My dear Ma;
I do n’t feel very much like
writing this evening but will try to write a short letter at least.
Pen gave all of you a full acct. of our last trip to Munson’s
Hill in his letter to Lute, so I will not have much news to give.
We had a right rough time of it the first day & night, but had a very
pleasant time the balance of the week. We had to whip the Yankees
out of Lewensville the first day & then go right on picket that night
[This is actually “Lewinsville”. Edloe spells it correctly on his page two.]
in the rain; you never saw such a mad set of fellows in your life
as we were the night we went on picket in the rain, we could have
almost skin[n]ed old Major Terrel[Terrill], he certainly treated us very badly,
& I hope we may never go under his command again. We were all delight=
ed when Col [James A.] Walker took charge of us, he has gotten well
though looks rightbadly yet. It is real[l]y amusing to hear our pickets talking with
the Yankee pickets, our nearest pickets would holl say Bull
Run, to the Yankees, which made them very mad & they would always
shoot at our boys whenever they would say Bull Run or cheer for Davis.
The Yankee pickets are in sight of our line, but ^‘not’ near enough
to be damaged much by our balls, & they have breastworks at
every post & don’t show themselves much. The evening we left
David Magruder was badly wounded; he with some others, (some of
our Co.) were trying to creep upon some Yankees who were on post
when he was shot; it was a very foolish & dangerous thing & it
is a wonder more of them were not shot. I am afraid Davy’s
wound will prove fatal, his Father came here last night, he went
to Falls Church this morning to see him. I never intend to
creep upon a Yankee on his post, (unless I am ordered) because

[page 2]
nothing can be gained by it & it is very dangerous & then I don’t
think it is exactly right……I don’t think we will have to go to
Munson’s anymore directly, for Uncle Phil Ashby told me that his
(Longstreet’s) Brigade w’d move near Munson’s to remain permanently.
Gen. Johnston has He[a]dQuarters right near us, he is only
a mile, on the road to Fairfax CH. Two or three Regts. have moved
near us in the last week. Fairfax Station has become a very
busy place, another depot & two bakeries have been put up recently,
I don’t think they have commenced using the latter yet…..
We expect to be reviewed this evening, if the weather don’t prevent,
by Gen. Johnston. Generals J Johnston & Longstreet have both
complimented our regiment very highly for the se^‘r’vice rendered at
Lewinsville, their compliments to us will be published I reckon.
Bro. John has written a piece for the Dispatch, giving an
account of our trip, it will be out in a few days. I suppose
you’ve seen the Federal account of the fight. We’ve heard something
about a fight between Floyd & Rosencrantz, but do not know
whether it is true or not….We’ve had a hard rain, but it is
clear now. Yr letter was received while we were at Munson ‘s.
I am very sorry to hear of so much sickness about [word lined out] ^‘home’
feel right uneasy about the baby. My love to all & tell her not ^ to’ get
impatient to get up, remind her of my being in bed with the
same disease four months & tell her not to eat too much. I was very
glad to hear from Joe. Brooks…… Tell Jess[?] Porter he must
weigh his boy over again, I am sure the scales were wrong, for
he wrote Cap. Murray word that it weighed nineteen pounds…
My best love to all at home, Aunt Cynthia’s, all of my friends
& accept a large share for yrself. I will add some more
to this tomorrow. Excuse all mistakes, bad writing &c. I will
write again soon. Yr devoted & most aff son
P. E. Jones.
[page 3]
Wednesday morning
Dear Ma;
As there is no drill this morning before
breakfast, I will write a little more. We’ve been excused from five
oclock drill, don’t have but two drills a day now; company drill at
eight & Batallion drill at five P. M, dress parade at six. We did n’t
have the review we expected to have had yesterday, may have this
morning or evening. Our compliments were read out yesterday on dress par=
ade, we are all get[t]ing proud of our Regt, call it the “Bloody” 13th….Festus
Cowherd is adjutant now……..I heard from Will Ashby a few days
ago, he was better, did n’t think he had Fever. Jimmie Pettus is better this
morning, I am in hopes that he will not have Fever, others are better….
Henry Chiles told me to tell you that he tried his best to go home this
time, he went to Manassa[s] a few days ago with some sick men, but
could not get off, the sick men started yesterday. I was sure that Henry
w’d get off, wish he could have gone. we expect Dock back in a few
days, miss the old fellow right much, as well as Jess. Porter.
Pen is on guard today, will be relieved this evening. Pretty’s senten^‘ce’
was read out on dress parade yesterday, it was very severe, his com=
mission is to be taken away for a month, he is to forfeit one month’s
pay & be reprimanded by Col. Hill in presence of the Regt……..
I heard from Magruder this mo^‘r’ning, he was a little better, is not
able to be moved home…….I have given you all the news I can
think of just now, so I must bring my letter to a close. My next letter
shall be to Lin Kent. I am real[l]y ashamed of myself for not an=
swering Miss Daisy’s highly appreciated letter, but know she will
not think anything of it. Tell Joe I will answer his letter soon,
but he must not wait for me to answer write. I commenced this yester=
day, but & it is now about one oclock & I’ve not finished it yet, I’ve
been inter[r]upted so often…….I’ve just finished a glorious

