1862 April 24 Camp Elk Run

Camp Elk Run

April 24” 1862

My darling Wife

 I joined the regiment at Stanardsville

two hours after I got there we left & got here

the day following, having had a hard time in

the rain & snow.  it is now snowing fast but

we are in a comfortable situation.  I think we

will be able to fill up our regiment here but we

are a good deal disappointed in the organization

of Genl Jacksons army.  we do not find anything like

the discipline here in any arm of the service as

we had in our old division & all wish to re-

turn.  The cavalry is in a perfectly disorganized and

inefficient condition and Col Ashby rather a humbug

The Yankeys did not get to Harrisonburg until Tuesday

& then only about 300 cavalry came in & left

the same day.  Hilary was here yesterday, I did not

see him being absent on duty, but he said that

he had taken breakfast with mother that morning

& that they were all well & the Yankeys had done

them no harm.  Yesterday the Yankey cavalry again

[page 2]

appeared in H.B. & came down this way as

far as McGaheysville & met with no resistance

at all.  If Genl Stuart was here I bet they

would not ride all over the country as they

are doing now.  I tell you I dont like the

style of doing things here.  We are in Genl

Taliaferros brigade.  He is a nice gentleman

but not the Genl that Elzie [sic] is.  Our regim

ent had a reelection of officers yesterday for

captains, viz Kenney, Chrisman, Young, Herring

& Prescott were left out & several Lieutenants

The field officers were all reelected – after all

the hard work to beat me, only six votes were

cast against me.  Mr Kisling went home yester

day & was taken prisoner – several of our men

have been taken at home – but so far as I can

learn private property has been respected.

I will send this letter to Stanardsville & thence by

mail.  I think you could send me a letter to

Stanardsville & that I could get it from there

I would like to hear from you occasionally

No one knows what direction this army

will march.  I dont think a great deal of

its efficiency let go where it may

[page 3]

Did Capt Johnston get the saddle for

me – if so I will send for it & get it

here.  D^r Taylor came in yesterday

Probably David might want to

ride over here if so he could bring

the saddle.

25” April – Yesterday my tooth ached so much

that I had it extracted & then as the weather was

very bad I went to D^r Sam Miller & staid all

night & will return again to night.  I

dont see much prospect of action here

though these is no telling when the

yankeys will attempt to attack us.  I am

very much disgusted with the want

of organization & system here – I wish

we were back again in our old

Brigade.  I believe I would rather

be there with 500 men than here

with 1200.  I dont dont know when

you will get this, but will try & send

you a letter whenever I can.  You may

direct your letter to Conrads Store unless in

the mean time you hear of our leaving

here.     Most affectionately & devotedly

E.T.H. Warren

"Genl Jacksons", line 8 - 'Thomas J. 'Stonewall' Jackson, Confederate general, commanded the Valley Army.'

"Col Ashby", line 12 - 'Turner Ashby, Jr., Confederate colonel, commanded the cavalry in the Valley.'

"Hilary", line 15 - 'Hilary Magruder, Virginia 'Jennie' Watson Magruder Warren's 19 year old brother.'

"H.B.", page 2, line 1 - 'Harrisonburg, Rockingham County.'

"Genl Stuart", page 2, line 3 - 'James Ewell Brown 'JEB' Stuart, Confederate general, commanded the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac.'

"Genl Taliaferros", page 2, line 7 - 'William B. Taliaferro, Confederate general.'

"Elzie", page 2, line 8 - 'Arnold Elzey, Confederate general.'

"Kenney", page 2, line 10 - 'James Kenney, Captain, Company B, 10th Virginia Infantry, born 1822.'

"Chrisman", page 2, line 10 - 'George H. Chrisman, Jr., Captain, Company H, 10th Virginia Infantry.'

"Young", page 2, line 10 - 'William T. Young, Captain, Company K2, 10th Virginia Infantry, born 1823.'

"Herring", page 2, line 10 - 'Philander Herring, Captain, Company D, 10th Virginia Infantry, born 1818.'

"Prescott", page 2, line 10 - 'Daniel W. Prescott, Captain, Company C1, 10th Virginia Infantry, born c.1824.'

"Mr Kisling", page 2, line 14 - 'Whitfield G. Kisling, 1st Lieutenant, Company E, 10th Virginia Infantry.'

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

"David", page 3, line 4 - 'David Magruder, Virginia 'Jennie' Watson Magruder Warren's 15 year old brother.'

"Dr Sam Miller", page 3, line 9 - 'Samuel P. H. Miller, physician living near Conrad's Store.  Miller had served from the beginning of the War as a Lieutenant in Company I, 10th Virginia Infantry, before receiving a medical discharge in August 1861.'

"Conrads Store", page 3, line 22 - 'Present-day Elkton, Rockingham County.'

"E.T.H. Warren", page 3, signature - 'Edward Tiffin Harrison Warren, Lieutenant-Colonel, 10th Virginia Infantry.'

 [Transcription and annotations by John P. Mann, IV]

MSS 7786-g