1862 March 19 Mount Jackson, Va.

Mount Jackson March 19 1862
My Darling Wife –
We left our encampment near
Strasburg last Saturday and reached this place
on Monday, where appearances indicate that
we are settled in peace and quiet for awhile.
There is some skirmishing between our pickets
and those of the enemy about 20 miles from
here, but I believe the enemy have not left
Winchester in any force, and I imagine will
not until the roads and weather will ad-
mit of any advance on the other side of the
mountain against Johnston.
The time passes very dull with me as I have
nothing to do, the Colonel and Lieut Col of the
regiment both being here and doing
what little there is to be done.
Some days ago I met with your sister Mar-
tha who had come down to the Camp
to see Mr Williamson. She was much
alarmed at the expected approach of
the enemy & in doubt what to do. My
advice to her was to remain at home
if they came, letting every thing there go on
as usual. They would take such of her
property as they needed but I believe would
do no further injury. Their policy so far
as I can learn has been in Winchester
and the counties which they occupy to
conciliate the people. I doubt not it will

[page 2]
be their policy everywhere. I am glad they
indicate their purpose to carry on the War
upon the principles of civilized warfare, as it
exempts the women and children left at home
by our soldiers from the savage barbarities of their
vengeances. If the fate of war brings my own
home within their lines, it will be some consol-
ation to know that you my darling wife and
dear dear little children are not subject
to insult and injury at the hands of the invaders.
Whilst their occupancy of the country may
exclude from the the [sic] fond letters of a loving
wife giving the glad news that all are well
at home, which is now my greatest source
of happiness, I shall be comforted by the hope
and belief that they are left to enjoy uninter-
rupted the necessary comforts of life.
Whilst it is a sad thought to give up ones
home to the enemy, with many of us it is
destined to be a necessity, which will con-
tribute more than all other causes to the
ultimate achievement of our independence.
It is utterly impossible to defend every section
Just here Love, I will change the subject to say that
whilst writing I have received your letter of the 15th
inst. I am sorry to hear you have been unwell, but
hope you many soon recover. We may never meet again
as you say Love. We know nothing of the future but I
trust the day of our final separation is far distant. The
obituaries which I find in the paper from home
reminds me that those die who remain at home

[page 3]
as well as those who have joined the army. Of the
1000 who have left our county for the army I suppose
not more than fifty have died from disease or battle
Nearly as large a proportion of those at home I expect
have died . Life is uncertain everywhere, Love, and
you should not infer from my being in the army
that you and I may not see much of life together
yet. I am glad I cant turn aside the dark vail [veil]
which covers the future and look at the good and
evil in store for me.
I am sorry that Gala had the luck to break the likeness
but glad that I have a place in the dear little fellows
memory and that he wanted to see his papa
I am glad too to learn that you have found in little
Mary Fitzgerald a Post Office messenger and that you
can get the papers and my letters without sending
one of the hands and stopping work on the farm for
the purpose. I have written heretofore so that my
letters would reach you on Sunday when you went
in to church, but now I can write at any time
I felt gratified to learn that Fitz was exempt
from the militia draft although it was selfish
and unpatriotic as he would make a good sol-
dier. I am very anxious that you should be com-
fortable and contented, at home, and as he is
so faithful and industrious I am sure he
will be of great service to you, and that you
will feel much safer from his being there.
It is very important you should have your
corn ground ready for planting by the middle
of April, which I suppose you will not be able
to do unless you hire more then one horse

[page 4]
I enclose a note to S. F. Jordan requesting him
to let you have three mules, which make a plough
team. If you think there will be any difficulty
about getting the ground ploughed in time
you can send to him for them. If you concluded
to get them you should do so at once as he
will probably be unable to spare them in
a few weeks. The sooner the corn is planted
the better you will be able to get it worked
with your small force.
And now as I have some matters requi-
ring my attention this evening I will bid you
good-bye and bring my letter to a close
Give a kiss to dear little boys for me
& for yourself accept m best love
Ever Yours
E F Paxton

Elisha Frank "Bull" Paxton, was a University of Virginia alumnus and Confederate general; commanded the 27th Virginia Infantry and later the 1st "Stonewall" Brigade at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 2165