Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

Post image for “I have enough to occupy every moment of my time in preparing the company for the service which we may expect to see before long.”–Letters from Elisha Franklin Paxton.

“I have enough to occupy every moment of my time in preparing the company for the service which we may expect to see before long.”–Letters from Elisha Franklin Paxton.

April 25, 2011

Elisha Franklin Paxton – Letters from camp and field while an officer in the Confederate Army,The American Civil War

Harper’s Ferry, April 25,1861.

We reached this place on Tuesday morning. Instead of being fatigued, I was rather improved by the trip. Here we have all the comforts which we could expect, good food and comfortable quarters, better than generally falls to a soldier’s lot. I have enough to occupy every moment of my time in preparing the company for the service which we may expect to see before long. They have much to learn before they can be relied on for efficiency. I regret that my eyes are no better as it is necessary for me to read much for my own preparation. Try, Love, to make yourself contented and happy. I would not like to think that I was forgotten by dear wife and little ones at home, but it would give me a lighter heart to think that they appreciated the necessity of my absence, and the high importance of a faithful discharge of my present duties. My eyes will not enable me to write more without risk of injury to them.

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