1862 October 27 Bunker Hill

Bunker hill Oct 27” 1862
My dear Jennie
      I have just received your first
letter writen [sic] on the 23d & mailed the
24” and although I have just sent
off a letter by a man going to the
county I will commence another
to be finished as I have time &
opportunity, which will enable
me to finish it in a day or
two.  The fact that Lizzie is no
worse I take as very favorable in
her case, and I am almost sat
isfied by your decliration [sic] that
she is not much better, for being
just a little better is a great
thing.  I hope the next letter from
you will say she is very decided
ly better.  I am sorry Edward did
not succeed in getting anything

[page 2]
for you and the children as I am very
confident I will be unable to do any-
thing for you here  so far I have failed
entirely in wearing apparel, probably
towards XMass I may get socks &c
Our men are very badly clothed
Indeed, are raged dirty & full of lice
I speak of the entire army.  and
the supply of clothing very meager
not more than ½ doz pair of socks
being sent to a regiment for dis-
tribution at one time, but what
we do receive is very good.
  Our camp is in what was a skirt of
woods in front of old Capt Boyds near
Bunker hill.  we have good water but
short rations & only one or two tents
to a man company  the cold weather
is very hard on the men, but up
to the time of my return, before the
rain their health was very good

[page 3]
Wonesday 2 ½ Oclock P.M., Camp
Fulkerson.  Yesterday morning at
6 in the morning we recd orders
to be prepared to march at 8 ½ o-
clock, at which time we started &
marched 20 miles to this camp, a
very beautiful woods near Berry-
ville 15 miles from Winchester.  We
are now at work as if we in-
tended to remain here for some
time but may march at any
moment.  I am however satisfied
that if a fight takes place within
a month it will not be of Genl
Lees seeking but must be caused
by offensive movements of the enimy [sic].
our present position is almost due
east from Winchester.  This move
will deprive me, I fear, of the
sack of salt I expected to get.  I
must now try & get the tallow
ready & start the wagon back

[page 4]
I am still commanding the
brigade but am looking for
the return of Col Taliaferro every
day.  I take it very quietly
have all the work done by staff
officers & satisfy myself with
mainly seeing it done.  I dont
know exactly where Neds regiment
is.  I think it is in Loudon Co
if so he can visit me as he
returns but if with the rest
of the Longstreets command he
will not get to see me without
going out of his way.  The mail
came in to day without a letter
from you.  How are you
getting along & how is my
darling little daughter are
questions I find myself constantly
asking myself.  I will send this
tomorrow & certainly will
expect one from you.



“My dear Jennie”, salutation – Warren’s wife Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson Magruder Warren.

“Lizzie, line 9 – Warren’s oldest daughter seven year old Lizzie.

“Edward”, line 17 – Jennie’s brother Edward J. Magruder, Major, 8th GA Infantry.

“Wonesday”, page 3, line 1 – Unusual variation of spelling Wednesday.  No indications exist to explain why Warren would have used this spelling.  The date was in fact Wednesday, 29 October.

“Camp Fulkerson”, page 3, lines 1 & 2 – This camp was named in honor of Samuel V. Fulkerson, Colonel, 37th VA Infantry.  He was mortally wounded in action 27 June 1862 commanding the brigade at Gaines’ Mill.  At that time the brigade consisted of the 10th, 23rd, and 37th VA Infantry regiments, along with Wooding’s Danville (VA) Artillery Battery.

“the brigade”, page 4, line 2 – Taliaferro’s Brigade consisted of the 47th and 48th Alabama Infantry regiments, and the 10th, 23rd, and 37th VA Infantry regiments.

“Col Taliaferro”, page 4, line 3 – Alexander G. Taliaferro, Colonel, 23rd VA Infantry.

“Longstreet”, page 4, line 12 – James Longstreet, Confederate general, commanded the 1st Corps (Right Wing), Army of Northern Virginia.

“darling little daughter”, page 4, line 18 – Warren could have referred to either his oldest daughter, seven year old Lizzie, or his youngest daughter, eight month old Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson Warren.  However, it is likely he referred to Lizzie as she was sick at the time.

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

MSS 7786-g