so dear to & so de-
pendent on us. Many are in a worse
situation than mine--Some much better--My
impression is that if I were at home I could
in a short time pay off all debts & have $2000

[E. T. H. Warren, 10th Virginia]
[remainder of letter missing]
MSS 7786-g