1861 Nov[ember] 22 Cavalry Camp, near Leesburg

(Private)

My dear Eugene [Davis]

Your letter of the 20th inst.
received this morning informing me that
you were rapidly improving, gave me pecu=
liar gratification, as I had just this morning
been told by a gentleman just from Charlottes-
ville, that he understood you were "very low", and
I was very uneasy about you. I had been in-
tending to write for a long time to Euginie how
you were getting on, but my unfortunate and
hereditary tendency to procrastination in such
matters has prevented me hitherto. I do earnestly
pray that your health & live, always precious to
your friends, and now, peculiarly valuable
to your country, may be spared & restored.

And now, as to the matter of your res=
ignation. You may remember, that, when at
Manassas, the first open demonstration of the
Troop's dissatisfaction with you, was made that
I told you that whatever should be your course
in reference to it, I would as long as I could
conscientiously stand by you, and then, when

[page 2]
after conference with your friends, you
determined not to accede to the request
then made of you by the Troop, I and your
other Officers, with the lights then before us, acknow=
ledged the propriety of your course, and assured
you of our purpose to stand by you, and to sup=
port your rightful authority. But in addition,
and privately, I told you, that whatever your fate
shd. be in commission with that matter, I would
share it. If you resigned, I would likewise. That
after all that had passed, I would not con=
sent, should you see fit thereafter to resign in
consequence of the ill-feeling of the Troop towards
you, to occupy the position of your probable suc=
cessor, under such circumstances. This I
have since repeated, while I was in Albemarle
to Staige, I believe, and others, our mutual friends
with whom I conferred with respect to your
position & relations with the Troop. This is still
my feelings. But I understand from your
letter, that your failing health and the uncer=
tainty of your being able to undergo the hard=
ship & exposure, incident to this service, are
the immediate cause of your resignation.
Now, I will say to you, with the utmost frank=

[page 3]
ness, that I don not covet the responsi=
bilities & cares of a command; but at
the same time, I wish to do what I
may to serve the Country, and of course
would prefer to do so, enjoying the advantage
of an official position, if it comes along
in the right way. If I am not mistaken
then, in my understanding of your letter, I
do not conceive, that I should be doing
violence to our lifelong friendship, not com=
promising my own character as an honor=
able men, in abiding as I am, and accept-
ing the Captaincy, should it be the pleasure
of the Troop to confer it on me. If, however
I have misunderstood you, I hope and
believe you will say so, and I can shape
my course accordingly. You will of course
notify me of the acceptance of your res=
ignation, as an election cannot be had till
that is done.

Tom Randolph before he dropped a-
sleep desired me to give his love, and say he
was much gratified to hear of your improving
health. Geiger is at home on furlough, but will
return Monday. Ford cordially writes with
Randolph in the expression of his sentiments.

[page 4]
Most of the Troop are generally absent on picket.
The duty is right hard as we have a long line
to guard and not sufficient force to do it
with ease. There are Five Troops in this
Brigade. Two of them are posted at Waterford
seven miles from Leesburg & the pickets connect
with Ashby's at Harper's Ferry. All these troops
except Mead's Loudoun Cavalry, are from our
Regt. Ours, Graves', Alexander's & Blackford's
Until two or three days ago we were under command
of Lt. Col. Jenifer, a very gallant gentleman and the
real hero of the battle of Leesburg. But Munford
has been sent to take command. Jenifer is
made full Colonel and is ordered to Floyd
which thing he hates, as he is very busy courting
hereabouts. Miss Carry Mason being the
charmer.--Our sick boys are slowly coming
in. But I forget you are weak & weary you.
Give my love to your Mother & all dear
friends.

May God bless & preserve you dear
Eugene.
Ever your friend,
F.E.G. Carr

F. E. G. Carr, 1st Lieut, Co. K, (the Albemarle Light Horse) 2nd Virginia Cavalry

Eugene Davis, 1822-1894, Captain, Co. K, 2nd Virginia Cavalry
Thomas J. Randolph, 2nd Lieut., Co. K, 2nd Virginia Cavalry
George H. Geiger, 3rd Lieut, Co. K, 2nd Virginia Cavalry
Charles Henry Ford, 1st Sergeant, Co. K, 2nd Virginia Cavalry
Thomas Taylor Munford,1831-1916, Lt. Colonel, 2nd Virginia Cavalry
Walter H. Jenifer, Colonel, 8th Virginia Cavalry

MSS 7690-h