1862 March 24 Camp near Rappahannock River

Camp Near Rappahck River
Monday March 24” 1862
My own darling Jennie
I am going to write you a letter
but have not much hope of your an-
swering it at an early day. we are
still at the old place with not
much prospect of an early depar-
ture. Genl Elzey is as mad as
he can be about it and will
do everything in his power to get
his brigade moved to Orange. our
regiment returned yesterday. they
have had a bad time of it. Col
Gibbons & many of the men are
sick. they report that none of
the enimy [sic] are at Centreville all
having gone back to Fairfax
Ct House. Our men are still
at work pulling up the rail
road. I am glad to be able to

[page 2]
report myself in first rate
health I found on my return
that Dr Taylor had fixed up
my tent fly in first rate
style & he & I have been occu
pying it in considerable com
fort. I hope John Kenney
got my horse. I look for
him to day certain. How
is little Jennie doing. I have
not heard a line or word
from you since my return
I conclude that you are all
doing well or else I would
certainly hear from you. You
must not be uneasy about me
I am doing very well and dont
expose myself at all. I am like
Genl Elzey a good deal freted [sic]
at being detained here while the
the [sic] whole army is within eight
miles of my wife & children
but I submit & wait with as

[page 3]
much patience as I can muster
up for better luck & better times.
When you write try & let me
know how Dr Moffett is doing.
George is with his company as
a guard at Brandy Station
I saw him as I came down
well & in fine spirits.
Just been to see Genl Elzey and
heard from him that our Genl Sibley
had taken 3500 federals with all
their guns &c in New Mexico. this
is a fair offset to Ronoake [sic] Island
& Fort Henry. I also learned
that McClelland [sic] is no longer the
commander of the Federal army
if true this in indeed good news
the first is official. We are going
to send a man to Culpeper to day
for some things for our men and
he may have to go to Gordonsville
I will therefore send this by him
Oh My if I could only see our

[page 4]
regiment on the march to
Orange. But as Bettie Keenon
used to say – there is a better
day coming. Our Bivouac has
a lively appearance to day – the
men are busy washing & cleaning
up some are playing barber &
shaving & cutting hair, some dry-
ing blankets, cutting wood and
in fact doing every thing
a man would be supposed to
do in camp. I understand that
some of the officers of our army
have been guilty of taking with-
out authority the property of
citizens in Orange. this is all
wrong & will not be permitted by
Genl Johnston and if the people
will report the name of any
man or officer to Genl Johnston
it will be stoped [sic]. Genl Elzey says
if the name of anyone is sent to him
he will attend to it in person. I
do wish he was in command in
Orange he would keep them straight
I tell you affectionately ETH Warren



"Camp Near Rappahck River", heading - 'The camp was near Rappahannock Station, present-day Remington, Fauquier County.'

"Genl Elzey", line 6; page 2, line 19; page 3, line 9; page 4, line 21 - 'Arnold Elzey, Confederate general, commanding brigade in which the 10th Virginia Infantry was assigned.'

"Col Gibbons", lines 11 & 12 - 'Simeon B. Gibbons, Colonel, 10th Virginia Infantry.'

"Fairfax Ct House", lines 15 & 16 - 'Fairfax Court House.'

"Dr. Taylor", page 2, line 3 - "Thomas L. Taylor, Assistant-Surgeon, 10th Virginia Infantry.'

"John Kenney", page 2, line 7 - 'John Kenney, Jr., Ordnance-Sergeant, 10th Virginia Infantry.'

"little Jennie", page 2, line 10 - 'Warren's daughter Virginia 'Jennie' Watson, born 26 February 1862.'

"Dr Moffett", page 3, line 4 - 'Samuel H. Moffett, Surgeon, 10th Virginia Infantry.'

"George", page 3, line 5 - 'Jennie's brother George S. Magruder, Corporal, Company C, 13th Virginia Infantry.'

"Genl Sibley", page 3, lines 10-12 - 'Henry H. Sibley, Confederate general. This reported capture by Warren had no basis in fact. In reality, Sibley's New Mexico campaign was one of the worst disasters in Confederate military history.'

"Ronoake Island", page 3, line 13 - 'Roanoke Island, North Carolina, was captured on 8 February 1862 by Union forces.'

"Fort Henry", page 3, line 14 - 'Fort Henry, Tennessee, was captured by Union forces on 6 February 1862.'

"McClelland", page 3, line 15 - 'George B. McClellan, Union general. The information reported by Warren was most likely due to the confusion of the Union army command structure. McClellan was commander of all Union armies from November 1861 until 11 March 1862. After 11 March, he was only commander of the Army of the Potomac.'

"Bettie Keenon", page 4, line 2 - 'Most likely Mary E. Kennon, wife of Philip P. Kennon, one-time 2nd Lieutenant, Company K1, 10th Virginia Infantry. At the time of the letter, Kennon was serving as 2nd Lieutenant, Company B, 7th Virginia Cavalry.'

"Genl Johnston", page 4, lines 18 & 20 - 'Joseph E. Johnston, Confederate general, commanding the Army of the Potomac.'

"ETH Warren", page 4, signature - 'Edward Tiffin Harrison Warren, Lieutenant-Colonel, 10th Virginia Infantry.'


[transcription by John P Mann IV]

MSS 7786-g