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 I N M K MO R Y '» K 
 
 WILLIAM RAND KENAN 
 
 given by his daughter 
 
 .MAIM' LILY KENAN FLAGLEH 
 
 k'voted to the History of the South ii 
 the Civil War 
 
UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL 
 
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 library of 
 (Etye University of Hortfy Carolina 
 
 CKNAN MEMORIAL COLLECTION 
 
 I N M I-: MO R Y ') K 
 
 WILLIAM RAND KENAN 
 
 given by !iis daughter 
 
 MA in' LILY KENAN FLAGLEK 
 
 k'voted In the History of the South in 
 the Civil War 
 
UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL 
 
 10002476125 
 
 This BOOK may be kept out 
 
 TW© WEEKS ©NLY 
 
 and is subject to a tine of FIVE 
 CENTS a day thereafter. It 
 was taken out on the day indi- 
 cated below: 
 
 27 Mr '23 
 
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 MpHPUgjJt 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
THE LIBRARY OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA 
 
 AT CHAPEL HILL 
 
 ENDOWED BY THE 
 
 DIALECTIC AND PHILANTHROPIC 
 
 SOCIETIES 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2012 with funding from 
 
 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 
 
 http://archive.org/details/memoirmemorialsOOpaxt 
 
ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
2- r \tooLvtKs 
 
, I 
 
 5fciemoir an& 5Uemorials 
 
 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 BRIGADIER-GENERAL, C. S. A. 
 
 COMPOSED OF HIS LETTERS FROM CAMP AND FIELD WHILE 
 
 AN OFFICER IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY, WITH AN 
 
 INTRODUCTORY AND CONNECTING NARRATIVE 
 
 COLLECTED AND ARRANGED BY HIS SON, 
 
 JOHN GALLATIN PAXTON 
 
 " But these our brothers fought for her, 
 At life's dear peril wrought forjier, 
 So loved her that they e died for her." 
 
 James'lRussett Lowell 
 
 " . . . knows that the young man who composedly periled his life and 
 lost it has done exceedingly well for himself without doubt." 
 
 Walt Whitman 
 
 9 
 
 PRINTED, NOT PUBLISHED 
 1905 
 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 THH UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA 
 
 AT CHAPEL WfU. 
 
PUBLISHER'S NOTE. 
 
 P 
 J 
 O 
 
 o 
 
 Mr. John G. Paxton, General Paxton's son, had 
 this volume printed to preserve as a memorial the let- 
 ters which his father had written from the scene of 
 war. It was not intended that it should ever be of- 
 fered for sale. The story which these letters tell is so 
 full of heroism and pathos, so truly do the}' lay bare 
 the noble soul of the writer and show the spirit which 
 animated him and his comrades, that there has been a 
 considerable demand for its publication. This house 
 has therefore obtained Mr. Paxton's permission to take 
 up the publication of the book, and offers the volume 
 as originally published for private distribution without 
 change of any kind, other than this announcement. 
 It is a part of our arrangement with Mr. Paxton that 
 we do not change even the title-page. 
 
 The Neaee Publishing Co. 
 
 New York, 
 
 August 5, 1907. 
 
 PUBLISHED AND SOLD BY 
 
 THE NEALE PUBLISHING COMPANY 
 
 Flatiron Building 43 1 Eleventh Street 
 
 NEW YORK WASHINGTON 
 
FOREWORD 
 
 In this preliminary note are set forth the nature and pur- 
 pose of this volume. Although printed, it is not pub- 
 lished, and is intended only for distribution among Gen- 
 eral Paxton's family, friends, and comrades. 
 
 It is entitled ''Memoir and Memorials." The Memoir 
 is a sketch of General Paxton's life contained in the first 
 chapter and in the subsequent narrative connecting the 
 letters. The Memorials are the letters themselves. The 
 book consists mainly of these letters, and it is to perpetu- 
 ate them and thereby set forth the character of the writer 
 that this book is printed. 
 
 General Paxton's career as a soldier, honorable though 
 it was, would not justify its publication. His letters, writ- 
 ten without reserve to the loved wife at home, not only 
 show what manner of man he was and how he thought and 
 felt while an actor in these trying times, but also are rep- 
 resentative of his comrades, of whom he was one of the 
 highest types. These letters thus originating are a true 
 mirror of the writer, revealing his real qualities and char- 
 acteristics with photographic accuracy. Showing as they 
 do rare qualities of both mind and soul, they explain why 
 he and his comrades were able so long to defend them- 
 selves against great odds. They also show how firmly 
 was fixed in the mind of this man, a scholar and a lawyer, 
 partly educated in the North, the belief that his State was 
 
vi FOREWORD 
 
 sovereign and his first duty was to her. These letters are 
 the material of which history is made. To the descen- 
 dants of General Paxton they should be a stimulus to hon- 
 orable lives and brave deeds. To his comrades in arms 
 they recall, with sadness perhaps, the scenes through 
 which they so honorably passed. To his son, the writer 
 of these lines, he is not even a memory— a tale that is told, 
 that is all. At the knee of his widowed mother, he first 
 learned to revere the name and virtues of his sire, and 
 these letters, coming into his hands after manhood, 
 brought to him a keener appreciation of those virtues. 
 Ancestral pride is only good so far as it perpetuates the 
 ancestral virtues. May these letters serve to do this and 
 teach the descendants of this young soldier, who so freely 
 gave his life for his fatherland, that they spring from an- 
 other Bayard, a chevalier sans peur et sans reproche. 
 
 j. a. p. 
 
 Independence, Missouri, 
 September, 1905. 
 
CHAPTER I 
 
 MEMOIR 
 
 Elisha Franklin Paxton was born March. 4, 1828, in 
 Rockbridge County, Virginia, the son of Elisha 
 Paxton and Margaret McNutt. His grandfather, 
 William Paxton, came to Rockbridge in its earliest settle- 
 ment about the year 1745. He was a man of character and 
 substance and commanded a company at the battle of 
 Yorktown. Margaret McNutt was the daughter of Alex- 
 ander McNutt and Rachel Grigsby. She was one of a 
 family of eight sisters and four brothers, many of whom 
 possessed marked intelligence and great force of char- 
 acter. Alexander Gallatin McNutt, Governor of Missis- 
 sippi, was one of the brothers. Margaret McNutt Paxton 
 possessed the family characteristics to a high degree. 
 She was a granddaughter of John Grigsby, whose sobri- 
 quet was l i Soldier John, ' ' going back to his service under 
 Admiral Vernon in his expedition against Cartagena in 
 1741. He also commanded a company in the Revolution- 
 ary War. His soldierly qualities were stamped on his de- 
 scendants, four of whom were brigadier-generals in the 
 Confederate army, and many others were officers of lower 
 rank who followed the stars and bars. 
 
 The Paxtons are descended from a soldier under Crom- 
 well who emigrated with his Presbyterian comrades to the 
 north of Ireland. As members of a hostile and an alien 
 race their life there was one of conflict. Later they bit- 
 terly resented the action of the crown in compelling them 
 to pay tithes for the support of the English Church, and 
 
2 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 largely on this account emigrated to America. Men, like 
 plants, take on certain characteristics from the soil in 
 which they live, the air they breathe and other physical 
 surroundings. These militant churchmen found an ap- 
 propriate home for the development of their sterling vir- 
 tues in the beautiful valleys lying between the Blue Eidge 
 and the Alleghanies— the Paxtons in the rough but fertile 
 lands of Rockbridge. 
 
