Taylor Hotel Winchester
May 29 1862
My own darling Jennie
This morning the 10” was ordered
on the road to Charlestown, but I
found myself entirely too unwell
to go with them and so Billy
& I came to this place for rest.
I think I will be able to take
the field tomorrow or next day. I
am suffering from nothing but
my bowels & am only necessaryin
need of rest to cure them. Mr & Mrs
Cartmel are very kind indeed and
do every thing they can for me. I dont
need much it is true yet it is a pleasure to
have friends near to attend to any wants you
may have. And still a greater one if Jennie
& my darling little pets were only here to see
& plague papa, but that is now impossible
I would go home to see you but with the
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means of transportation between here & H Burg
it will would do me more harm to travel
that distance than to remain with the regim-
ent. So I must be content to remain as I am
for the present.
I wrote you a long letter yesterday but
have mislaid it. In it I was giving you
various reasons why I thought we were
approaching the end of the war. our
victory here has been complete and has
resulted in clearing all this part of
Virginia of the enimy [sic]. we have captured
more army supplies & prisoners than were
captured at Manassas and that too with-
out scatering [sic] or demoralizing our troops
except Ashbys Cavalry which are of
no earthly account for any purpose
whatever. A victory now by Genl John-
ston will terminate the strife, and I
cant help but feel that he will certainly
gain such a victory in a very few
days if indeed he has not already
gained one. Johnston has been too slow
[page 3]
I could do better myself. he must now
fight or loose [sic] all his reputation and
that of his army. Lincoln says the war
must end by the 1stof July if so it ends
in favor of the Rebels. The latest news
from Richmond is that our men are
perfectly confident of success and I learned
from Yankey prisoners here that they are
of the opinion that Johnston has more
men than McClelland, so they of course
have no great confidence in their cause
our victory here will cause the Yanks
to withdraw a portion of their men
from Eastern Va to defend Washington
for Jackson will certainly make believe
that he is after Washington, if indeed he
is not really after it. All that is now
necessary is to make a bold & vigorous
dash at McCleland & he is routed
and destroyed. Beauregard I understand
is in position to hold his own and
I am daily expecting to hear good
news from him. Look on the bright
[page 4]
side my precious darling, cheer up all
will yet be well. I got your letter
sent by a member of the 37” Reg. I
feel very sorry for you, but trust
in God who has been with us &
near us in all our troubles and
who has in mercy protected me
amid so many dangers, and all will
be well. I will write to you
again tomorrow. Give love to
all & believe as ever your most
devoted & affectionate husband
ETHWarren
“Taylor Hotel”, heading – The Taylor Hotel was utilized by many Confederate and Union officers during the War. Recently a number of grants have been awarded in order to restore the hotel to its former glory.
“Jennie”, salutation; line 15 – Warren’s wife Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson Magruder.
“10””, line 1 – 10thVA Infantry.
“Charlestown”, line 2 – Charles Town, Jefferson County, VA (now WV).
“Billy”, line 4 – William Rolston, private, Company H, 10th VA Infantry.
“Mr & Mrs Cartmel”, lines 10 & 11 – Nathaniel M. Cartmell was the proprietor of the Taylor Hotel. His wife was Ellen Moore Sydnor.
“my darling little pets”, line 16 – Warren referred to his children: seven year old Lizzie, six year old James M., and three month old Virginia ‘Jennie’ Watson.
“H Burg”, page 2, line 1 – Harrisonburg, Rockingham County.
“Ashbys”, page 2, line 16 – Turner Ashby, Jr., Confederate colonel, commanded the Valley Army’s cavalry.
[transcription by John P. Mann, IV]
MSS 7786-g