1861 November 3 Camp near Centreville

My own darling Jennie
We have just passed through one
of the severest storms I ever witnessed. It com-
menced early in the night to rain & blow & contin-
ued through the night & all next day. about two
oclock, I suppose, I found my tent about to go
over & called up Billy & Sink & with their assistance
soon had it righted. i still however had so little
confidence in its stability that I fixed everything
for a blow over & laid down with all my clothes
& shoes on and was soon fast asleep, but after day-
light the cracking of two of the ropes tearing out
awakened me & I was up just in time to see
it go over. I suppose you would have laughed if you
had seen me crawling out. I put it up again
with the assistance of some of the men who
volunteered their aid. The wind being in the
wrong direction I could not have a fire
until night, when I got up a fire, dried all
my clothes, striped off & went to bed to dream
pleasant dreams of my darling [?] wife and
have a delicious sleep--both of which I real-
ized. You say you know I am freezing in
this you are mistaken I really suffer no
inconvenience from either cold or wet, which
a reasonable soldier cant very well endure.
I am myself a little surprised at the little in-
convenience we all suffer. I am geting along re-
markably well with the Regiment I am stricter
in all things than Gibbons, have no favorites
and make all come up to their duty--This mor-
ning I formed the regiment in a Square & faced
them inward and made them a few remarks

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as to what I expected of them. What I said took very
well with men & officers & I hope to have a good
result. I got Betty's clothes & my drawers both
wer[e] the very thing--I had no idea you could
get such nice drawers for me, I really prefer
them to silk or home made flannel. I think
Bettys socks a little too fine & will try & trade
them for a coarser pair--I will never get
my clothes that were in wash at Col Hunters
and I have concluded not to wear linnen
or cotton this winter (as I will scarcely have
enough left--) if you can get flannel enough
to make me two shirts--either brown grey blue
yellow or red or spoted[sic] I dont care what so it
has some color. The first time any one goes
to Richmond you can get it and make them
just like you make a night shirt--except that
it must not be so long & I want the collar to
fasten with two buttons so I can pin button

my collar on it. this is all I will ask for
the winter for my own use. We have quite
a variety of rumours in camp in relation to
anticipated movements on our part & what it
means I cant say but will keep my letter
open to tell you as it is said that what
we do will be done in the next 24 hours

After Supper and after mail, and no letter from
you which disappointed me somewhat. though
I suppose you are so tired after your trip that
you dont feel much like writing yet awhile
I have just ascertained that I will have to
send captain Byrd to Richmond after our co
pany rolls. So Byrd will pass Gordonsville on
Tuesday the same day you get this and I will
speake[sic] to him to get the flannel and instruct

[page 3]
him to leave it at Gordonsville--he will return on
Wednesday or Thursday or possibly not until friday--I
will send by Boyd such articles of summer clothing
as I no longer need to be left at Gordonsville
directed to you--I am inclined to think all the
rumors in regard to the movements of our army en-
tirely groundless. I suppose you will be a little sur-
prised to receive so long a letter at this & my last and
have in them so little about a business, I expect
you will begin to conclude that I am no longer
husband but just at sweet heart writing love[?] letters
for your amusement, well the truth is I do some-
times feel very much like I was only a sweet heart
so far off and never a bit of a chance to go and see
you--If it was not for the visits from you it would
indeed be a very poor sort of normal life and even
with that it doesnt amount to much of a one-for
while here, it was a good deal like visiting ones
sweetheart, only I went to see you of at night and
left in the morning and sweethearts ought to go in
the morning and leave at night--But now alass[sic]
you have gone into winter Quarters with your
command and my only chance to see you will
be to go there myself--I imagine I see you fixed
up "as snug as a bug in a rug" in the old chamber
the little pets climbing around you talking
about Papa and wondering when papa is
coming to see them. And then I imagine I
see my darling siting on the old lounge with
one foot under her & the other shaking--intently
looking in the fire and herself wondering and
thinking when her old man will come & stay &
as she thinks & wonders her other hand is very
buisy pulling the hair out of the top of her head
which is supported by the other hand, now dont

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I [?] you just as well as if I sat by & saw
you--How does [Florence?] stand her long separation
from Ned, I have not seen him since the day I
returned his regiment on picket He seems to be very
well and in very fine spirits with plenty of work to
do. George I have seen once only since his re-
turn. I sent for him to come over to day but he
did not arrive and I am kept too close to go and
see him. I tell you commanding a regiment
is a very different thing from simply being a Lt
Coln You are kept in the lookout all the time
yet by promptly attending to everything at the time
and exacting promptness from staff & Co officers I
get on pretty well. I tell you I make Tom Byrd
hop. I would not be surprised if I make a pretty
fair Qr Master out of B-yet- As for Tom he is a
first rate officer but had been spoilt by indulgence
and was really surprised when I required him
to do things himself and not tell others, but he fell
into his former mode of doing things very readily

give my love to all my darling kiss my pets
and do you write to me as often as you can
most affectionately yours
E T H Warren

Abraham Samuels Byrd, Captain, Quartermaster, 10th Virginia Infantry.

[annotation by John P. Mann IV]
7787-g