1862 January 26 Winchester, Virginia

Winchester Jany 26 1862
My Darling Wife
We left Romney on Thurs
day and after three days we reached on
yesterday evening our present encampment
two miles from Winchester. To day I received
your grumbling letter of 21st in which you
are very bitter over my bad usage in being
refused a furlough. The only matter of surprise
with me is that I ever lost my temper about
it as I came to the conclusion long ago that
there was no use in grumbling about any
thing in the army and it was always best
to bear in patience whatever happens [to] us
with a becoming sense of gratitude that
it is no worse. I think we shall remain
at rest here until Spring, no one being more
thoroughly disgusted with a winter cam-
paign than Jackson himself is from the
fruits of our expedition to Romney.

[page 2]
Echols furlough expires nine days hence
and then I think I may safely promise my
self the happiness of a visit home to en-
joy for a while the loved society of wife
and little ones from whom I have been
so long separated. For a while, only, Love,
as my duty will require me to leave you
soon again. I wish to pursue such course
as will give me hereafter a good opinion of
myself and the good opinion of my neigh-
bors, and neither is to be won by shrink-
ing from the dangers and hardships of a
soldiers life when the safety of his coun-
try requires him to endure them. But
for this the titles and applause to be won
by gallantry upon the field could never
tempt me from home. Would you have
me return there, the subject of such con-
versation as has been freely lavished upon
some who remained behind, and others
who turned their backs on country & comrade
I think not

[page 3]
I don’t think Love you would know me
if you could see me just now. I think I am
dirtier than I ever was and maybe lousy
besides. I have not changed clothes for two
weeks, and my pants have a hole in each
leg nearly big enough for a dog to creep
through. I had been promising myself the
luxury of soap & water all over, and a change
of clothes to day but the wind blows so
hard and cold I really think I should
freeze in the operation.
I am afraid the dirt is striking in – as I
am somewhat afflicted with the babys
complaint – a pain under the apron
I am not much afraid of it however
as I succeeded in getting down a good
dinner, which with me is generally a
sign of pretty fair health – Now Love I will
bid you goodbye, as it is very cold and
uncomfortable writing leaving the last
side of my sheet unwritten –
Ever Yours
E F. Paxton

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

General Elisha F. "Bull" Paxton, University of Virginia alumnus and Confederate general, commanded the 27th Virginia Infantry and later the 1st "Stonewall" Brigade at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.

MSS 2165