1862 May 25 4 miles from Winchester, Va.

    Camp 4 Miles of Winc^h[es]t[e]r

    Sunday May [25] 1862

My own darling

      I have writen [sic] you a long

letter in relation to our fights

but fearing you will not get

it directly I write you an-

other note.  I was not in the

fight at Front Royal but

was in a most important po-

sition to day  My regiment

behaved most nobly & we won

distinction.  I escaped

unhurt though the Yanks had

their fair shots at me.  I am

satisfied I did my duty.  we

have won a splendid victory

& are resting this evening  I

accomplished all I was di-

rected to do & yet so managed

my men as [to] not have more

than 8 or 10 hurt.  one was

[page 2]

    or mortally wounded

killed ^ – John Helphenstine. Capt

Mauck & privates Amiss & Kirk-

Patrick of his Co slightly woun

ded.  3 men of the Page Co not

badly wounded  Louis Knicely

of Shenandoah wounded & one

or two others who I dont

know.  I am very much

fatigued & not perfectly well

but in fine spirits.

  I have seen Jim George

& Hillary all are safe

  I am proud of my men

& I believe they are perfectly

satisfied with me

Most affectionately

    ETHWarren

“My regiment behaved most nobly & we won distinction”, lines 8-10 – Warren referred to the actions of the 10^th VA Infantry during the Battle of Winchester No. 1, 25 May 1862.

“not have more than 8 or 10 hurt”, lines 18 & 19 – The regiment suffered a total of twelve casualties at the Battle of Winchester No. 1, 25 May 1862: one killed in action, one mortally wounded in action, ten wounded in action.  Specifically, one casualty was suffered in Company B, three in Company C2, five in Company F, and three in Company K2.

“John Helphenstine”, page 2, line 1 – John H. Helphenstine, Private, Company B, 10^th VA Infantry.  He was 18 years old at the Battle of Winchester where he was shot in the head and killed in action.  Originally buried on the field, he body was disinterred and reburied in Woodbine Cemetery, Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, in March 1866.

“Capt Mauck”, page 2, line 2 - Robert C. Mauck, Captain, Company C2, 10^th VA Infantry.  Mauck was 44 years old when he was shot in the foot at the Battle of Winchester No. 1, 25 May 1862.  After an attempt to save his wounded limb, he underwent an amputation of the leg at the Staunton Hospital on 9 July 1862.  Complications arose and he died on 11 July.  He was buried in Woodbine Cemetery, Harrisonburg.

“Amiss”, page 2, line 2 – George W. Amiss, Private, Company C2, 10^th VA Infantry.

“Kirkpatrick”, page 2, lines 2 & 3 – John H. Kirkpatrick, 4^th Corporal, Company C2, 10^th VA Infantry.

“Louis Knicely”, page 2, line 5 – Lewis C. Kneisley, 2^nd Sergeant, Company F, 10^th VA Infantry.

“Jim”, page 2, line 11 - Brother of Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson Magruder (Warren’s wife) James W. Magruder, Sergeant, Company K, 2^nd VA Cavalry.

“George”, page 2, line 11 - Brother of Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson Magruder (Warren’s wife) George S. Magruder, Corporal, Company C, 13^th VA Infantry.

“Hillary”, page 2, line 12 - Brother of Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson Magruder (Warren’s wife) John Hilary Magruder, Private, Company B, 7^th VA Cavalry.

“ETHWarren”, page 2, signature – Edward Tiffin Harrison Warren, Colonel, 10^th VA Infantry.

[transcript by John P. Mann, IV]

MSS 7786-g