1862 June 29 Winchester, Va.

    Taylor Hotel Winchester

     May 29 1862

My own darling Jennie

     This morning the 10” was ordered

on the road to Charlestown, but I

found myself entirely too unwell

to go with them and so Billy

& I came to this place for rest.

I think I will be able to take

the field tomorrow or next day.  I

am suffering from nothing but

my bowels & am only necessary in

need of rest to cure them.  Mr & Mrs

Cartmel are very kind indeed and

do every thing they can for me.  I dont

need much it is true yet it is a pleasure to

have friends near to attend to any wants you

may have.  And still a greater one if Jennie

& my darling little pets were only here to see

& plague papa, but that is now impossible

I would go home to see you but with the

[page 2]

means of transportation between here & H Burg

it will would do me more harm to travel

that distance than to remain with the regim-

ent.  So I must be content to remain as I am

for the present.

  I wrote you a long letter yesterday but

have mislaid it.  In it I was giving you

various reasons why I thought we were

approaching the end of the war.  our

victory here has been complete and has

resulted in clearing all this part of

Virginia of the enimy [sic].  we have captured

more army supplies & prisoners than were

captured at Manassas and that too with-

out scatering [sic] or demoralizing our troops

except Ashbys Cavalry which are of

no earthly account for any purpose

whatever.  A victory now by Genl John-

ston will terminate the strife, and I

cant help but feel that he will certainly

gain such a victory in a very few

days if indeed he has not already

gained one.  Johnston has been too slow

[page 3]

I could do better myself.  he must now

fight or loose [sic] all his reputation and

that of his army.  Lincoln says the war

must end by the 1^st of July if so it ends

in favor of the Rebels.  The latest news

from Richmond is that our men are

perfectly confident of success and I learned

from Yankey prisoners here that they are

of the opinion that Johnston has more

men than McClelland, so they of course

have no great confidence in their cause

our victory here will cause the Yanks

to withdraw a portion of their men

from Eastern Va to defend Washington

for Jackson will certainly make believe

that he is after Washington, if indeed he

is not really after it.  All that is now

necessary is to make a bold & vigorous

dash at McCleland & he is routed

and destroyed.  Beauregard I understand

is in position to hold his own and

I am daily expecting to hear good

news from him.  Look on the bright

[page 4]

side my precious darling, cheer up  all

will yet be well.  I got your letter

sent by a member of the 37” Reg.  I

feel very sorry for you, but trust

in God who has been with us &

near us in all our troubles and

who has in mercy protected me

amid so many dangers, and all will

be well.  I will write to you

again tomorrow.  Give love to

all & believe as ever your most

  devoted & affectionate husband

  ETHWarren

“Taylor Hotel”, heading – The Taylor Hotel was utilized by many Confederate and Union officers during the War.  Recently a number of grants have been awarded in order to restore the hotel to its former glory.

“Jennie”, salutation; line 15 – Warren’s wife Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson Magruder.

“10””, line 1 – 10^th VA Infantry.

“Charlestown”, line 2 – Charles Town, Jefferson County, VA (now WV).

“Billy”, line 4 – William Rolston, private, Company H, 10^th VA Infantry.

“Mr & Mrs Cartmel”, lines 10 & 11 – Nathaniel M. Cartmell was the proprietor of the Taylor Hotel.  His wife was Ellen Moore Sydnor.

“my darling little pets”, line 16 – Warren referred to his children: seven year old Lizzie, six year old James M., and three month old Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson.

“H Burg”, page 2, line 1 – Harrisonburg, Rockingham County.

“Ashbys”, page 2, line 16 – Turner Ashby, Jr., Confederate colonel, commanded the Valley Army’s cavalry.

[transcription by John P. Mann, IV]

MSS 7786-g