1862 June 4 Camp near New Market, Va.

   Camp near New Market
     June 4” 1862
My dear darling wife
I have just recd your
long nice letter sent by Joe Shif-
lett our ambulance driver, and
as he expects to go back in the
morning I will try & send you
one in return.  since my last
letter quite a change has taken
place in our position.  We had
succeeded in driving the enimy [sic]
across the Potomac into Md
but in the mean time two
heavy columns of the enimy [sic]
were moving on our rear from
opposite directions and con
centrating towards Strasburg.  of
course we had to fall back &
that too in a hurry, and
got to Strasburg when the enimy [sic]

[page 2]
was not over five miles from
each side of the same place
In order to hold them in
check until our rear came
up and our trains could be
got off, our brigade was sent
west of Strasburg & met the
Yankeys about 3 miles from
the town where we formed in
line of battle & held them in
check until dark one oclock
when all the force was with-
drawn except the 10” & I re-
mained until near 5 oclock
when I was ordered in.  I mar-
ched in slowly the yankeys
following about ¾ of a mile
in my rear  a mile from
town we again formed in
line of battle & being suppor-
ted by other regiments, the Yankeys
t stoped [sic] & at dark we again
fell back & took the road to

[page 3]
Woodstock, the Yankeys follow-
ing closely  we marched all
night halting just as day
was breaking.  We got about
2 hours sleep, no supper but
a good soldiers breakfast and
about nine or ten oclock
in the morning again took
the road marching very slowly
being much delayed by our
wagons & prisoners.  Our Rear-
Guard & cavalry were fighting
nearly all day and I was very
fearful that we would be
compelled to leave part of our
train but fortunately all went
on well and we cross[ed] the
river at Mt Jackson that day
with our train & yesterday we
came here having destroyed the
bridge at Mt Jackson & between
here & Luray where I learn
Genl Shields is.  How long we

[page 4]
will remain here I cant say
It has been raining on us
ever since we got to Stras
burg with short intervals of
sunshine  the waters are all
very high & getting higher
we have the river between
us and the enimy [sic], but
we have a river in our
rear also and will therefore
be compelled to fight so
soon as the Yankeys cross
to us and I dont therefore
think we will go beyond
Harrisonburg, but there is
no telling where we will
stop  Jackson I suppose
understands his business and
will do all things for the best.
I dont know certainly but
I believe that we have saved
all of the arms, amunition [sic] and
most of the stores won we captured

[page 5]
  our prisoners over 3,000 in
number are now all save &
will be in H Burg to day.  So
I think we have pretty well
secured the fruits of our victory
I tried in Winchester to get
shoes for you & the children
but failed.  I understand you
can get a man by the name
of Vaw Vawters who lives in
Port Republic to make shoes, sup-
pose you try it.  I am nearly
bare footed myself & dont know
how to supply myself.  If you
have sent my trunk to Winchester
it is gone.  I have heard nothing
of it & would rather you would
keep it until our luggage is
taken away if you still have
it  if it is lost think no more
about it.  I got my saddle for
which I thank you greatly

[page 6]
My health has greatly improved
and I think I can now
stand as much as any other
man for I got well in the
saddle at the head of my
regiment with the rain
beating in my face.  Where
ever we stop I will either
go to see you or send for
you & the children.  I dont
exactly feel that we are
going to remain here very
long but dont know where
we are to stop unless it
should be right in H Burg
So Mr Gay brought a great
account of our being cut
off & surrounded & said I
ordered him to leave  So
I did and about a dozen
others, for when we go into
a fight I want all citizens
out of the way  I always tell

[page 7]
them to travel  we dont want
to be bothered with them.  Genl
Johnston used to order them
off.
  I send this by Mr John
Borst who says he will
take your measures to Port
Republic & have shoes made
for you.  Borst is sick
& goes by town for my
accomidation [sic]  keep him
all night & treat him well
for my sake.
  The news from Richmond
is cheering  I hope Genl John
ston will keep the ball moving
& whip them clear out of
the state  we cant hold the
Valley without he whips them
at Richmond, and whip them
he must & that spedily [sic] too
I have no time to write more
  Love to all
    Most affectionately
E.T.HWarren

[The following was written in the top left margin of page 1]

Our baggage is ordered from H Burg
to this place.  this looks like remaining here
some and will call for my trunk if you have it
  I will write
  again in a
  day or two.
     E.T.HW




“Joe Shiflett”, lines 2 & 3 – Joseph N. Shifflett, Regimental Ambulance Driver, previously private, Company I, 10th VA Infantry.


“two heavy columns of the enimy were moving on our rear from opposite directions and concentrating towards Strasburg”, lines 11 – 15 – John C. Fremont, Union general, from the west and James Shields, Union general, from the east.


“our brigade”, page 2, line 6 – At this time the brigade consisted of the 10th, 23rd, and 37th VA Infantry regiments, along with Wooding’s Danville Artillery Battery.


“10””, page 2, line 13 – 10th VA Infantry.


“Genl Shields”, page 3, line 23 – James Shields, Union general.


“Jackson”, page 4, line 17 – Thomas J. ‘Stonewall’ Jackson, Confederate general, commanded the Army of the Valley.


“H Burg”, page 5, line 3; page 6, line 15; page 1, note line 1 – Harrisonburg, Rockingham County.


“Vawters”, page 5, line 10 – Samuel Vawter; listed in the 1860 Rockingham County Census as a 27 year old shoemaker.  Samuel’s brother was William J., private, Company C1, 10th VA Infantry, who died on 23 September 1861 of typhoid fever, Camp Blair, Fairfax Station.


“Mr Gay”, page 6, line 16 – William N. Gay, Harrisonburg merchant.  In April 1861 he had been a contract teamster in the 10th VA Infantry.


“Genl Johnston”, page 7, lines 2 & 3, 15 & 16 – Joseph E. Johnston, Confederate general, commanded the Army of the Potomac.  Warren was obviously unaware that Johnston had been wounded at the Battle of Fair Oaks on 31 May.


“John Borst”, page 7, lines 5 & 6, 9 – John B. Borst, Regimental Commissary-Sergeant.  Borst was born in Middleburg NY, c.1832, and had moved with his family to Page County about 1845.  Borst had previously served as 1st Sergeant, Company K2, 10th VA Infantry, before being reduced to private in the reorganization of the company which occurred in April 1862.  His brother Addison also served in Company K2.


“Valley”, page 7, line 19 – Shenandoah Valley.


“E.T.HWarren”, page 7, signature – Edward Tiffin Harrison Warren, Colonel, 10th VA Infantry.


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

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