 Here, on a beautiful spot in the foot-hills of the Blue 
 Ridge, Frank Paxton first saw the light. There in his 
 childhood he imbibed that love of freedom and devotion 
 to duty which had marked his ancestors. As a boy he 
 manifested unusual vigor of intellect. He attended the 
 classical school of his cousin James H. Paxton, and at the 
 age of fifteen entered the junior class at Washington Col- 
 lege, where he received his degree of A.B. in two years. 
 He then went to Yale, where he graduated in two years, 
 and afterward took the law course at the University of 
 Virginia. He was five feet ten inches high, heavily built 
 and of great bodily strength. As an indication both of his 
 physical and soldierly qualities he was known both at 
 school and in the army as "Bull" Paxton. Dr. John B. 
 Minor wrote the following of his course at the University 
 of Virginia : 
 
 ' ' Gen. E. F. Paxton, who fell at the battle of Chancel- 
 lorsville, in May, 1863, was a student of law here, and a 
 graduate in the Law Department of the University in 
 1849. As a student, none of his contemporaries acquitted 
 themselves more satisfactorily, and in point of conduct, 
 he was entirely exemplary. I think he could then have 
 been not more than twenty-one years of age, but I have 
 retained a lively recollection of him during the interven- 
 ing period of forty-three years, so that whilst, after so 
 great a lapse of time, I cannot recall particulars, he left 
 on my mind an impression of unusual merit and a convic- 
 tion that if he lived, he was destined not only to achieve 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 3 
 
 eminence, but what in my estimation is far better, to at- 
 tain to distinguished usefulness. ' ' 
 
 Upon his admission to the bar, he spent several years in 
 the prosecution of land claims in the State of Ohio and re- 
 sided there. He was successful in this enterprise and 
 made some money. In 1854 he opened a law office in Lex- 
 ington, Va., and married Miss Elizabeth White, the 
 daughter of Matthew White of Lexington. This union 
 was a most happy one and there were born of it four chil- 
 dren, three of whom survived him — Matthew W. Paxton 
 of Lexington, Va., the writer, and Frank Paxton of San 
 Saba County, Texas. Frank Paxton at once took a high 
 rank in his profession and engaged in important business 
 enterprises, among others becoming the President of the 
 first bank in Rockbridge. His strength of character was 
 shown by the fact that at this time, when the drinking of 
 whiskey was a universal custom, he abstained altogether 
 from its use, and continued to do so until his death. In 
 1860 failing eyesight compelled him to abandon his pro- 
 fession and he purchased a beautiful estate near Lexing- 
 ton, known as Thorn Hill. 
 
 In this beautiful home with wife and babes, the drum 
 tap of '61 found him. It is needless to say that he had 
 been taking an active part in the political events leading 
 up to this. He was a man of intense feeling, when 
 aroused, and had early adopted the view of the Constitu- 
 tion of the United States, which came to him from his fa- 
 thers. To him the right of secession was as clear as the 
 right of trial by jury. The State was sovereign and in the 
 hot blood of his youth he believed the time had come to 
 secede. So the war in which he entered was for the de- 
 fense of his home and fireside and against an invading 
 foe. It was as righteous to him as that waged by the 
 Greeks at Thermopylae and his life, if needs be, must be 
 cheerfully surrendered in such a cause. In the contest 
 in Rockbridge County over the election of delegates to the 
 
4 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 secession convention he took an active part in favor of the 
 secession candidates. His great moral courage was con- 
 spicuous at the meeting held in Lexington, where he again 
 and again attempted to overcome the large majority op- 
 posed to him. He was unsuccessful in this, and Rock- 
 bridge sent Union delegates to Richmond. 
 
 He had no special military training and entered the 
 service as first lieutenant of the Rockbridge Rifles, and 
 afterwards a part of the 27th Virginia Regiment, Stone- 
 wall Brigade. With this company, at the first call for 
 troops in April, 1861, he marched to the front. 
 
 The pomp and circumstances of glorious war were 
 present when on that bright spring morning his company 
 and several others, with colors flying and martial music, 
 took up the line of march from Lexington to Harper's 
 Ferry. His young wife, with sad forebodings, wept until 
 her handker chief was wet with tears. In their last fond 
 embrace he took this from her hand and as a reminder of 
 her love carried it on many a bloody battle-field. 
 
 He wrote to his wife weekly and these letters, which 
 well show the man and the times, make up substantially 
 the subsequent chapters of this volume. They are edited 
 only by omitting parts too personal to be of general 
 interest. 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
 MEMORIALS 
 
 New Market, April 21, 1861. 
 
 I reached here this morning in good health and in 
 spirits as good as could be expected, considering the 
 bloody prospect ahead and the sad hearts left at 
 home. It is bad enough. I have no time to think of my 
 business at home. My duties now for my State require 
 every energy of mind and body which I can devote to 
 them. Do just as you please. If you think proper stay 
 in town and leave all matters and keys on the farm in 
 charge of John Fitzgerald. 
 
 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 gener- 
 ally 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 
 
 5 
 
6 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 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. 
 
 Harper's Ferry, April 29, 1861. 
 
 I received your letter by Mr. Campbell and was very 
 happy to hear from you. Nothing could be half so inter- 
 esting as a line from dear wife and little ones at home. 
 Be cheerful and act upon the motive which made me leave 
 you to risk my life in relieving my State from the peril 
 which menaces her. I hope I may see you again, but if 
 never, my last wish is that you will make our little boys 
 honest, truthful, and useful men. Last Thursday night, 
 I experienced for the first time the feeling of coming in 
 contact with the bullets, bayonets, and sabres of our 
 enemies. We were called up suddenly upon the expecta- 
 tion of an engagement which proved a false alarm. Now 
 I know what the feeling is, and know I shall enter the 
 struggle, when it comes, without fear. Next to the honor 
 and safety of my State in her present trial, the happiness 
 of wife and little ones lies nearest my heart. My health 
 was never better. I have spent two nights on duty in the 
 open air without suffering, and feel assured now that my 
 health will not suffer by such exposure. 
 
 Kiss the little ones for me and never let them forget 
 "papa gone," perhaps forever. Accept for yourself 
 every wish which a fond husband could bestow upon a de- 
 voted wife. 
 
 Harper's Ferry, May 4, 1861. 
 
 Write very often. Nothing can be so interesting to me 
 as your letters. Some of the other wives, you think, get 
 more letters than you do, and you women measure your 
 husband's love by the number and length of their letters. 
 I will write to you, Love, about once a week and half a 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 7 
 
 page at a time. I cannot with justice to my eyes write 
 longer letters. This will be handed to you by Maj. Pres- 
 ton, who will tell you everything you want to know. Kiss 
 the children for me, and for yourself take my best love. 
 
 Harper's Ferry, May 18, 1861. 
 
 My wife, I have no sweeter word than this to call the dear 
 little woman at home, with whom my happiest reminis- 
 cences of the past and fondest hopes of the future have 
 ever been associated. (You speak of dreams; I had one 
 of you, that we were married again, and thought we had a 
 very nice time of it.) We have moved from our station 
 in the mountain back to town. Here we have very plea- 
 sant quarters, in which I think it likely we will remain 
 until we have a battle. When this will be, it is impossible 
 to say, but is not expected immediately. I received the 
 green flannel shirt and put it on for the first time to-day. 
 It is very comfortable and valued the more because made 
 by the hands of my dear wife. Present my kind regards 
 to John (the gardener) and hand him the enclosed order 
 on Wm. White. Present my kindest regards to Jack, 
 Jane, and Phebe (slaves). Kiss the children for me, and 
 for yourself take a husband's best love. 
 
 Martinsburg, May 24, 1861. 
 
