1862 May 25 4 Miles from Winchester

Cam[p] 4 Miles from Win
chester on Martinsburg
Road Sund[ay] 25” [May] 1862
My own dear Wife
   We have to day won the greatest
& most decisive victory of the
war.  day before yesterday our
advance engaged the enimy [sic] at
Front Royal.  having surprised
them, they were easily routed
& we captured all their sup-
plies & 700 prisoners.  our loss
was small.  The next day we
started for Strasburg dividing
our forces so as to attack them
at different points & succeeded
in overtaking Banks retreating
column, cut it in two parts
took a large number of prisoners
& baggage & compelled them to
burn a good many wagons

[page 2]
& provisions.  tired and broken down
as we are were we pursued them
all night resting one hour at day
light.  The vilages [sic] along the
road were illuminated & the
ladies wild with excitement
waving their handkerchiefs &c  a
little after day we resumed
our march & very soon the
Artillery commenced operations
in Front & Genl Ewel [sic] on the
right of Winchester opened at
the same time.  about one
mile from Winchester, not far
from our old camp groun[d]
the enimy [sic] was strongly posted
& our advanced forces already
engaged.  I was sent with my
regiment alone to our left
enimys [sic] right with orders
to seize & hold a woody hill
in front of the Yankees lines

[page 3]
we marched near a half mile
under heavy fire of shell & rifle
balls.  I gained the position
but not without some loss
& advanced as skirmishers
Capt Coffmans Co who got
behind trees & rocks & firing
with deliberate aim did them
great damage.  while reconoiter
ing [sic] the enimies [sic] position I
drew their fire on me, but
was protected by a Higher Power
The fireing [sic] on me was so heavy
that Col Fulkerson came in
person to support me and
formed on my left.  but just
then Genl Taylor came up
with [his] 3500 men command
forming on my right but
not having room extended one
of his regiments in front of me.
I did not like this & Col Fulker

[page 4]
son then giving the order
we advanced quickly to Taylors
left & with loud shouts the
whole line charged bayonets
& routed the Yanks most beautiful
ly.  Similar charges were made
on other positions of the enimy [sic]
& thus the battle was won.
  the Yankeys flew precipitately
& in confusion & we pursued
chasing them through Win-
chester amid the shouts & applause
of the ladies.  Capt Coffman
& Mr Kisling my Adjutant
behaved most gallantly as
did the regiment.  I am proud
of them.  I don’t know my
loss.  I think I have two killed
one is John Helphenstine of H.B.
I dont know the other.  Capt
Mauck is wounded in the foot
I dont think my loss is over

[page 5]
15 killed & wounded, but I
will try & send a list if I
can get one before sending
this  I am now 5 miles from
the battle ground & am too
so tired I cant go & see
after them in person but I
have sent a detail for the pur-
pose & both Surgeons are
with them.  I cant tell you
the extent of our victory, we
are still pursuing, taking pris-
oners & capturing arms &c
I dont know when you
will get this but I am
writing it to send by first
chance.
  Love to all my darling
   your most affectionate
  ETHWarren
I saw Hillary late last night
& Jim & George since the fight
[the following was written sideways in the bottom left margin of page 5]
all are safe

[page 6]
  I cant get a list of
wounded only one was killed
Helphenstine





“advance engaged the enimy at Front Royal”, lines 4 & 5 – 9 – ‘Warren described the fight of other units in the Confederate army at the Battle of Front Royal, 23 May 1862; the 10th VA Infantry did not participate.’


“Banks”, line 13 – Nathaniel P. Banks, Union general, commanded the Department of the Shenandoah.  As a result of the large amount of supplies captured in the aftermath of the Battle of Winchester No. 1, 25 May 1862, the Confederates derisively referred to him as ‘Commissary’ Banks.’


“Genl Ewel”, page 2, line 11 – ‘Richard S. Ewell, Confederate general, commanded a division in Jackson’s Valley Army.’


“I was sent with my regiment”, page 2, line 18 – ‘Beginning with these words, Warren described the service of the 10th VA Infantry in the Battle of Winchester No. 1, 25 May 1862.’


"Capt Coffmans Co", page 3, line 6; page 4, line 13 - 'Isaac G. Coffman, Captain, Company B, 10th VA Infantry.

With this annotation, Captain Coffman finally receives public recognition for his part leading the skirmishers of the 10th VA Infantry during the Battle of Winchester No. 1, 25 May 1862.

Captain Coffman should have been recognized in Peter Cozzens' Shenandoah 1862: Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2008). Cozzens referenced Warren's letter on page 361: "Once atop the rise he [Warren] advanced the members of Capt. Joseph Kaufman's company as skirmishers."

One wonders how Cozzens misidentified the captain commanding the skirmishers as Joseph Kaufman. According to his official military record, Joseph F. Kauffman served as a private in Company K2, Page Volunteers, 10th VA Infantry. Additionally, Kauffman kept a diary during the 1862 Valley Campaign and he noted on 22 May he left the regiment to visit his home. He attempted to rejoin the unit on 23 May but did not succeed. Assigned to various duties, he noted he did not rejoin the regiment UNTIL 3 June 1862. Cozzens listed Kauffman's diary on page 587 in the bibliography of his book.

As the reader of this transcription will note Warren, on both occasions, wrote "Coffman". Eleven men named Coffman served in the 10th VA Infantry. According to the official military records of these eleven men, only ONE served at any time as a captain - Isaac G.'

“Col Fulkerson”, page 3, line 14; page 3, line 22 & page 4, line 1 – ‘Samuel V. Fulkerson, Colonel, 37th VA Infantry, temporarily commanded Taliaferro’s Brigade.’


“Genl Taylor”, page 3, line 17; page 4, line 2 – ‘Richard Taylor, Confederate general, commanded the Louisiana Brigade.’


“Mr Kisling”, page 4, line 14 – ‘Whitfield G. Kisling, 1st Lieutenant, Regimental Adjutant, 10th VA Infantry.  He received his appointment to this position 15 May 1862.’


“John Helphenstine”, page 4, line 19; page 6, line 3 – “John H. Helphenstine, Private, Company B, 10th 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.’


“H.B.”, page 4, line 19 – ‘Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Virginia.’


“Capt Mauck”, page 4, lines 20 & 21 – ‘Robert C. Mauck, Captain, Company C2, 10th 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.’


“I dont think my los is over 15 killed & wounded”, page 4, line 22 & page 5, line 1 – ‘Warren was very close to the actual number of casualties.  In fact, 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.’


“both Surgeons”, page 5, line 9 – ‘Warren referred to both the assistant-surgeons serving with the regiment: John A. Morson and Thomas L. Taylor.’


“ETHWarren”, page 5, signature – ‘Edward Tiffin Harrison Warren, Colonel, 10th VA Infantry.’


“Hillary”, page 5, note line 1 – ‘Brother of Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson Magruder (Warren’s wife) John Hilary Magruder, Private, Company B, 7th VA Cavalry.’


“Jim”, page 5, note line 2 – ‘Brother of Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson Magruder (Warren’s wife) James W. Magruder, Sergeant, Company K, 2nd VA Cavalry.’


“George”, page 5, note line 2 – ‘Brother of Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson Magruder (Warren’s wife) George S. Magruder, Corporal, Company C, 13th VA Infantry.’


[transcription and annotation by John P. Mann, IV]


MSS 7786-g