[page 4]
camp dinner, had chicken soup, potatoes, tomatoes, buttermilk
&c &c….We do n’t need anything now. When you send us boxes, don’t
be we would rather have potatoes & such things than cake, we know it
would be more convenient to you….Bro. John will write in a few
days. Garret spent sends love to all. We expect letters from home
tomorrow. All of us are well. Henry is ailing with a boil on
his leg. Pen & Bro. Jno. unite in love to all – best love
to Nancy &c P[lease] Kiss all of my baby friends. Your fond son
Edloe.
Mrs. A. P. Jones. Fairfax station
Louisa CH.

MSS 13407
.

[from the diary of Wesley Hammond of the Dixie Greys, Co. E of the 42nd Virignia]

Arrived at camp to day (5 miles
to march) almost broken down when
we arrived at Camp – road tremen-
dous muddy – were glad to get back
to camp again – Wrote to Cousin
Naomi Y – read only one chapter
in the bible – am almost ashamed
to record it as it was my own
negligence that I didn’t read more.

MSS 5526

My darling wife
I returned last night from my visit
to David. Dr Gaines was with me–he found
him very badly & feel fatally wounded.
The wound is from a minie ball flatened
by having struck the fence before it hit him
the ball enterd near the lower part of the
stomach & progresing laterally lodged under
the skin in his side from where it was
extracted–The danger is that his stomach is
wounded, if so he has scarcely a chance for life
if he is not wounded there he will certainly
I think get over it–He is at the house
of a most excelent lady who is paying him
every attention–I left James Dr. Gordon and
a young man from his Co with him–Your
father got here last night & went home
this morning. David suffered a good deal
the night after he was wounded–but the

[page 2]
next day (yesterday) he was free from pain
and apparently as calm & free from all
excitement as a veteran or a stone[?] He is as
brave in the face of threatened death as he was
in the face of the danger in which he got
his wound. The circumstances under which he
was wounded show the spirit of the boy and my
great regret is that he was at the time going
a head of orders. It seems that the yankes at their
picket had erected a breast work (in army par-
lance called a pit) from which they kept up
a continuous fire on our men–David & several
others undertook on their own hook to get
practically in rear of this pit, in order to have
a good fire at the yankeys in this they suc-
ceeded & gave them a deadly & distructive fire
during which David was not 30 steps as I was
told from their line–they then got safely
back to the woods not far from their original
position–Davis was standing by the fence when
a ball from the yankeys struck the fence, glanced

[page 3]
and struck him–he did not fall but walked
50 yards before he told them he was hurt he
then gave out & was carried to Mrs Crump of
Falls Church as a distance of 2 miles. it occured

Sunday Evening about sun down–His wound
is very much the same that Mike Coffman
recd at Manassas and from the fact that he
did not fall when struck I am constrained to
believe that his stomach is not hurt.

I told Mr. Boyd to tell you not to attempt to
come down before he returned. You could do
David no good now, but harm–Everything de-
pends on his being kept entirely free from all
excitement & I dont think you ought to see
him now if you came here–In a week
you can be of service to him for then the
first crisis will have passed. I have just
recd from the confederacy a very eligent
wall tent & fly–have got it up ready to
occupy. I hope now my very good friends
at home will not go distracted because I
have a whole tent to myself.

[page 4]
By the way Genl Longstreet head quarters are
at Falls church which is 13 miles from here *
I got hm to keep a regular guard on the
house in which David is I asked it as personal
favor & it was readily granted–I did this to keep
out stragling soldiers.

I want you to bring me a card of butons for my
shirt bosoms & a tin candlestick

affectionately & truly yours
E T H Warren

Give love to all & remember me kindly to
Mrs Williams & tell her I am going to write
to her when I get time & a good pen, and
I will expect a very long letter in reply

E T H Warren of the Fourth Regiment Virginia Volunteers and later Colonel of the Tenth.