 After mentioning it in your letter, you add in a postscript, 
 "Don't forget to tell me where your books are." I told 
 you in my last letter, but wish I had not. Really, Love, I 
 do not wish you to be annoyed with my business. I wish 
 you to be very happy, and this I know you cannot be if you 
 undertake to harass yourself with my business. Go out 
 home occasionally and see how matters are going on, but 
 do not trouble yourself any further. So, Love, if any one 
 calls on you about my matters, tell them my instructions 
 to you were to have nothing to do with them. Write no 
 
8 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 more about business, but about my dear wife and little 
 ones, if you wish to make your letters interesting. We 
 have been kept moving since we came here. We have a 
 hard time, but have gotten used to it. The men were dis- 
 contented and unmanageable at first, but are now very 
 well satisfied. This section now is in most complete condi- 
 tion for defense, abundantly able, I think, to resist any 
 force which can be made against it. Troops have been 
 lately arriving in large numbers. I have no idea when 
 the battle will be fought. Many of us will fall in it, but I 
 have no doubt of our success. And now, my darling, 
 good-bye until I write again. 
 
 Harper's Ferry, June 5, 1861. 
 
 I received your sweet letter of the 1st inst. on yesterday, 
 and the return of Mr. McClure gives me the opportunity 
 of sending you a line in return for it. When McClure 
 came here to see his son, a member of our company, I of- 
 fered him my hand, which he took, and thus I have made 
 friends with the only man on earth with whom I was not 
 on speaking terms. I bade a cordial good-bye to Wilson 
 when I left home, which I think he returned in the same 
 spirit of good- will. I now may say that there is no one on 
 earth for whom I entertain anything but feelings of kind- 
 ness, and I think I have the ill will of no one. In view of 
 the danger before me, it is indeed gratifying to feel that 
 I have the good-will of those I leave behind, and that I 
 leave no one who has received a wrong from me which I 
 have not regretted and which is not forgiven. If Mr. Mc- 
 Clure calls on you, for my sake treat him with the utmost 
 kindness. Send me the miniature. Good-bye, dearest. 
 
 Winchester, June 15, 1861. 
 
 On Tuesday last we marched on foot from Harper's 
 Ferry to Shepherdstown, thence seven miles farther up 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 9 
 
 the Potomac. There we remained a day and a half, when 
 we were ordered to this place, on foot again, and reached 
 here, forty miles, in a day and a half. How long we re- 
 main here, or when we move again, I have not an idea. I 
 hardly thought I would have been able to stand forty 
 miles ' walk so well. Last night I felt very tired, but this 
 evening entirely recovered. The last three nights I have 
 slept in the open air on the ground, and never enjoyed 
 sleep more. I saw Capt. Jim "White to-day, and his col- 
 lege boys. Lexington has been well drained of its youth 
 and manhood. I heartily wish, Love, that I was with you 
 again, I hardly know what I would not give for one day 
 with wife and little ones. But I must not think of it. I 
 would soon make myself very unhappy if I suffered my 
 mind to wander in that direction. I ought to be grateful 
 to Omnipotence for such a love as that which you give me. 
 Blood and kindred never made a stronger tie. We have 
 just received orders to hitch up again — for what destina- 
 tion I do not know. Harper's Ferry has been abandoned 
 by our forces, and hereafter direct your letters to the ad- 
 dress below. Kiss the dear little baby boys for their ab- 
 sent papa, and for yourself accept the best love of a fond 
 husband. 
 
 Camp Stephens, near Martinsburg, June 30, 1861. 
 
 I wrote to you last Monday, and immediately was ordered 
 off on another expedition, in which I have been engaged 
 the greater part of the past week. I was in charge of a 
 small force engaged in destroying a bridge some ten miles 
 from our camp on the railroad. It was a rather danger- 
 ous expedition, but I have become so much accustomed to 
 the prospect of danger that it excites no alarm. I thought 
 when we left Winchester that we certainly would have 
 had a battle in a very few days; but two weeks have 
 elapsed, and there is, I think, less reason to expect one 
 now than there has been heretofore. The enemy is en- 
 
10 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 camped on the opposite side of the Potomac some ten 
 miles from here, but, I am satisfied, in less force than we 
 have in this vicinity. Under such circumstances, if we 
 get a fight we shall have to cross the river and make the 
 attack. Our picket-guards occasionally come in contact, 
 and the other day one of the Augusta Cavalry was se- 
 verely wounded. I hope you are having good success as 
 a farmer ; so, if I should be left behind when the war is 
 over, you may be able to take care of yourself. You 
 think, Love, I write very indifferently about it. As to the 
 danger to myself, I am free to confess that I feel perhaps 
 too indifferent. Not so as to the separation from loved 
 wife and little ones at home. I never knew what you were 
 worth to me until this war began and the terrible feeling 
 came upon me that I had pressed you to my bosom, per- 
 haps, for the last time. I always keep upon my person the 
 handkerchief which I took from your hand when we sepa- 
 rated. It was bathed in tears which that sad moment 
 brought to the eyes of my darling. I will continue to wear 
 it. It may yet serve as a bandage to staunch a wound 
 with. I keep one of your letters, which may serve to indi- 
 cate who I am, where may be found the fond wife who 
 mourns my death. May neither be ever needed to serve 
 such a purpose! Enclosed I send a letter from James 
 Edmonson to his grandmother. Say to Mrs. Chapin that 
 she may rely upon my acting the part of comrade and 
 friend to George. Kiss the children for me, and for your- 
 self accept all that a fond lover and husband can offer. 
 
 Near Winchester, July 8, 1861. 
 
 The last week has been one of patient waiting for a fight. 
 Oni Monday, the 1st inst., I was ordered by Col. Jackson 
 to go to Martinsburg and burn some engines, at which I 
 was engaged until Tuesday morning, when I received an 
 order to join my company, accompanied with the informa- 
 tion that the enemy was approaching and our force had 
 
MEMOIE AND MEMORIALS 11 
 
 gone out to give him battle. I obtained a conveyance as 
 speedily as I could, and the first intelligence of the fight I 
 received from my regiment, which I found retreating. 
 My company, I was pleased to learn, had fought bravely. 
 On Wednesday morning we took our stand ten miles this 
 side of Martinsburg, and there awaited the approach of 
 the enemy until Sunday morning, when we retired to this 
 place, three miles from Winchester. This we expect to 
 be our battle-field. When it will take place it is impos- 
 sible to say. It may be to-morrow, or perhaps not for a 
 month, depending upon the movements of the enemy. I 
 look forward to it without any feeling of alarm. I cannot 
 tell why, but it is so. My fate may be that of Cousin Bob 
 McChesney, of whose death I have but heard. If so, let 
 it be. I die in the discharge of my duty, from which it is 
 neither my wish nor my privilege to shrink. The horse- 
 trade was entirely satisfactory. Act in the same way in 
 all matters connected with the farm. Just consider your- 
 self a widow, and, in military parlance, insist upon being 
 "obeyed and respected accordingly." Pay your board 
 at Annie's out of the first money you get. She may 
 not be disposed to accept it, but I insist upon it. I do 
 not wish to pay such bills merely with gratitude. New- 
 man is still in the army, but I have not seen him for a 
 month. I called to see him the other day, but he was not 
 at his quarters. 
 
 It is now nearly three months since I left home, and I 
 hardly know how the time has passed. All I know is that 
 if I do my duty, I have but little leisure. I am used to the 
 hardships of the service, and feel that I have the health 
 and strength to bear any fatigue or exposure. Some- 
 times, as I lie upon the ground, my face to the sky, I think 
 of Matthew's little verse, "Twinkle, twinkle, little star," 
 and my mind wanders back to the wife and little ones at 
 home. Bless you ! If I never return, the wish which lies 
 nearest to my heart is for your happiness. And now, my 
 darling, again good-bye. Kiss little Matthew and Galla 
 
12 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 for me, and tell them Papa sends it. Give my love to Pa 
 and Rachel, and for yourself accept all that a fond hus- 
 band can give. 
 
 Manassas, July 23, 1861. 
 
