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

Post image for “But before she is here long she will probably be startled with an alarm, false or real, of a fight, which will make her wish she was at home again.”–Letters from Elisha Franklin Paxton.

“But before she is here long she will probably be startled with an alarm, false or real, of a fight, which will make her wish she was at home again.”–Letters from Elisha Franklin Paxton.

September 8, 2011

Elisha Franklin Paxton – Letters from camp and field while an officer in the Confederate Army

Camp Harmon, September 8, 1861.

I will devote to a letter to my loving little wife at home part of this quiet Sunday evening. Sinner as I am, I like to see something to mark the difference between Sunday and week-day. We have no drills on Sunday, and generally two or three sermons in different parts of the camp, which was not so some time since, when everything went on as on every other day. This morning we had a sermon from Bishop Johns, who dined with us, and this afternoon he preaches again. We expect this evening a distinguished visitor, Mrs. Jackson, so we shall have mistress as well as master in the camp. The General went for her to Manassas yesterday evening, but returned without her, finding she had gone to Fairfax, where he immediately started in search of her. When she arrives his headquarters, I doubt not, will present much more the appearance of civilization. But before she is here long she will probably be startled with an alarm, false or real, of a fight, which will make her wish she was at home again.

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