1862 January 1 Camp Winder, Caroline Co. Va.

My Darling Wife –
I have been expecting a letter from
you for the last week, but every day has brought noth-
ing but disappointment – no letter. It has been written
I doubt not, but stopped somewhere on the way. I have
not heard from you since the battle. Since then we have
had a quiet time and everything looks like rest for some
time to come. The men are fixing up their shanties for the
winter. They seem happy and contented. It is sad to look
back on the year just closed. We have suffered much –
Many good men have gone to their long home. Our
loss has been 1220 in killed and wounded, more men
than we could turn out for a fight today. Out of the
fifteen field officers elected last spring five have [been] killed
and six others wounded, leaving only four that have
escaped unhurt. In these losses are many whom we were
always accustomed to regard as our best men. I published
today an order naming our camp, which gives some
facts of our history and I send you a copy of it.
How are matters at home? In the excitement of active work
I have too much to do to harass myself with idle dreams of
home, but now we are at rest I cannot keep my
mind from it. I feel there is nothing which I would
not give to be with you for an hour or a day.

[page 2]
I could have gone home and have spent a couple of
weeks when I received my appointment before taking
command. But I really thought the brigade was sadly in
need of a commander and that it was my duty to stay.
Now I am fined and must apply for a leave just
as any private in the ranks. I know it would not
improve my standing in the army , with my superior
officers to ask for a leave, but still I feel very much
tempted to do it. If the snow falls deep and we have
such severe weather as to preclude the possibility
of active work, my home sick malady may get the
better of me. I would like to see you, Mathew, Gala and the baby
have the children forgotten me – it seems so long since
I saw them.
Just here an officer calls who says he comes upon the
disagreeable duty of placing me in arrest, by order of
Gen Taliaferro, who regards a communication which
I sent him to-day as very disrespectful. Very good there
is a small chunk of a row to be settled, which I shall
do in that calm spirit of which becomes the man
who means to vindicate himself and his conduct.
He says my communication was disrespectful – I say it was
not and cannot possibly be so construed by any intell-
igent and disinterested officer. I feel sure that I have
done nothing at which my worst enemy could find cause

[page 3]
for complaint. An arrest for some causes would be a serious
affair, but in a matter such as this it is trifling to me.
The offence of Genl Taliaferro in abusing his power as my
surperiour officer I think he will find in the opinion
of all disinterested gentlemen is a much graver offence
than any I have committed. I wish him no harm
however, and I shall do nothing more in the matter
than what I ^ ‘may’ think after calm and mature reflection
ought to be done. Do not give yourself any anxiety about [it]
as there is nothing in it to involve either my character
as an officer or a gentlemen. The difficulty arose about
a sealed communication from Lt. Pritchard Judge Advocate
of the Court Martial in session [as ?] by brigade, which
was addressed to Gen Chilton Adjutant to Genl Lee
and sent by me to Genl Taliaferro to be forwarded
to its destination. It was returned to me opened
with an endorsement that it did not comply with
the army regulations as endorsing and forwarding
it, I replied that as Lt Pritchard was on detached
service I did not think his communication to Genl
Lee was in any way under my control or that
of Genl Taliaferro: and that [word lined out] as he had taken the
liberty of breaking the seal, and returning the paper
it would be sent to its destination through some
other channel. Perhaps he differs with me upon

[page 4]
the point and thinks I meant to be offensive. So much for this piece of news.
I want you to write to me oftener. Let me know the state of
matters at home and on the farm. How much corn did you
have after fattening your pork? What is the prospect of getting
your wheat ground soon so as to get [rest of line illegible]
for feeding the stock this winter and saving your
corn. Have you succeeded in getting a horse? What
amount of plowing have you been able to do?
What arrangements have you made in hiring hands
I wrote to Wm White to buy 1000 pounds of pork
for you. Did he get it? What amount of clover
seed did you make? Let me know and I will make
provision to get what may be needed to sow the
wheat land. I hope that May get [got?] married and bring
you a good neighbour.
Now darling I will bid you good night. My eyes
you will think are improving as I am able to write
four pages by candlelight. Give my love to
dear little Matthew and Gala and a kiss
to little Frank. I hope they have not forgotten me [This is first time the baby is referred to by name.]
For yourself Darling accept all the love a
fond husband can offer – Write often
Ever Yours
E. F. Paxton
[The above letter is a photostatic copy, not an original. It does not appear in Civil War
Letters of General Frank “Bull” Paxton.]