 My Darling: We spent Sunday last in the sacred work of 
 achieving our nationality and independence. The work 
 was nobly done, and it was the happiest day of my life, our 
 wedding-day not excepted. I think the fight is over for- 
 ever. I received a ball through my shirt-sleeves, slightly 
 bruising my arm, and others, whistling "Yankee Doodle" 
 round my head, made fourteen holes through the flag 
 which I carried in the hottest of the fight. It is a miracle 
 that I escaped with my life, so many falling dead around 
 me. Buried two of our comrades on the field. God bless 
 my country, my wife, and my little ones ! 
 
 The following is taken from the Lexington ' ' Gazette, ' ' 
 dated August 8, 1861 : 
 
 " It is due to our worthy fellow-citizen, Mr. E. F. Paxton, 
 or rather it is due to the county of Rockbridge, to claim 
 credit for Mr. Paxton 's conduct, which he has been too 
 modest to claim for himself. A correspondent of one of 
 the Richmond papers a short time since spoke of a Vir- 
 ginian who had been lost from his company during the 
 fight, and fell in with the Georgia Regiment just as their 
 standard-bearer fell. The lost Virginian asked leave to 
 bear the colors. It was granted to him. He bore them 
 bravely. The flag was shot through three times, and the 
 flag-staff was shot off whilst in his hands. But he placed 
 the flag on the Sherman Battery, and our brave men stood 
 up to their colors and took the battery. That lost Virgin- 
 ian was E. F. Paxton, of Rockbridge." 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 13 
 
 Letter to the Editor of the Lexington " Gazette." 
 
 Camp Harmon, August 24, 1861. 
 
 I do not merit the compliment paid me in a paragraph 
 contained in a recent number of yonr paper, which gives 
 me the position of leading a portion of the 4th Va. and 7th 
 Geo. in the charge upon the enemy's batteries. The 4th 
 Va. was led by its gallant officers, Preston, Moore and 
 Kent, and it was by order of Col. Preston, who was the 
 first to reach the battery, that I placed the flag upon it. 
 The 7th Geo. was led by one whom history will place 
 among the noblest of the brave men whose blood stained 
 the field of Manassas— the lamented Bartow; when he 
 fell, then by its immediate commander, Col. Gartrell, until 
 he was carried, wounded, from the field; and then, until 
 the close of the day, by Major Dunwoodie, the next in 
 command. 
 
 If the paragraph means, not leading, but foremost, the 
 compliment is equally unmerited. In the midst of the ter- 
 rible shower of ball and shell to which we were subjected, 
 and whilst our men, dead and wounded, fell thick and fast 
 around us, my associates in the command of our company, 
 Letcher, Edmondson and Lewis, were by my side; the 
 dead bodies of my comrades, Fred Davidson and Asbury 
 McClure, attest their gallantry; and the severe wounds 
 which Bowyer, Moodie, Northern, Nefr" and P. Davidson 
 carried home show where they were. I witnessed, on the 
 part of many of our company around me, heroism equal 
 to that of those I have named ; but as others whom, in the 
 excitement of the occasion, I do not remember to have 
 seen, did quite as well, I may do injustice to name whom I 
 saw. Compared with the terrible danger to which we 
 were exposed at this time, that seems trifling when, at a 
 later hour and in another part of the field, the flag was 
 placed on some of the guns of the Rhode Island battery, 
 which the enemy were then leaving in rapid retreat, the 
 
14 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 day being already won, and the glories of Manassas 
 achieved. 
 
 Again, I did not get the flag when Bartow fell, but some- 
 time after, from the color-sergeant of the regiment, who, 
 wounded, was no longer able to bear it. 
 
 The work done by Jackson's Brigade and the 7th Geo., 
 and the credit to which they are entitled, is stated in the 
 following extract from the official report of Gen. Mc- 
 Dowell: "The hottest part of the contest was for the pos- 
 session of this hill with a house on it. ' ' Here Jackson and 
 his gallant men fought. Here the work of that memor- 
 able Sabbath was finished. 
 
 Manassas, July 26, 1861. 
 
 I wrote a short note to you on Tuesday, advising you of 
 my escape from the battle of Sunday in safety. Matters 
 are now quiet, and no prospect, I think, of another en- 
 gagement very soon. When I think of the past, and the 
 peril through which it has been my fortune to pass in 
 safety, I am free to admit that I have no desire to partici- 
 pate ini another such scene until the cause of my country 
 requires it. Then the danger must be met, cost what it 
 may. How I wish, Love, that I could see you and our little 
 ones again! But for the present I must not think of it. 
 Just as soon as the public service will permit I will be 
 with you. The result of the battle has cast a shade of 
 gloom over many who mourn husband, brother and child 
 left dead on the field. Of those of our company who went 
 into the thickest of the fight, at least one-half were killed 
 or wounded. Some others escaped danger by sneaking 
 away like cowards. The other companies from our 
 county suffered as severely as ours. It seems, Love, an 
 age since I have heard from you. You must write oftener. 
 Why is it that you have not sent the daguerreotype of 
 yourself and the children? Send me, by the first oppor- 
 tunity, another shirt just like that which you last sent me. 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 15 
 
 I will lay that by— as it has a hole through it made by a 
 ball in the battle— as a memento of the glorious day. Do 
 not send me any more clothing until I write for it, as I do 
 not wish more than absolute necessity requires, having no 
 means of carrying it with me. 
 
 I wish you would call upon Mrs. J. D. Davidson for me, 
 and say to her she has reason to be proud of her brave 
 boy. It was by the heroic services of men like him who 
 have sacrificed their lives that the battle was won. He 
 fell just as he and his comrades were taking possession of 
 a splendid battery of the enemy's cannon, and those who 
 defended it were flying from the field. And now, Love, 
 good-bye. I think you need have no apprehension about 
 my safety for some weeks at least. It is not probable that 
 we shall have another battle very soon ; and if we do, as 
 our brigade was in the thickest of the fight before, we will 
 not be so much exposed again. Give my love to Pa, 
 Rachel, Annie, and all my friends. Kiss our dear little 
 ones for their absent papa, and for yourself accept a hus- 
 band's best love. 
 
 Manassas, August 3, 1861. 
 
 I reached here last night after spending a day in Staun- 
 ton. When I reached there I found the militia of Rock- 
 bridge, and some of the officers insisted upon my remain- 
 ing a day to aid them in raising the necessary number of 
 volunteers (270) to have the others disbanded and sent 
 home. I was very glad, indeed, that it was accomplished 
 and the others permitted to return home and attend to 
 their farms. I found, upon reaching Manassas, that our 
 encampment had been removed eight miles from there, in 
 the direction of Alexandria; and after a walk of some 
 three hours I reached here about nine o'clock at night, 
 somewhat fatigued. I do not know what our future oper- 
 ations are to be; but think it probable that we shall 
 remain here for some time in idleness. I am free to con- 
 
16 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 fess that I don't like the prospect; without any employ- 
 ment or amusement, the time will pass with me very un- 
 pleasantly, and such soldiering, if long continued, I fear, 
 will make most of us very worthless and lazy; perhaps 
 send us home at last idle loafers instead of useful and in- 
 dustrious citizens. Such a result I should regard as more 
 disastrous than a dozen battles. In passing along the 
 road from Manassas, the whole country seemed filled with 
 our troops, and I understand that our encampment ex- 
 tends as far as eight miles this side of Alexandria. I 
 think we have troops enough to defend the country against 
 any force which may be brought against us. 
 
 Since this much of my letter was written, Lewis has 
 handed me your note of 25th ult. You say you are almost 
 tempted, from my short and far between letters, to think 
 that I do not love you as well as I ought. You are a mean 
 sinner to think so. Just think how hard I fought at Ma- 
 nassas to make you the widow of a dead man or the wife 
 of a live one, and this is all the return my darling wife 
 makes for it. If I was near enough I would hug you to 
 death for such meanness. In truth, Love, I may say that 
 I never closed one of my short notes until my eyes began 
 to smart. Sometimes I did not wish to write. When we 
 were for some time on the eve of a battle I did not wish 
 to write lest you might be alarmed for my safety. Until 
 the last month, when danger seemed so threatening, I 
 think I have written once a week. But, Love, when you 
 doubt my affection, you must look to the past, and if the 
 doubt is not dispelled, I can't satisfy you, and you must 
 continue in the delusion that the truest and steadiest feel- 
 ing my heart has ever known— my love for you — has 
 passed away. 
 
