My Darling Wife –
I have received your two last letters
since mine was written to you. As you had not mentioned
him in your letter before these I had hoped that dear
little Gala had gotten well, and am very sorry to learn
from your last letter that he is still sick. I trust he may
continue to improve and soon be well. He is a sweet child and his
loss would be very sad indeed to me.
I do not remember what was done with the receipts to which you
refer. They were probably left in the bookcase. I will write to
Wm White to settle bills for the seed – wheat to Tutwiler and
Johnson. I am very glad indeed to hear that you have finished
seeding. The next thing will be to get the wheat in the mill as
soon as practicable. As to what mill it should be sent to, will
depend upon which will promise to grind it first and guarantee
superfine flour. It should be ground as soon as possible so
as to get the offal for feeding the horses and cows this winter.
Write a note to the Miller at the Point, at Leyburns Mill, and
at Poagues to know when they will grind it, and then send
it to the mill mill [Paxton repeats] which grind it first and guaranty sup-
erfine flour. When the wheat is gotten to the mill I should
like as much ploughing done before Christmas as may
be possible of the ground which you intend to plant
in corn next spring. There may be some good weather
and your corn crop can be gathered when the ground
is frozen. I had a jeans shirt which Rachel gave me last
winter. I wish you to line the new one you make with that
if it is not too late. There will be enough by using it to make
the new one double throughout. If you will pack the trunk and
leave it at some place of your fathers in town it can be sent
to me by the first wagon that comes to the army. I should like
if the material can be bought for you to make and send
me three pair of flannel drawers and another flannel
undershirt. Call upon Tom White for any money you want as
he has collected the money for the hay.\
[page 2]
The day before yesterday we had a snow and the weather
is now quite cold. Winter seems to have set in and it
finds us sadly prepared for it. A large number of our
soldiers are entirely barefooted and very many without
blankets. Living in the open air without tents and with
a very small supply of axes to cut wood for fires, there
is much suffering. Those of our people who are living
at home in comfort have no conception of the hardships
which our soldiers are enduing. And I think they manifest
very little interest in it. They are disposed to get rich
from the troubles of the country and exact from the
government the highest prices for everything needed
for the army. I trust the Government will soon take
the matter in hand, fine
what it wants of the army.
Everything here indicates that we move to morrow; where
there is no telling. But I trust we may soon find ourselves
settled for the winter. If active operations were suspended for
the winter our men could soon build huts and make them
selves comfortable. If however we have active operations the
sufferings [of] our men must be intense –
So you growl about Sunday letters. They are written on that day because
all work in the army is suspended on that day and I always have
leisure then. They are not interesting you say. I am sorry
for it. It is because I have but little to write about that
would interest you. They always tell you I am alive &
doing well. Isn’t that always interesting intelligence?
Lexington and she had better stay there.
moving concern and there is no telling where it will be a month
hence. Possibly we may be here but quite as likely at
Richmond – You speak of the army as my idol but you
never were more mistaken. I had a good deal rather live in a
house than in a tent, though I can bear the change as there is no
helping it. I had good deal rather be with you and the children, than
with my idol the army your opinion to the contrary notwithstanding
And now Growler good-bye. Kiss the children for me
and try to be better natured – Goodbye
Ever Yours E F Paxton
[Written in the top margin on page one:]
Since this was written I have received an order giving me to the title of Brigadier General
and assigning me to the command of Jacksons old brigade. I made no application
for it and if I had consulted my own inclination should have been disposed
to remain in my present position.
Elisha F. "Bull" Paxton, University of Virginia alumnus and now commander of the Stonewall brigade.
[Portions of the above letter are included in Civil War Letters of General Frank “Bull” Paxton.]
[transcript by Mary Roy Edwards Dawson]
MSS 2165
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