1862 March 26 Staunton, Va.

Staunton, March 26th 1862
Dear Loved Ones at Home,
Though
much exhausted by Loss of sleep
and the fatigue of the last week
I will try sufficiently to collect
my thoughts to tell you my adven-
tures during the past week and
how I come to be in Staunton.
I think my last letter home was
written about 2 weeks ago, when we
were near Woodstock. there we re-
mained several days--untill ordered
to Mount Jackson. there we we remain=
ed one night, and the next mor=
ning came on nearly as far as
Newmarket. This was on the night
Thursday March 20th. Friday night
we were ordered to cook twenty
four hours rations and to be ready
to move by daylight. This we did
and on Saturday the 21st we mar=
ched to Strasburg--30 miles. the
next morning we marched near=
ly to Winchester by 12 oclock--17
miles. When we reached a point
just this side of W. we were hal=

[page 2]
ted, and those who had anything in
their haversacks were allowed to eat.
Soon our Regiment was called to "At=
tention" and filed off to the left,
following and protecting Pendleton's
Battery. We Kept on through woods
and over fields for some two miles
when we discerned the enemy in
line of battle on a hill to the
right, with several pieces of
Artillery--We had to pass a field
in full range of thier[sic] Cannon, &
they opened upon us with shot
and shell--The latter burst all
around us, and the order to
"Double Quick" was gladly re=
ceived and cheerfully executed--
One of our Company was
wounded in the head by a frag=
ment of shell.
We soon reached cover, &
the battery was placed in po=
sition on a hill commanding
the Yankee battery. Then the
ball opened, and for three

[page 3]
quarters of an hour the fire=
ing was incessant. All this time
we were behind rocks and trees
sheltering ourselves. In spite
of this, however, several of the
Regt were wounded at this time.
Presently an aid rode up to
Gen. Jackson, who was stan-
ding near us on horseback,
and told him something in a
very excited manner. Gen. J. im=
mediately ordered us up to the
head of the ravine in which
we had been dodging the can=
non balls. We came up to the
brow of a hill and were for=
med in line of battle, and on
going forward a few steps, we
discovered long dark lines of
the enemy advancing upon
the battery. As soon as their
flag showed who they were,
We poured a volley into them
which was immediately retur=

[page 4]
ned. Our Reg't was the first
Infantry that engaged the enemy
but we were soon reinfor=
ced, by the rest of our brigade
and the Stone wall Brigade.
When all of these opened on
the Yankees, they fell back,
but fresh regiments coming
up they again advanced.
Then for an hour we would
hear the roar of musketry
and the incessant thunder of
cannon.
Bullets were whistling all
around us, and every few
minutes I could see some
of my comrades fall.
Suddenly while kneeling
down and loading, I felt
a sort of stinging sensation
in my knee and on looking
down I found that my pants
had been torn by a ball
which had struck the Knee=

[page 5]
pan and glanced--inflicting
a slight wound; This I did
not feel at the time, as I
kept on loading and firing
untill my ammunition was
exhausted. This was not un=
till my the order to fall back
was given. the men fell back
intolerably good order, though
under the a brisk fire. At
the time we retreated, we
were surrounded on three
sides by Yankee infantry,
and their cavalry had
gone around to take us
in the rear, but were
driven back by a charge
of some of Ashby's men.
As we were retiring from
the field, I was struck by
a spent ball on the mus=
cle of the left arm, which
was for a time very pain=

[page 6]
ful, and disabled me it for
a time day or two It is
all right now, except a
slight numbness felt
occasionally.
All of our baggage got off.
Also all the Artillery
except one Rifled Six pounder
and three caisons. We had
to leave nearly all our
wounded & dead upon the
field. After walking some
distance, my knee began
to pain me, so I got upon
a caison wh happened to
be passing. On this I rode
to where our Comp wagons
were. That night I slept little
The next morning (Monday) I
came on to Strasburg, where
I had my knee fixed. About

(page 7)
1 oclock I got in a wagon
and came on to Mt Jackson
arriving at 3 A.M. Tuesday. I
rested till daylight, then
got a permit from the
Med. Director to come on
here. I then dropped a line
to you stating that I was
not hurt. This I did to re=
lieve yr apprehensions. I had
not time to explain, and I
hated to say I was wounded
at all. Knowing that yr fear
wd exagerate. At 9 ock I
started on the stage and
arived in S. about 10 nP.M.
All along the route I was
questioned about the fight,
and since arriving in S,
quite a number have called
on me for particulars.

[page 8]
Last night I staid with Eugene Peyton at the
Va. House & came iup to Bro's this mornng.
Of course they were surprised to see me.
As to my wound--A miniéball
stuck and glanced from my knee pan
and either bruised or slightly fractured
it. It is only painful when i move, so
I mean to keep still in the house, and
may be with my Co. again soon. I am going
to try to get a furlough from Dr Wadell
to go to Rd. I said 9 "7"s were wounded. Their
names were : Rennie, Picot, Nunnaly,
Gray, E.B. Taylor, Randolph, Gibson,
Danforth and self. I consider my=
self vry fortunate, as the sur=
geon told methat an an eighth of
an inch difference wd
have made me lose my leg--
Our force in Infantry, Cavalry &
artillery was not 5000. We lost
in killed, wounded & missing 350.
The Yankeys had 30000--18000
in action & 12000 in reserve. Their
lost is is[sic] estimated--1500.
I w'd have written more, but
have been interrupted by visitors.

Ch. E. Taylor

[written crossways in the left hand margin of page 5 in another hand]

I have but five minutes at command. Was expecting to start down the Valley this a.m.--As
I was dining, in he walked. Do not be uneasey about him. He will doubtless be allright
very soon. He sits by the fire as usual. We should urge you to come up, but he hopes to

[written in top margin of page 5]
go down-I thought you might hear reports &
be afraid, so I telegraphed--George.

[written sideways in left hand margin of page 5]
Large numbers of wounded came this evening--How thankful are we all
for the safety of our dear Charley--

Charles Elisha Taylor, 1841-1915, later a Baptist minister, college professor and president of Wake Forest University.

MSS 3091