 I know, Love, you think I exposed myself too much in 
 the battle. But for such conduct on the part of thousands, 
 the day would have been lost, and our State would now 
 have been in the possession of our enemies. When I think 
 of the result, and the terrible doom from which we are 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 17 
 
 saved, I feel that I could have cheerfully yielded up my 
 life, and have left my wife and little ones draped in 
 mourning to have achieved it. Our future course must be 
 the same, if we expect a like result. 
 
 Centreville, August 7, 1861. 
 
 I have received from Gen. Jackson the appointment to act 
 as his aid, and wish you to send my uniform coat and 
 pants by Rollin, Kahle or some one of our men, whichever 
 comes first. Switzer is just leaving, and I have not time 
 to write more. 
 
 Camp Harmon, Manassas, August 18, 1861. 
 
 I promised in my letter of last Sunday to write to you 
 every Sunday, and I will to-day, but I ought not, as you 
 have not answered my last. I find abundance of employ- 
 ment in my new position, but I like it all the better on this 
 account. The last week has been almost one continuous 
 dreary rain, making soldier life more comfortless than 
 usual. I think I shall quit the use of tobacco altogether, 
 as I am inclined to believe that it injures me. I am very 
 glad that my duties require of me very little writing, for 
 what little I do satisfies me that my eyes have not im- 
 proved, and that it is not safe to use them much. They 
 pained after the writing which I did last Sunday to Wm. 
 White and yourself. I think we have the prospect of an 
 idle life here for some time to come. I am free to say I 
 don't like it. I would prefer to move into Maryland for 
 an assault upon Washington and a speedy close of the 
 war. But I suppose those in command know best what 
 should be done. 
 
 Camp Harmon, August — , 1861. 
 
 I had a chance to show my gallantry last week. I was di- 
 rected one night to pass a Mr. Pendleton and his party 
 
18 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 through our line of sentinels. I reached the party about 
 ten o 'clock, and found the party consisting of an old gen- 
 tleman driving the carriage, and in it the wife of his son 
 with three or four children. She told me they were going 
 to stay a mile beyond, with a lady to whom she had a let- 
 ter, and were on their way to Virginia from Washington. 
 Knowing the difficulty they would have in passing the 
 sentinels of the other camps, I volunteered to accompany 
 them. But when they reached the house where they ex- 
 pected to stay all night I delivered their letter and was 
 told they could not be taken in, as the house was full of 
 sick people, and that there was no other house in the 
 village where there was any prospect of getting them in. 
 The only chance then was to take the road and run the 
 chance of getting into a farm-house or travel all night. 
 I went with them, and succeeded in getting them lodging 
 at a farm-house three miles further on. She was profuse 
 in her expressions of gratitude, and I took leave of them 
 and walked back four miles to our camp, which I reached 
 about one o'clock, well paid for my trouble in feeling 
 conscious that I had done a good deed. 
 
 Camp Harmon, September 1, 1861. 
 
 I wish very much this war was over, and I could be with 
 you again at our home. There you remember, Love, 
 you used to read, last December, to me of the stirring 
 events in South Carolina ; but we never dreamed that such 
 a struggle would result as that in which we are now 
 engaged, that the husbands and fathers among our people 
 would be called upon to leave wives and children at home 
 to mourn their absence whilst mingling in such a scene of 
 blood and carnage as that through which we passed on the 
 21st of July. But so it is. How little we know of the 
 future and our destiny ! Dark as the present is, I indulge 
 the hope it may soon change, and I may be with you again, 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 19 
 
 not for a short visit, but to stay. Whilst such is the fond 
 hope, when I look within my heart I find an immovable 
 purpose to remain until the struggle ends in the establish- 
 ment of our independence. Can the fond love which I 
 cherish for you and our dear little children be reconciled 
 with such a purpose ? If I know myself, such is the fact. 
 But, Love, my eye hurts me. It is sad to think of it, and 
 that it disables me for life. It deprives me of the pleasure 
 of reading for information and pleasure, unfits me for 
 most kinds of business, and deprives me of the means of 
 earning an independent support, which I feel I could do 
 if I had my sight. The present is dark enough, but the 
 future seems darker still, when I think of my return home, 
 possibly made a bankrupt by the confiscation of my Ohio 
 land, and then without means of earning a support or pay- 
 ing for my farm. I must not think of it now ; it will be bad 
 enough when it comes. I ought not to press my weak eye 
 any farther. Kiss our dear little ones for me. Speak of 
 me often to them. Never let them forget their "papa 
 gone, ' ' who loves them so well. 
 
 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 Sun- 
 day 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 with- 
 out her, finding she had gone to Fairfax, where he im- 
 
20 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 mediately 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. 
 
 Fairfax C. H., September 16, 1861. 
 
 I did not write my regular Sunday letter to you on yes- 
 terday. As usual, after breakfast I left the camp on duty, 
 and 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, and did not get back until bed- 
 time. This morning we all left for our new encampment, 
 where all 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 received 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 deep in- 
 terest to my fate 1 To be with you again is the wish which 
 lies nearest my heart. But the duty to which my life is 
 now devoted must be met without shrinking. Before the 
 war is done many, I fear, must fall, and I may be one of 
 the number. If so, I am resigned to my fate, and I 
 bequeath to you our dear little boys in the 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 con- 
 test. 
 
 Camp near Fairfax C. H., September 22, 1861. 
 
 I am indebted to you for much pleasure afforded by your 
 sweet letter of 16th inst. I know, Love, my presence 
 is sadly missed at home, but not more than in my lonely 
 tent I miss my dear wife and her fond caress. I am sure, 
 
MEMOIE AND MEMORIALS 21 
 
 too, you are not more eager in your wish for my return, 
 than I am to be with you. But I feel sure you would not 
 have me abandon my post and desert our flag when it 
 needs every arm now in its service for its defence. To 
 return home, all I have to do is to resign my office, a 
 privilege which a man in the ranks does not enjoy. Then 
 your wish and mine is easily fulfilled, but in thus ac- 
 complishing it I would go to you dishonored by an exhibi- 
 tion of the want of those qualities which alike grace the 
 citizen and the soldier. An imputation of such deficiency 
 of manly virtues I should in times past have resented as 
 an insult. Would you have me merit it now ? I think not. 
 My love for you, if no other tie bound me to life, is such 
 that I would not wantonly throw my life away. But my 
 duty must be met, whatever the expense, and I must cling 
 to our cause until the struggle ends in our success or ruin, 
 if my life lasts so long. I trust I have that obstinacy of 
 resolution which will make my future conform to such 
 sentiments of my duty. Mrs. Jackson took leave of us 
 some days since, as the General was not able to get 
 quarters for her in a house near our present encampment. 
 I rode, between sunset and breakfast next morning, some 
 thirty miles to secure the services of a gentleman to meet 
 her at Manassas and escort her home. In return for this 
 hard night's ride she sent me by the General her thanks 
 in the message that she "hoped I might soon see my 
 wife." You hope so too, don't you, Monkey 1 ? I was well 
 paid for my trouble in the consciousness of having mer- 
 ited her gratitude. 
 
 I stopped at Mr. Newman's camp the other day to see 
 him, but learned from Deacon that he was at home, 
 and that little Mary was dead. I sympathized deeply with 
 them in the sad bereavement. I learned from the Rev. 
 Dr. Brown, who reached here from Richmond this morn- 
 ing, that he saw Matthew at Gordonsville, on his way here. 
 I suppose he will come to see me when he arrives. 
 
