1862 March 13 Strasburg, Va.

Strasburg March 13, 1862
My Darling Wife –
I doubt not you have heard of many bloody
battles actual and anticipated about Winchester for the last few days
and if you credited every flying rumour have been somewhat
apprehensive of my safety. You will then I doubt [not] be surprised
to hear that we have had no fight – none killed except perhaps
one or two of our cavalry pickets – none captured except some
50-70 who stayed behind in Winchester, many of them I doubt not
wishing to be taken. Twice since my last letter we have had reason
to expect an engagement – Last friday evening the long roll always a signal
for battle was sounded and the regiment formed under arms. We marched
out and took our position and remained there for a day but the
enemy did not come up. On Monday Tuesday evening the long roll was
beaten again and we took our position. The enemy having ad-
vanced his whole force within two or three miles of us we remained
there until dark but were not attacked. Then we moved back
five miles on the pike and this yesterday morning came to this place. Here
we are and what next? Will we continue our retreat or fight?
No one knows. Jackson always shows fight and hence we never
know what he means. Don’t suffer yourself to be alarmed by
any rumours which you read or hear. So soon as we have an
engagement if I get out of it I will write to you enclosing the
letter to your father & requesting him to send it out to you
immediately. So soon as we have an engagement every body will be
writing letters and I doubt not your father will send you immediately
any reliable news which may come.

[page 2]
The militia I see from the papers are called out and John
Fitzgerald will have to go. Give him the shot gun to take with him.
I don’t know what you ought to do to supply his place. Consult
with your father and do what you think best. You can leave
the place and go to town if you do not feel safe there. Your
happiness, Love, I value and wish to secure above every thing
else. The Gentleman by whom I send this is leaving and I
cannot write more. Good bye dearest Ever Yours E F Paxton

[The above letter is in Civil War Letters of General Frank “Bull” Paxton, but with a few omissions. It is signed as above and not “Love, Frank” as stated in the book.]

Elisha Frank "Bull" Paxton, University of Virginia alumnus and Confederate general; commanded the 7th Virginia Infantry, and later the 1st "Stonewall" Brigade at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.

[Transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6154