Thursday, December 6, 2012

1862 December 7 Camp near Guineas Depot

                                              Camp near Guinea Depot
                                                       Dec 7 1862
My Darling Wife
                                    We have a quiet Sunday today
every thing in camp stopped except the axes which run
all night and all day, Sunday included.  With the soldiers
it is keep the axes going or freeze--They are the substitute
for tents, blankets, shoes, and everything once regarded
as necessary for comfort. The misfortune is even axes
are scarce: the army is short of everything and I fear
soon is to be destitute of everything. Yet the men are
cheerful and seem contented.  It seems strange, but thanks
to God, for changing their nature, they bear in patience
now what they once would  have regarded as beyond
endurance.  Whilst I write I expect you are
sitting in our pew at the church, my place by your
side filled by little Matthew, bless the dear boy,
listening to a sermon from parson White on cove
tousness, avarice & such kindred inventions of Satan.
I wish him sucess[sic] but I fear he will hardly
be able to convince Joe fuller that leather can
be too high, or that it is not the will of God
for poor soldiers to be barefooted.  God seems
to have consigned one half of our people to
death at the hands of the enemy, and the other
half to affluence and wealth realised by prey
ing upon the necessities of those who are thus
sacrificed.  The extortioners at home are our
worst enemies.  If our soldiers had their sympathies
-their assistance in providing the necessary means
of sustaining the army, they might bear the hardships
and do the work before them, feeling that it was
a common undertaking for the benefit of all & sus
taining all But it seems like a revolution to make them
rich who stay at home and those poor who do their
duty in the army

[page 2]
I begin to like my new position.  It occupies my
whole mind and time.  I begin to feel that my highest
ambition is to make my brigade the best in the army,--
to merit and enjoy the affection [of] my men.  I trust both
may be realised.  when I came to it I knew that my
appointment was unwelcome to some of the officers
but I have received nothing but kindness and respect
from all.  They all knew me and knew that
what I said would have to be done.  I have much
better success thus far than I anticipated.  We made
a long march from Winchester--the longest the
brigade has ever made without stopping. Usually
on such marches many fall behind-leave the
road to get provisions at the farm houses &c But
on this march I came very near stopping such
practices.   Out of the five last days of the march
on three of them, every man was present when
we reached camp in the evening,--on the
other two days but one was missing each day.
I am sure that no other brigade in the army can
show such a record.  During this winter I shall
spend my time in trying to make them comfortable
and happy, in teaching them all the duties of sol
diers, and in  instilling into them the habit of obey
ing orders.  I hope to gather in all absentees and
when the winter is over to turn out at least
2500 men for duty.  so, you see, Love, I have
laid out my work for the winter, and you
so far as I have said are to have no part of'
my care.  I think I shall be able to devote a week
to you at  home, I wish that week was here now
but I cant ask for it now.  I must wait until
the snow is deeper & the air colder. then I think we
will all be allowed a short absence--Goodbye
dear wife Think of me often
                                ever yours
                                        E. F. Paxton

Brigadier General Elisha Franklin "Bull" Paxton, in command of the "Stonewall" Brigade

MSS 658

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