 Yesterday I was down the road some ten miles, and, 
 
22 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 from a hill in the possession of our troops, had a good 
 view of the dome of the Capitol, some five or six miles 
 distant. The city was not visible in consequence of the 
 intervening woods. We were very near, but it will cost 
 us many gallant lives to open the way that short distance. 
 I have no means of knowing, but do not think it probable 
 the effort will be made very soon, if at all. I saw the 
 sentinel of the enemy in the field below me, and about half 
 a mile off, and not far on this side our own sentinels. 
 They occasionally fire at each other. Mrs. Stuart, wife 
 of the Colonel who has charge of our outpost, stays here 
 with him. Whilst there looking at the Capitol I saw two 
 of his little children playing as carelessly as if they were 
 at home. A dangerous place, you will think, for women 
 and children. Remember me to Fitzgerald and his wife, 
 and say that I am very grateful for what they have done 
 for me. And now, Love, I will bid you good-bye again. 
 Kiss little Matthew and Galla for me. 
 
 Camp near Fairfax C. H., September 28, 1861. 
 
 I will close a delightful Sunday evening in answering 
 your last letter, received a few days since. I heartily 
 sympathize with you, Love, and our dear little Matthew 
 in your wish for my return. My absence does not press 
 more heavily upon your heart than upon my own. But 
 we must not suffer ourselves to grieve over the necessity 
 which compels our separation. We must bear it in pa- 
 tience, in the hope that when I return we shall love each 
 other all the better for it. I have had the offer from Gov. 
 Letcher of a Commission as Major. I was much flattered 
 by the compliment, but declined it, as I would be assigned 
 to duty at Norfolk. Feeling that I was more pleasantly 
 situated and could render more efficient service here, I 
 preferred to remain. I was very much tempted to accept 
 it, from the consideration that it would probably afford 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 23 
 
 me an opportunity of passing by home on my way ; but I 
 thought this should not make me deviate from what my 
 judgment approved as my proper course. I replied that 
 I would accept the appointment if assigned to duty 
 in this brigade, but would not leave it for the sake of pro- 
 motion. 
 
 The weather begins to feel like frost, and hereafter we 
 shall, I fear, find a soldier's life rather uncomfortable. 
 Sleeping in the open air or thin tents was comfortable a 
 few weeks since ; but when the frost begins to fall freely, 
 and the night air becomes more chilly, lying upon the 
 ground and looking at the stars will not be so pleasant. 
 Then we shall think in earnest of home, warm fires, and 
 soft beds. I think I shall get used to it. I have seen many 
 ups and downs and begin to fancy that I can bear almost 
 anything. In November I suppose we shall find comfort- 
 able winter quarters somewhere, or shall build log cabins 
 and stay here. I went down to see Mat some days since, 
 but did not find him. 
 
 Jim Holly came this evening and tells me he has the 
 pair of pants which you sent me, and that Waltz will 
 bring some more things for me. You need not get the 
 overcoat; my coat for the present answers a very good 
 purpose, and if I find hereafter that I need an overcoat, 
 I will send to Richmond for it. 
 
 And now, Love, as I have taxed my eye about enough, 
 I will bid you good-bye. I trust that you will make your- 
 self contented. I shall be all the happier knowing that 
 you are so. Give a kiss to our dear little boys for me ; for 
 yourself accept a fond husband 's best love. 
 
 Camp near Fairfax C. H., October 6, 1861. 
 
 Your letter of October 1st was received on yesterday, and 
 I am very much gratified at the cheerful feeling which it 
 manifests. It shows, too, that you are giving a very com- 
 
24 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 mendable attention to the business under your charge, 
 and give promise, if the war lasts, of your being a first- 
 rate business woman. You have your mind set in the 
 right direction, for it seems as if the war would be in- 
 terminable, and the sooner you learn how to take care 
 of yourself the better it will be. Times are very dull with 
 us here. Our troops are but a mile or so distant from the 
 enemy,— so near that our pickets, it is said, occasionally 
 meet and converse with theirs, swap newspapers, tobacco, 
 whisky, etc. Judging from the newspapers, one would 
 think we were on the eve of a battle every day, but here 
 there seems little apprehension of it. We may have a 
 battle, but then again we may not. On the whole, the 
 soldiers would just as lief fight as not. We are going to 
 have a sermon this evening, and I will bid you good-bye to 
 listen to it. Kiss our dear little boys for me, and remind 
 them of me. I should regard their forgetting me as the 
 saddest loss sustained by my absence from home. Think 
 of me often, Love. My fondest hope, the dearest wish of 
 my heart, is to be with you again. Remember me to the 
 servants, and to Pitz and his wife, to Annie, Rachel and 
 my friends. 
 
 Camp near Fairfax C. E., October 13, 1861. 
 
 I have received your last letter, and will devote an hour 
 of this quiet Sabbath to giving you one in return for it. 
 I am very sorry to hear that, having spared your team 
 so long, they have called for it at last. I had hope they 
 would let it alone in consideration of my absence from 
 home in the service of the State, and consequently my 
 inability to provide means of supplying its place, as others 
 who have remained in the county can. It is nearly equiva- 
 lent to a loss of our wheat crop, besides the great injury 
 the horses must sustain in such a trip. For them I feel 
 a sort of attachment, as for everything else at home, and 
 should hate very much to see them injured. 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 25 
 
 We are having a very quiet and dull time. The fault I 
 have with my present position is that I have too little to 
 do. Jackson has been promoted again, and is now Major- 
 General. It is, indeed, very gratifying to see him appre- 
 ciated so highly and promoted so rapidly. It is all well 
 merited. We have, I think, no better man or better officer 
 in the army. I do not know to what position he will be as- 
 signed. But this brigade will part with him with very 
 much regret. I shall be very reluctant to leave my place 
 on his staff for any other position. 
 
 I am sorry to inform you on the money question that I 
 am dead broke, and gratified to say that I do not expect 
 it to continue many days. I have about $300 pay due me 
 from the government, and sent by a friend who went to 
 Richmond a few days since to draw the money, but he has 
 not returned. Say to Mrs. Fuller I see Sam frequently 
 and he is very well. Kiss the children for me, and think of 
 me often. 
 
 Gentreville, Va., October 20, 1861. 
 
 Letters prompted by an affectionate anxiety for my fate, 
 bringing intelligence that wife and children are happy 
 in the enjoyment of every necessary comfort at home, 
 furnish in their perusal the happiest moments of the 
 strange life I am leading. Such interchanges of letters 
 are a poor substitute for the happiness which we have 
 found in each other in times past ; but it is all we can have 
 now. Our separation must continue until this sad war 
 runs its course and terminates, as it must some day, in 
 peace. Then I trust we may pass what remains of life 
 together, loving each other all the better from a recollec- 
 tion of the sadness we have felt from the separation. I am 
 sometimes reminded of you, and the strong tie which 
 binds me to you, by odd circumstances. The other day I 
 saw an officer, who, like myself, has left wife and children 
 at home, riding by the camp, with another woman on horse- 
 
26 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 back, from a pleasure excursion up the road ; and I could 
 not help feeling that in seeking pleasure in such a source 
 he was proving himself false to the holiest feeling and 
 the highest obligation which is known on earth. I thought 
 if I had acted thus faithless to you and our marriage vow, 
 I should feel through life a sense of baseness and deg- 
 radation from which no repentance or reparation could 
 bring relief. If I know myself, I would not exchange the 
 sweet communion with my absent wife, enjoyed through 
 the recollections of the past and the hopes of the future, 
 for any temporary pleasure which another might offer. 
 I would rather live over again in memory the scenes of 
 seven long years, when we talked of our love and our 
 future, our ride to Staunton on our wedding-day, and our 
 association since then, chequered here and there with 
 events of sadness and sorrow, than accept any enjoyment 
 which ill-timed passion might prompt me to seek from 
 another. I trust, Love, this feeling may grow with every 
 day which passes, and that I may always have the satis- 
 faction of knowing my devotion and fidelity merit the 
 affection which your warm heart lavishes upon me. 
 