Mike Coffman is Michael D. Coffman, 1st Corporal, Co. G., 10th Virginia Infantry [John P. Mann, IV]

More on the wounding of Jennie Magruder Warren’s brother David Magruder will appear in the Jones letter of September 20
MSS 7786-g

[from the diary of Francis G. Hale, of the 34th Ohio Zouaves]

at Mayesville this morning
want to charge 40 cents
for break fast. woul not
give it. made breakfast
on biscuit & bread &c. Butter
the folk at Mayes ville
give us had a part
of a cup of coffee that
the cook gave me. feele
very well only a slight
head ache. one fellow
got a bayonet run in
his arm by fooling aroun the gards he
is raveing mad a bout
it and there was a
nother fellow a going
to bayonet him but
did not
we went on the freest
one Arrozona & Dunleith
we was far a head
but they past us at
Mayesville about 10 oclock
the arrazona had a
cole boat in tow withe
her full of privates
we stopt here a bout
8 oclock
there is a ferry boat carrying
mules a cross to ohio
from Kentucky to aberdene
we have got the rifeld
musket we refused
them once but we could
not get any other so we
had to take them. They are very good for
the kind

Left Mays ville half after
leven o clock
Callonel Louis remains
went down as we went
a way frome here he was
shot throughe the forhead
and his legs was all torn
of by grape shot
I be gin to realize now
a soldiers life but
have not come to
the realities of it
we will the last of
this week. though
we past the arrizona
at six oclock and
are after the Dunleith
now we have got her
in sight we will pass
her in an hour or so
it has been raining
for the last half
hour and still it
rains the boys that
are on the haricon
deck are come down
and we will be
crowded to night
I expect the fog
raising on the river
and we will have
a nother dark night
of it I expect

last night was tolerable
Clear we are now to
virginea on one side
ohio on the other
we have not passed the dunleith yet
the mate of the boat
told us last night
of the snake hunters
of virginea they take
nothing but a club
and when they catch
a secech he is a goner
shure enough the
secech took all the
horses & corn the the[sic]
snake hunters had
and left them desti
tute for food now
they give them their
pay they just deploy
by secksions and
meete at any given
point from fore sides
if they meete a secech
he is gon shure enough
there is a nother boat in
our wake t his morning
we all slept very well
last night and all
feele fresh this morning.

MSS 13405

Dear Ma

Although I am so much fatigued
I can scarcely write I will not let the good opportunity
which affords itself this morning pass without writing
you a line. We returned in the night last night from on
picket about ten miles below here, almost to Alexandria
we remained five days and of course without the
least particle of shelter whatever. I suppose you remember
what an awful night last Wednesday night was.
We remained out all the whole night lying upon
the ground, and the rain coming down in torrents and
we without the least particle of shelter. From the
place where we went on picket we could see Washington
and in fact we could see every around W___
and Alexandria in short we could see right in
our enemies Country. I will write soon and give
you the particulars and an account of things down
there.

Tell Pa I received his letter on my return last
night, and was very glad to hear from you all. will
answer it soon.

I am very sorry to hear that my uniform
coat is too small. I wish you would Please send down
my uniform by the first opportunity. If the Country
does not intend furnishing us with overcoats I wish
you would please make one for me I would like to have
it very large and a cape with it, like that one of
Walters, it is absolutely necessary for me to have one
on picket, as I can not run about through the woods
at night with my gun and a shawl.

Ma there has been several letters and a little package
sent to Front Royal to me. Please send them down
by the very first opportunity as I am very anxious
to get them.

[page 2]
Head Quarters has been moved down to F. C. H.
we saw the boys last night they are all well.

Please ask Pa to send down my boots as
soon as he can conveniently do so.

I must close as Mr. Miller will leave
in a few moments Write soon

Ever Your aff son
R[ichard] B[ayly] B[uck]

Richard Bayly Buck, 1844-1888, of the Warren Rifles, Co. B of the 17th Virginia Infantry

MSS 3093 and 1091

My Darling Wife –
I did not write my
regular Sunday letter to you on yesterday
as usual. After breakfast I left the camp
on duty & did not return until dinner
when very tired I slept a couple of hours.
Very soon I got orders to leave again for
a ride of thirteen miles, & did not get
back until bed time. This morning we
all left for our new encampment
where we are comfortably quartered.
I received your letter of 9th inst a few
days since. Indeed Love the perusal of your
letters gives me more pleasure than I ever
receive from any other source. Should
I not be happy to know there is some
one in the world who loves me so well
and looks with such dear interest to my
fate? To be with you again is the wish

