1862 March 9 Winchester, Va.

Camp near Winchester Va
Sunday March 9th 1862

Dear Fannie
Your kind and very accept-
able letter, and not less acceptable
bundle were received from the hand
of The. Pace just as I was starting out
on picket. We went out to where
the Martinsburg Charleston & Rail
road join, about 5 miles from
Camp. we had not been out more
than an hour, before we heard the
firing of Cannon and musketry.
This was soon followed by ten
or twenty wagons coming at full
tilt down the road, followed
by a company of cavalry, cover
in g the retreat of their baggage
against an attack of the advancing
Federals. This company continued
down the road toward W. untill
met by four more companies under
Col. Turner Ashby, when they "about
faced" and with drawn sabres,

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charged down the road, making
in all a beautiful and exciting
scene. Overtaking the "Yanks" (of
whom there were two Regts of Infantry,
one Company of Artilry & three of
Cavalry) they drove them back
several miles to Bunker Hill, where
they came. One of our men
was badly wounded. Ashby's men
killed six of the enemy, and
took some splendid horses.
On hearing of this at HdQrs, Gen
Jackson had our whole force drawn
out in line of battle on the Mar-
tinsburg road, in anticipation of
a general advance. This is yet
expected. Yesterday our Brigade
went out and leveled every wall
and fence in front of our for=
tifications for some distance,
ready for an attack. This, how
ever, may be only a ruse, as the
same things exactly were done
by Johnson, two days before
going to Manasses, to deceive

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the enemy in regard to his move-
ments. Now, however, it is gen-
erally believed that Winchester is to
be evacuated together with
Leesburg & Manassas. I have no
doubt myself that this will be
done. I only hope, that as we
retire, every town, village and
house will be left in ashes.
We are now at our third camping
ground since getting to Winchester.
How I have wished I could
be at home, and at church with
you this bright, warm, spring-
like day! It is in fact, tho not
literally, the first day of spring.
Being baned the privilege
of going to W. to Ch., I took this
morning a stroll "over the hills
and far away." Nature preached
me a grand sermon, wh I am
sure I appreciated, as also I
did a nice dinner which I dis-
cussed at a little farmhouse.
The people stared when I

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told them that I'd rather have their
nice rich milk, then the coffee they cannot
get, but of wh we have a plenty. In Charlestown
the Yankees have opened a store where everything
is sold at old prices--coffee &sugar 12 1/2 [?] calico
at 6 cents a yard &c.
What company has Eddie Gwathmey joined?
One night last week, Bro. Madison got up a
prayer meeting in the 23d Regt. I went over &
by request led the meeting. I enjoyed it more
than any. I have almost ever atten-
ded. Bro. M. is exerting a fine influence, & to
truly "The right man in the right place."
Yesterday I received a short letter from
George. He says Jemmie has not arrived
at Staunton, & I know not where he might
be. He left here a week ago.
Capt. Cunningham is in R'd recruiting
his company. I will not join it again, but
shall look out & not hurry in re enlisting.
Last Sunday some broken down horses
were sent to the Q.M. Dept. to be exchanged. Gen.
Jackson accidentally heard of it.
&c sent then all back exclaiming "if the
North Western army dont know when
Sunday comes, Ill teach them. I think he's a
better man than General.
Since you could not send my watch by Pace,
it doesn't matter about doing it at all.
The evening shades appear "to such an ex-
tent that writing more is out of the question.
good night--
Monday Morning--Bro George, I will
send this by for you to forward. It
is raining hard & a very disagreable
day--I will try in future to
be a better correspondent than
heretofore

Yr Bro
CET

Charles Elisha Taylor, 1842-1915, a private in the 21st Virginia, afterward a graduate of the University of Virginia, a Baptist minister, a professor and then president of Wake Forest University.

MSS 3091