1862 October 23 Ripleys 28 miles from Harrisonburg

   Ripleys 28 Miles from H. B.

    Thursday Morning [23 Oct 1862]

My dear little daughter

I left home yesterday while

you were asleep & kissed you

& told you good-by & you did

not know it.  I got to New Mar-

ket last night & started this

morning before sun up and

got here by 8 oclock when

we eat our breakfast.  Tell

Mama that Frank is a

mighty good horse to work

in a buggy and goes just

like an old work horse.  I

will get to Winchester to-

morrow by dinner and will

have to go only six miles to

my regiment.  You must

make haste and get well

so you can write me a

long letter  I have the last

letter wrote me last winter

[page 2]

and I want another to

keep it company.

Affectionately

Your father

My darling Jennie

   I send a note to Lizzie  please

write to me at Winchester

our camp is still there

& likely to remain.  I send

this by Capt Patterson

 Affcy yours

ETHWarren

“Ripleys 28 Miles from H.B.”, heading – William Ripley’s estate ‘Red Banks’, located just north of Hawkinstown, Shenandoah County.  The estate had been used in March 1862 as a camp for General Thomas J. ‘Stonewall’ Jackson’s Valley Army.

“H.B.”, heading – Harrisonburg, Rockingham County.

“little daughter”, salutation -

“Lizzie”, page 2, end note, line 1 – Both referred to Warren’s seven year old daughter Lizzie.

“Jennie”, page 2, end note, salutation – Warren’s wife Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson Magruder Warren.

“Capt Patterson”, page 2, end note line 5 – This was almost certainly Benjamin G. Patterson.  In August he had been exchanged while serving as a 1^st Lieutenant, Company H, 7^th VA Cavalry.  At the date of the letter, Patterson was likely recruiting for his company of what eventually became the 41^st Battalion VA Cavalry.  That explains why Warren referred to him as captain.

“Affcy”, page 2, end note, closing – Affectionately.

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

    This letter was written while Warren was on his way to rejoin his regiment.  He had commanded Taliaferro’s Brigade at the Battle of Sharpsburg, 17 September 1862.  Wounded very early in the fighting, Warren went home to recuperate.

    The date of the letter is based on Warren’s own statements in his letter of 25 October.

[Transcription and notes by John P. Mann, IV.]

MSS 7786-g