1862 May 4 Camp Near Meachums River

Camp near Meachums River

Sunday May [4] 1862

My darling

Four days ago we left camp at Elk

Run & marched up the river to Port Republic.  the

roads were the very worst I ever saw & the

rain came down in torents [sic]  Yet our men were

in fine spirits for we all thought we were

marching to attack the enimy [sic] at Harrisonburg

and although we crossed the mountain and

are now on the Central RR, still until

last night we all thought that we would

take the cars at this point & go to Staunton

& march down the Valley, but now I am

of opinion that we are to go to Richmond

& I suppose we will go on the R. Road

You may therefore keep a look out.  I

dont expect to have an opportunity to

stop & can only see you at the train

of course I will stop if there is the least

chance to do so, but I fear that there

will be none.  I dont know what is to

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be done or where we are to make a fight

if we do not accomplish something very

soon Virginia will be gone & I fear the

cause of the South will go with it.  I am

not in the best spirits.  I dont like this very

remarkable move of the army of the Valley

we had force enough there to whip out

the Yankeys & drive them entirely out of the

Valley.  I suppose you know that Genl Ewel

had crossed into the Valley and occupied

the Valley our camp the same night we

left it  we did not meet & I was greatly

disappointed because I expected to hear from

you which I have not done since we got

I left you.  I dont know how long we

may remain here probably or possibly several

days mabe possibly not one.  I cant therefore

tell you where to write to me, but if you

will write me a letter directed to 10” Va Reg

Genl Jacksons division & send to Meachums River

Depot I will get it some day.  We have

just received orders to hitch up to march

in the direction of Staunton.  So I must close

direct me a letter to Staunton.  From present

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appearances we will make the march on

foot entirely & you can easily get a

letter there

Affectionately

 ETHW

“Camp near Meachums River”, heading –

“Meachums River Depot”, page 2, lines 20 & 21 - ‘Both referred to Mechums River Station, on the Virginia Central Railroad, west of Charlottesville.’

“Sunday May [?] 1862”, heading – ‘Warren had written “3” then written “5” on top of it.  He had the day correct, Sunday, just not the date.  It was in fact 4 May.  Other men in the regiment noted they arrived at Mechums River Station on 4 May.’

“camp at Elk Run”, lines 1 & 2 – ‘The bivouac was near present-day Elkton, Rockingham County.’

“Centrall RR”, line 8 –

“R. Road”, line 13 – ‘Both referred to the Virginia Central Railroad.’

“Genl Ewel”, page 2, line 9 – ‘Richard S. Ewell, Confederate general, commanded at this time a division attached to General Thomas J. ‘Stonewall’ Jackson’s Valley Army.’

“ETHW”, page 3, signature – ‘Edward Tiffin Harrison Warren, Lieutenant-Colonel, 10^th Virginia Infantry.’

[Transcription and annotations by John P. Mann IV]

MSS 7786-g