1861 October 5 Camp of the 13th Virginia Regt. Fairfax Station

My dear Pa: -
I write amid the confu-
sion incident to “marching orders” and
have time for but a line. We have
just recd. orders to pack up and
send back to Manassa[s] everything
not absolutely necessary for us to
have – the sick of the army have
all been sent back and every-
thing portends an important move
of some sort. But what that move
is, where we are going or when
we are in the most profound ig-
norance. We may be on the eve
of a great battle here, but the
best information I can gather is
that we are to go to Aquia
Creek either to defend the
batteries there or to cross over
into Maryland. Or it may be
after all a false alarm and
we may quietly settle down in
camp here again. of course
we ^‘you’ will be all anxiety to hear
from us for the next few days
but you must not make yrself
unnecessarily uneasy – dont believe

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the thousands of reports that you will
hear. And above all let our friends
try and exercise a calm and quiet
trust in the “God of battles” that He will
guide & protect us and bring us out un-
scathed even though we be called on to
stand a hail of iron. We shall do our
duty fearlessly if called to meet the
foe. The old 13th will give a good
account of his^‘it’self and old Louisa
shall not be ashamed of her
sons. We will go forth in the strength
of the Lord of hosts who has so
signally preserved us thus far
and will hope for the best. As to
the result of the battle, if we
shd have one, I have not the
shadow of a doubt. We shd
beat them were they as count-
less as the hosts of Xerxes. Ed begun
a letter but had not time to finish.
We will not move until the morning
and he may write tonight. I must
close – our best love to all.
Continue to direct yr letters here
& they will be forwarded to us.
God bless & watch between us all.
Yr. most aff. son
J. Wm. Jones
“


MSS 13407