[page 2]
which lies nearest my heart. But the duty
to which my life is now devoted must be met
without shrinking. Before the work is done
many I fear must fall, and I may be
one of the number. If so, I am resigned to
my fate & I bequeath to you our dear little
boys, in full assurance, that you will
give to my country in them true and useful
citizens. I wish Love the prospect were
brighter, but indeed I see no hope of
a speedy end of this bloody contest.
Now Love two or three words about business.
You will need some pork this winter. If
you can get some stock hogs upon fair
terms, do so and put them up to fatten.
If however they cannot be had at a fair price
we can buy the pork this winter. I enclose
a note to Pa, also one to Mat, & to write
them must now bid you good-bye till
my next Sunday letter. The box by Jim came to
hand – say to Phebe her biscuits were very nice.
Remember me kindly to John Fitzgerald & his wife.
Kiss little Mathew & Gala for me & tell them
they must not forget Papa –
Ever yours
E F Paxton

[page 3]
Dear Mat –
I would like for you to bring
me, my Saddle, and have made for me
a suitable bridle.
A pair of heavy boots, legs large enough
up to the knee as to wear outside my
pants – Rollins at Denners knows my measure
I think no 9
A pair of cursimere pants of good quality
blue if you can get it, if not any other
colour with green cord. Lum Baker knows
my measure –
A heavy blanket or comfort if it has
not been sent –
An army overcoat with cape, of any
kind of heavy goods
As to the bills I wont have any money
until our pay roll of Sept 1st is settled
which I think will be soon. Say to Wm
White I will be obliged to him to settle
the bills & I will return it out of the
first money I get – no news Yours Truly
E F Paxton

Elisha F. “Bull” Paxton, University of Virginia alumnus and Confederate general commanding first the 27th Virginia Infantry and later the Stonewall Brigade.

MSS 2165

[From the diary of Harrison B. Jones, 4th Sergeant of Co. H of the 33rd Virginia]

It was extremely warm to
day I went up to the Junck
tion. there is nothing going
of much interest. I heard
a very good sermon to
day delivered by Col.
Pendleton of the Rockbridge
artilery. We had a chaplain
apprentice to our Regt the
other day. he also preached

Col. William N. Pendleton, a West Point graduate and an Episcopal rector from Lexington, christened the Artillery’s four cannon Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

MSS 14169

[From the diary of Wesley Hammond of the Dixie Greys (42nd Virginia, Co. E)

Our forces fell back about
a mile this morning and form
-ed in line of battle – Dixie Greys
sent to the top of a mountain
on the left to act as picket – lay
concealed in bushes all day –
About 1. O’clock P.M. George brought
us something to eat – read 15 Chap-
ters in the bible while here – returned
late in the evening – Marched 7
miles in the night towards our old
camp on Valley Mountain – Tremen-
dous rain on us at night – En-
camped at Marshall’s Store on Val-
ley Mountain river. Arrived there
about 12 O’clock.

MSS 5526

[From the diary of Eugene M. Cox of the Albemarle Border Guards]

9 A.M. Have had heavy rain this morning–holds up a little now and the sun comes out — but the clouds hovering about the mountains betoken more rain–all the stragglers have gotten up with the company–prepared and partook of a very good breakfast and feel much better–The road is now in dreadful plight–almost impassable. 4 P.M. We were not put on the march to-day–the writer of these notes feels exceedingly sorry and humiliated to acknowledge that many of the soldiers regard not the sanctity of the Sabbath Day–spend their time at cards for money–the demoralizing influence of army life is truly appalling–vice takes the place of virtue–war sets virtue back many degrees–there can be no greater curse upon a nation, or society–

MSS 38-221

[from the diary of Francis G. Hale of the 34th Ohio Zouaves]

We left Camp Denison the 15
in the evening for Cin-
cinnati arived safe
but did not get there
till dark went all
over town marching
went down to the river
and got on the boat
for galapolieee run all
night till morning
runaground broke
the hog chain stopt at
Maysville Kentucky
stopt angot our chain
fixt a part of us had
to sleepe on the boiler
deck but slept very
well at least I did
got a negro cook with
us that is the funnyest
fellow I ever saw
he call crackers furllous
he says he eat 14 furlous
drank two cups of coffee
and only cost him one
dime
The boys seems
well pleased but cannot
get enough to eat
for we only fetch
some crackers & bread
with us the river is
all fog but is clearing
up now so we can see movin[?]

MSS 13405