Wednesday, November 7, 2012

1862 November 7 HdQrs 3 Brigade



 Hd Quarters 3d Brigade Jacksons Division
   November 7” 1862  --------
My own dear Jennie
  As my boy Jim would say, winter has certainly
commenced.  It is now snowing fast & steadily and that too after
a very cold night.  And the worst part of it is that we have
in the brigade under my command not less than 175 men
in their bare feet  a large number are without overcoats and
many are deficient in blankets.  I am doing everything in
my power to remidy [sic] the evil, but with the scarcity of
supplies now in the possession of the Government and
the negligence of quarter masters I find myself able to
accomplish but little.  It seems to me that if the people
at home were advised as to our condition they would
not hesitate a moment, but go to work at once and
form Relief Societies through whose aid we could in
less than a week be supplied.  I dont know what
moment we may be called on to march.  the enimy [sic]
I have little doubt are moving forward on the eastern
side of the Blue Ridge which may compell [sic] us to change
our situation also and how these poor barefooted fellows
are to get along in the snow I cant tell.  My heart used
to bleed as I would read the account of the sufferings of
the patriot army at Valley Forge and little did I then
think that the time would ever come when I would com
mand men in a like destitute condition.  Something must
be done or our sufferings will be intense.
  I dont know on what day Lewis Reherd will re-
turn but when ever he does he must bring my boots
back with him.  George Miller must have them done by
this time and I will need them very much.
  Let me know how Joe is getting along with the work
I don’t know how you can get along without a door to

[page 2]
to [sic] the smoke house.  tell me too how Stephen is doing in
shucking his corn and how your cows keep up.  they must
be fed regularly, or you will make no butter.  The man I got
the sheep from is Peter Neff who lives near Mellrose and he
said that the first time he went to town after his return
home & he is there by this time, he would curry you some yarn
I have no doubt you can get it by sending Billy to his
house.  You never told me whether you had got your fire place
fixed again or not, tell me how you had it done.  And how you
stand the cold weather in your little establishment, I am
fearful you will find it cold enough, almost like
a tent.  I am so sorry Lou could not remain with
you  she would not only be company but so very use-
ful to you.  Has Fanny got well yet.  I hope so, for I
dont see how you can get along without her.  I have felt
very much the need of Billy since my return, but when
you wrote to me that Fanny was sick I never in my life
felt so well satisfied with any act of my life as I did
with that of leaving Billy at home with you.  I ought to
have a boy & will soon get me one I think.  Dr Campbell has
one & has sent for another & promises me the one he now has
and I think he will suit me very well.
Friday Night 8½ OClock.  It has stoped [sic] snowing but it is very
cold.  I succeeded this evening in getting 100 pair of first rate
shoes for the brigade which I will distribute in the morning
being 20 pair to the regiment.  but this still leaves a number
barefooted & many are very little better than barefooted
the men get them at $4½ per pair.  I have to day been
making estimates for every thing we need but as such
estimates have heretofore been made so often I have
but little hope of obtaining much on them.  I will be
able to send this to you by Capt Yancey who goes up
in the morning.
  Most affectionately
 E.T.H Warren
Saturday Morning – No News, very pretty morning



“3d Brigade”, heading -

“the brigade”, line 4; page 2, line 25 – All referred to Taliaferro’s Brigade which then consisted of the 47th and 48th Alabama Infantry regiments, and the 10th, 23rd, and 37th VA Infantry regiments.

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

“my boy Jim”, line 1 – Warren’s son, six year old James M.

“Lewis Reherd”, line 25 – Lewis H. Reherd, Private, Company B, 10th VA Infantry.  He was born in 1829 in Pennsylvania.  He was listed in both the 1850 and 1860 Rockingham County censuses as a blacksmith; the 1860 census showed his worth as $1,500.  Reherd enlisted in April 1861 at the first call for volunteers and by August was detailed as a blacksmith.  Surviving military records show that blacksmithing was his primary duty while in the service.

“George Miller”, line 27 – George Miller.  According to the 1860 Rockingham County Census, he was listed as a 50 year old master shoemaker living in Harrisonburg.  His total worth was listed as $4,750.

“Peter Neff”, page 2, line 4 – Peter Neff.  According to the 1860 Rockingham County Census, he was listed as a 56 year old farmer.  His total worth was listed as $13,230.

“Billy”, page 2, line 7, 16, 19 – According to the information contained in this letter, Billy was evidently a servant/slave of the Warren family.
    Based on this new information, it is necessary to correct annotations previously listed with two other Warren letters.  The annotations identifying “Billy” as William Rolston, Private, Company H, 10th VA Infantry, in Warren’s letters dated 29 March and 30 March must be deleted as incorrect.

“Dr Campbell”, page 2, line 20 – Joseph L. Campbell, Surgeon, 10th VA Infantry.

“Capt Yancey”, page 2, line 32 – William B. Yancey, Captain, Company E, 10th VA Infantry.

“who goes up in the morning”, page 2 lines 32-33 – The reader must keep in mind that reference to direction of travel in the Shenandoah Valley is different than outsiders describe it.  Due to the fact that the Shenandoah River flows north, that direction – north – is referred to as moving ‘down the Valley’.  Consequently, moving south is referred to as moving ‘up the Valley’.  This is sometimes confusing to those not familiar with the Valley, but must be kept in mind when following the movements of the men and army.

“E.T.H Warren”, page 2, signature – Edward Tiffin Harrison Warren, Colonel, 10th VA Infantry.


[transcript and annotations by John P. Mann IV]

MSS 7786-g

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