1862 May 18 Camp near Stribling Springs, Augusta County, Va.

Camp near Stribling Springs

  May 18” Sunday 1862

My own dear Wife

  I rec^d your letter in reply to

mine writen [sic] from Mechums River and

also a note on Monday but no date.  they

have been a long time on the road &

just came to hand this morning.  I know

you must be very uneasy about me

if my letters are as long in reaching you

as yours are in reaching me.  I am

however doing well as a man could do

who is doing as much hard duty as I am

doing.  I have been announced to the regiment

as full Colonel & am laboring very hard

to keep up the order & discipline of the

regiment which many seemed to think

at an end because poor Gibbons was

killed.  Generally we are marched all

day until dark & then the Genl commences

to send in orders & often wakes me up

two & three times in the night & starts

so early in the morning that I have to

get up at 3 oclock in the morning

Yet I stand it very well.  I want to see

you very much indeed and as we approach

HBurg it grieves me to think you are

not there to welcome me there, and yet

I am a little affraid [sic] for you to come

over.  If I was certain that Jackson intended

to make a fight right away I would not

hesitate but insist on your coming imediately [sic]

but if he has to wait on Genl Johnstons slow

[page 2]

motions Richmond may be taken and we

be compelled to make a precipitate retreat

I am however of the opinion that Jackson

will fight them wherever he overtakes them

and therefore would not be displeased if you

should come to HBurg.  I do want to see

you so much that I am willing to run

a little risk.  I am not as low spirited

about our cause as you are  our victory

at Sitlingtons Hill & subsequent pur-

suit of the Yankeys has given me a

better hope.  I tell you my darling we

had a desperate hard fight, and I am

alone indebted to Gods great Mercy for

protection & safety.  I was all along the

line & at the time Col Gibbons was

shot was exposed to heavy fire.  I could

not help it, it was a desperate moment

our men needed example & encouragement

& I felt it my duty to be with them.

Three of our wounded men have died

since the fight you dont know them

nor any of the wounded.

  I hope you have not sent the saddle

for I have never rec^d it, and see no

way of getting another.  Try & bring it with

you to HBurg.  Frank is improving but Hornet

has had a bad distemper & has not been

fit for use since I left Staunton.  We

will reach St HBurg on the 20” or

21^st  To day we are resting quietly.

  Now I must put on some clean clothes

     Most affectionately E.T.H Warren

“Mechums River”, line 2 – ‘Mechums River Station on the Virginia Central Railroad, west of Charlottesville.  Warren wrote his letter from there on 4 May.’

“I have been announced to the regiment as full Colonel”, lines 11 & 12 – ‘While it took until October for military bureaucracy to officially recognize Warren as colonel, he did, in fact, serve in that position from 8 May upon the death of Colonel Simeon B. Gibbons at the Battle of McDowell.’

“poor Gibbons”, line 15 –

“Col Gibbons”, page 2, line 16 – ‘Both referred to Simeon B. Gibbons, Colonel, 10^th VA Infantry, killed in action at the Battle of McDowell.’

“Genl”, line 17 –

“Jackson”, line 27; page 2, line 3 – ‘All referred to Thomas J. ‘Stonewall’ Jackson, Confederate General, commanded the Valley Army.’

“HBurg”, line 24; page 2, lines 6, 27, 30 – ‘All referred to Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Shenandoah Valley.’

“Genl Johnston”, line 30 – ‘Joseph E. Johnston, Confederate general, commanded the Army of the Potomac.’

“Sitlingtons Hill”, page 2, line 10 – ‘Warren referred to the site of the Confederate position at the Battle of McDowell, 8 May 1862.’

“Three of our wounded men have died since the fight”, page 2, lines 21 & 22 – ‘Warren referred to the three men of the 10^th VA Infantry who were mortally wounded on 8 May 1862 at the Battle of McDowell.  Two men died on 9 May (Lewis J. Cordell, Private, Company B & Lewis B. Nicholson, Private, Company L); the other man (Frank T. Way, Private, Company C2) died on 10 May.’

“Frank” “Hornet”, page 2, line 27 – ‘Warren referred to his two war horses.’

“E.T.H Warren”, page 2, signature – ‘Edward Tiffin Harrison Warren, Colonel, 10^th VA Infantry.’

[transcription by John P. Mann, IV]

 MSS 7786-g