Head Quarters, Logan Ct. Ho.
October 10, 1862
My dear Charles
The office work incidental to the
getting up a command fell so tellingly upon
me whilst in Wytheville, that for my life I could
not Summon energy enough after a hard days’s
work to write a line to any friends I had, so
that you have not heard from me, tho’ I thought
sometimes I had Something of interest to write
about. I missed the pleasant Social circle I
had to abandon when I left the old homestead
which contained it, and which you know is so
dear to me, and in which I hope yet to pass
many a pleasant hour if I am not cut off.
I left Wytheville head quarters Sept 19th, two weeks
after the General took of the line of march to Abb’s
Valley in Tazewell 60 miles west of Wyte, and
overtook the army still farther west, beautifully
encamped in McDonald’s valley, Wyoming Co.
110 miles from Wytheville, I cannot describe to
you the beauty of this little valley 10 miles long
1/4 mile broad, with the Guyandotte river wending
its way lazily and lingeringly along sometimes
under on precipice, and then passing across to
another, Marking off fields for the farmer, and
furnishing some of the most graceful outlines
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as viewed from the lofty mountains overlook=
ing them I ever beheld. The weather was beau=
tifully clear the two weeks we were there, and
the little time I had to Spare was spent in fish=
ing, hunting and visiting the peach orchards
which are certainly better and more numerous
here than in any State in the Confederacy.
When Genl. Floyd, with only 150 men reach=
ed Wyoming Valley a furious, exterminating
civil war was raging and it was as much as
a man’s life was worth to ride through the country
along the roads or through the mountain paths,
In two weeks, such was the confidence his pres=
ence inspired and so great is the affection
this people have for him, that every man ex=
cept four, voluntarily came forwarded[sic], surren=
derred their arms, took the oath of allegiance
and fidelity to the Commonwealth of Va. and
secured a Safe guard under his Signature for
protection for themselves, families and property.
So that from the western border of Tazewell County
to the Kentucky line west and the Ohio river north
the country in every neighbourhood is as safe or
I may affirm safer, than it was in time of pro=
found peace. If he had done nothing else, the
suppression of this “internecine” conflict would
in my view entitle him to much commenda
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tion. But his labors,or rather the fruits of his
labors do not rest here. He is gathering a fine
athletic, courageous band of men around him
who will fight like the devil. If it can be done
very soon, one brigade will be organized here, but
our forces are very scattered and many of them
at distant points, and it will require time to
concentrate them, clothe and equip and drill
them. Our clothing and arms, ordnance Qr ms=
ter and commissary are yet in bulk at Wythe=
ville, and will reach us by a circuitous route
from Wytheville, thro’ mercer Raleigh & Wyoming
counties to this point. But Genl. Floyd infuses
into his officers an energy and requires of them
a persistent industry, that overcomes difficul=
ties apparently insurmountable. An expedi=
tion of 400 men left camp this morning for
a remote point infested by the only Union
force of any magnitude int he entire west.
You have never seen so primitive a people
as these extreme western Virginians. I like them
exceedingly, and am personally as popular
with them as I well can be. Numberless are the
kind words and abundant are the presents
they make one of fowls, fish, butter, milk and
venison. I believe it is all owing to my irre=
pressible impudence and uniform kindness
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to all ages and conditions.
I have met with a relation in this country
whom I esteem very much,–Major Henry M.
Beckley, a young lawyer of this town and the
most sensible, intelligent and popular man
in the county. He is a son of Genl. Beckley
of Raleigh, who was the soon of an officer
of the Revolution, and had a grant of
100,000 acres of land made him by Cong=
ress for distinguished services rendered his
country in that protracted struggle.
Well, it is late at night and I must
stop though I could write you ten times as
much. I am acting as adjt. General and
find the office laborious and very difficult
to fill to my satisfaction, tho’ the General
seems to be highly pleased.
How are dear cousin Lizzie and the good
Col? my warmest love and most heartfelt
sympathies are theirs. How my heart aches
when I think of dear Ellis, To Thomas and
Cousin Fannie afft. greetings, to all who com=
posed your family first July cordial remem=
brances, to aunt Margaret and Fan when you
write my truest love
Yr. Cousin
R.S. Ellis
Richard Shelton Ellis, Adjutant, 50th Virginia Infantry
MSS 2516