 I have received a commission as Major in the 27th 
 Regiment, and expect to change my quarters to-morrow. 
 I leave my present position with much reluctance. 
 
 Centreville, Va., November 3, 1861. 
 
 The Frenchman and the wheat crop give you a peck of 
 trouble, but you have the gratification of knowing you are 
 not alone in your misery. We have occasionally some lit- 
 tle of it here. Night before last and yesterday, for in- 
 stance, we had a storm of wind and rain which blew over 
 many of the tents, turning their inmates out in the 
 weather, and rendering it almost impossible to cook any- 
 thing to eat. We thought it bad enough here, but I doubt 
 not those regiments which were on picket without tents 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 27 
 
 fared even worse than we did here. If you who have 
 brick houses and dry quarters to live in have your 
 troubles, those of us here fare worse. This is poor con- 
 solation, it is true. I thought when I came here that I was 
 settled for a while at least as Major of the regiment, but 
 last week I got an order from Gen. Smith to take charge of 
 the roads used by the army and have them put in repair. 
 The appointment implied an opinion that I possess the 
 energy and industry to have the work done, and I am grat- 
 ified so far as the compliment; but it is a post which in- 
 volves much hard work and affords no opportunity for 
 winning laurels. It is, however, a post of much impor- 
 tance, and I shall spare no effort to justify the favorable 
 opinion which induced my appointment. 
 
 The wind blows cold, Love, and as I write in my tent 
 without fire, I will draw my letter to a close. Say to your 
 father that the cloth is just suited to the purpose for which 
 I need the coat this winter— out-of-door life in all sorts of 
 weather. I have another message which I have thought 
 for some time of sending him. It is this : the principal 
 part of my estate consists of land in Ohio, the loss of 
 which— and I have but little hope of anything else — 
 breaks me. My other property, under the depreciation 
 which the war is likely to produce, will not pay my debts. 
 I think proper to communicate this, so that if he thinks % 
 proper to change his will, he can do so and make such pro- 
 vision for you as he deems best. The future is dark 
 enough, I am sure ; but I shall go on here in a faithful dis- 
 charge of my duties, trusting that it may some day be 
 brighter. 
 
 Winchester, November 10, 1861. 
 
 I owe you a letter to-night, and will pay the debt with a 
 very short one. We got here about sunset from Stras- 
 burg, after a tiresome day's march, and have been occu- 
 pied up to this time, nine o 'clock, in pitching our tents and 
 
28 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON . 
 
 getting some supper. The latter we were so fortunate as 
 to get from a box which some kind friends sent to Col. 
 Echols. What shall be our next destination I have no 
 idea, but think it probable we shall winter somewhere in 
 this quarter. I am tired and sleepy, Love, and I will bid 
 you good-night. Kiss the children for me, and for your- 
 self accept the best love a fond husband can offer. 
 
 Camp near Winchester, November 17, 1861. 
 
 Soldiering for the past week has been a hard business. 
 For two or three days we had cold rains, and the balance 
 of the time very severe winds. The wind is perhaps more 
 severe than the rain, as it makes our outdoor fires very 
 uncomfortable, it being doubtful whether it is best to 
 stand the cold or the smoke. The weather feels now as if 
 the campaign was over and we must soon go into winter 
 quarters. If we get houses, I presume it will be shanties, 
 such as the men can build for themselves out of logs and 
 clapboards. This they could do in a very short time. 
 But cotton tents will be bad quarters for snowy, freezing 
 weather ; and if we do not have better, I fear we shall lose 
 much from disease this winter. My health at present is 
 very good, and I think I stand the service as well as any 
 one else in it. Last night I slept very comfortably with 
 the assistance of two sheepskins and five blankets. 
 
 Since our arrival here, there has been a very general 
 congregation of officers' wives at the farm-houses in the 
 neighborhood, and I think it likely to continue until 
 women and children are as common in the camp as black- 
 berries in August. So I have little hope of seeing you 
 here, but think the Yankees will go into winter quarters 
 before long. They will discover that a winter campaign 
 in this part of the sunny South, with the snow a foot deep 
 and ice everywhere, is uncomfortable, and will give us a 
 few months' rest. I hope then to be able to get a short 
 furlough to see my dear little wife and babies at home. 
 
MEMOIE AND MEMORIALS 29 
 
 And now, Love, I will take leave of you. I sympathize 
 deeply with you in your approaching illness, and hope 
 for your safe and speedy recovery. Remember me kindly 
 to your father, and say that I am very grateful for the as- 
 sistance which he has given you in my absence. 
 
 Winchester, November 24, 1861. 
 
 I have read over again this morning your two last letters, 
 and whilst they inspire a feeling of happiness that there 
 is a dear wife at home whose love I prize and cherish 
 more than anything else on earth, yet they make me feel 
 sad that she is unhappy. I think, Love, I take a very 
 calm and just view of my duty and of the future. I think 
 I should remain in the war so long as my services may be 
 needed, although it be at the sacrifice of personal comfort 
 and pecuniary interest, and compels a separation from 
 the loved wife with whom the happiest recollections of the 
 past and the fondest hopes of the future are inseparably 
 connected. It will cost me all this, and perhaps my life. 
 If so, I will but share the fate of thousands who must fall 
 in the contest, doing that which their own judgment and 
 the common sentiment of the country decide to be their 
 duty. If I survive the end of the war, I shall then quit the 
 service, I trust, with the good opinion of my comrades and 
 with my own approval of the fidelity and efficiency with 
 which my duty has been discharged. Poverty and want 
 may then mark my path through life, but I do not expect 
 it, and I do not fear it. I have a strong faith in my ca- 
 pacity to earn a livelihood anywhere,— industry meets its 
 reward, — and to secure every comfort which may be 
 necessary for the happiness of the wife and little ones who 
 bless my home with their presence. Here I '11 change the 
 subject to say that while writing our postman has arrived 
 with your letter of 20th inst. I really think, Love, you are 
 doing finely, and your providence in procuring salt in ad- 
 
30 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 vance of the rise in the market exhibits qualities to fill the 
 place of a soldier's wife which need only a little necessity 
 for developing them. I am glad, too, to hear you say you 
 are too busy to be lonesome ; that is a step in the right 
 direction. That is the reason why I was sorry to give up 
 the place of road overseer at Manassas. It gave me 
 abundant employment for mind and body, made me sleep 
 well and eat well. Now I have a job as member of a 
 court martial which requires me to go to Winchester 
 every day, where the court is in session from 9 a.m. to 
 
 3 P.M. 
 
 Winchester, December 1, 1861. 
 
 I have received your last letter, and am sorry that you 
 write so despondently of the future. It would be sad, 
 indeed, for me to think that day would ever come when 
 the dear wife and little ones whose happiness and comfort 
 have been the chief aim of my life, should be dependent. 
 You would not be more grieved, I am sure, than I would 
 be at such a prospect, and its reality could not distress you 
 more than it would me, if I should be alive to witness it. 
 But, Love, it does not become either of us to harass our- 
 selves with trouble which the future has in store for us. 
 Mine at present is not blessed with as many comforts as I 
 have seen in times past ; but it is the case with many thou- 
 sands who feel impelled with a sense of patriotism and 
 duty to bear it in patience, and I shall try to follow their 
 example. When I sent the message to your father I knew 
 that what he would have to give you out of his estate 
 would be abundant to furnish a comfortable support for 
 you and your children, whatever misfortune may befall 
 my life or my property, and I desired, if it had not been 
 done, that it might be secured to you as your own. The 
 widow and orphan of many a gallant man destined to fall 
 before this struggle ends, though deserving, have not, I 
 apprehend, such a prospect of a comfortable provision as 
 
MEMOIE AND MEMOEIALS 31 
 
 you have. So, Love, the best consolation I can offer you 
 is that there are others whose future is as dark as yours, 
 and that yours is not so bad but that it might be worse. 
 It grieves me, I am sure, as much as it does you, and we 
 must both make up our minds, as the surest guaranty of 
 happiness, to bear the present in patience and cheerful- 
 ness, and cherish a hope of another time, when we shall 
 be together again, loving and happy as we used to be. If 
 I survive this war, I have no fear of being unable to earn, 
 by my own industry and energy, a comfortable support for 
 my household. If fate determines that I must perish in 
 the contest, then I trust that He whose supreme wisdom 
 and goodness tempers the wind to the shorn lamb will 
 shield from want the widow and orphans left dependent 
 upon His providence. This is the first day of winter, and 
 as yet we have had no snow. It has for some time been 
 quite cold, and the water often frozen over. I have not 
 as yet suffered much from exposure, and think I shall 
 stand the winter well. With the assistance of four or five 
 blankets, and bed made of some hay and leaves laid on 
 split timber raised off the ground, I sleep quite warm. I 
 hear nothing said of winter quarters, and so far there 
 seems to be no determination to provide them. I think it 
 would be as well to go into winter quarters, for the 
 weather and the roads will soon be such as to make active 
 operations utterly impracticable. 
 
 Will Lewis and Annie left here Wednesday, I think, 
 and, I suppose, have reached home before this time. I 
 sent by her my likeness and some candy for the children. 
 When he returns send me your likeness— that which was 
 taken before we were married. I suppose you know 
 where it is put away, for I don 't remember. 
 
 And now, Love, as I have written you quite a long letter 
 compared with what I generally write, I will bid you good- 
 bye till my next. You have my heartfelt sympathy in 
 your approaching illness, and my sincere hope of your 
 speedy and safe recovery. Kiss dear little Matthew and 
 
32 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 Galla for nie, and tell them to be good boys. And now, 
 dearest, again good-bye. 
 
 Martinsburg, December 9, 1861. 
 
 I did not write my accustomed Sunday letter to you on 
 yesterday. I was otherwise busy until 9.30 o'clock last 
 night, when I reached here. Then I was so sleepy and 
 tired, I could hardly stand upon my feet, having been 
 awake all the night before, and hard at work most of it. 
 Yesterday I spent on the bank of the Potomac, not as 
 decent people generally spend the Sabbath, in peace and 
 rest, but listening to the music of cannon and musket, and 
 witnessing their work of destruction. There was much 
 firing, but little damage on either side, as the river inter- 
 vened, and the men of the enemy, as well as our own, were 
 well sheltered from fire. Our loss, I learn, is one mor- 
 tally wounded and two very seriously ; one of the latter is 
 the son of Shanklin McClure of our county, and a member 
 of the Rockbridge Artillery. The purpose of the expe- 
 dition was to destroy a dam across the Potomac which 
 feeds the canal now used by the enemy in shipping coal. 
 I was appointed to superintend and direct the execution 
 of the work, with some men detailed to do it. We reached 
 the ground about sunset on Saturday evening, when a few 
 shots from our artillery drove off the force of the enemy 
 stationed on the opposite side. I then took down my 
 force and put it to work and continued until about eleven 
 o'clock, when we were surprised by a fire from the enemy 
 on the opposite side again, which made it impossible to 
 proceed until they could be driven away. At daybreak 
 Sunday morning our cannon opened fire upon them again, 
 but they were so sheltered in the canal— from which in 
 the meantime they had drawn off the water — that it was 
 found impossible to dislodge them. As my workmen 
 could not be protected against the enemy's fire, I found it 
 necessary to abandon the enterprise. So you see, Love, 
 
MEMOIE AND MEMORIALS 33 
 
 entrusted with an important work, I have made a failure. 
 If I had succeeded, the Yankees would have suffered much 
 in Washington for want of coal. But they must get it as 
 usual, for which they may thank their riflemen, who drove 
 my party from the work of destruction upon which they 
 were engaged. 
 
 I begin to think, Love, there is no amount of fatigue, 
 exposure and starvation which I cannot stand. I got 
 notice on Thursday about three o 'clock that I was wanted 
 at Jackson's headquarters ; there I got my directions, and 
 rode here in a hard trot of about six miles to the hour. 
 The next afternoon I rode up and took a view of the work 
 which I had in contemplation and returned here. On Sat- 
 urday morning we left here with our forces to accomplish 
 it. On Sunday at twelve o 'clock I could not help but re- 
 mark that I felt fresh, although I had not slept the night 
 before, and had nothing to eat since Saturday morning at 
 breakfast, with the exception of a small piece of bread, 
 and had been upon my feet, or my horse, nearly the whole 
 time. I think this war will give me a stock of good health 
 which will last a good while. And now, Love, whilst I 
 have been in the perils of minie-balls, I expect, when I get 
 to Winchester, to receive a letter from somebody saying 
 that you have been in worse perils, and that we have an 
 addition to our small stock of children. The only special 
 message I have is that its name may be yours or mine, 
 just as you like. Whilst, Love, I have just been express- 
 ing my gratification at my good health, and my capacity 
 for fatigue and exposure, I cannot help feeling this war is 
 an uncertain life, and there is no telling that you and I 
 may never see much of each other again. I shall try and 
 get a leave of absence to go home this winter ; but I sup- 
 pose it will not be possible until after Christmas, as I 
 think Col. Echols has the promise of a leave at that time, 
 and it would not be proper for us both to be away at the 
 same time. 
 
 How much I wish that I was with you, that I could stay 
 
34 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 at home ! But to turn my back upon our cause, to leave 
 the fatigue, patriotism and risk of life which it requires 
 to be borne by others, when duty and patriotism require 
 that I should share it, I cannot do. 
 
 Unger's Store, December 10, 1861. 
 
 I made application yesterday for leave of absence, but 
 was informed that I could not get it until Col. Echols re- 
 turned, who has leave for twenty-five days and starts 
 home this morning. It is to me a sad disappointment, but 
 I must bear it as cheerfully as I can. You must do the 
 same. You must make up your mind, too, Love, to stay 
 at home. In the present state of our finances we must 
 save all we can, and this, I feel sure, will be best done by 
 your staying on the farm. I think, too, you will be as 
 happy there as you could be elsewhere. 
 
 Winchester, December 12, 1861. 
 
 Last Monday night I returned to our camp here, where I 
 had the pleasure of reading the letters of Mary and Helen 
 informing me that your troubles were all over, that we 
 had another little boy in the crib, and that his mamma, as 
 Mary happily expressed it, "Was doing as well as could 
 be expected." I would have written them to express my 
 gratification at the good news from home, but I had or- 
 ders to leave again upon another expedition to the 
 Potomac which afforded no time for writing a letter. I 
 reached Charlestown the next morning about daylight and 
 spent most of the day on my horse. The morning started 
 with the forces at one o 'clock, passing by Shepherdstown 
 to Dam No. 4 on the Potomac, where we captured eight 
 Federal soldiers whom we found on this side of the river, 
 in which we lost one man wounded— I suppose fatally. 
 We remained there until late in the evening, when we 
 started for Martinsburg, where we arrived about nine 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 35 
 
 o'clock, having made a march of about twenty-six miles. 
 I left Martinsburg the next afternoon and returned to 
 Winchester, where, having been some time engaged in a 
 conference with Jackson, I found a bed and went to sleep, 
 tired enough, I am sure. This morning I returned to 
 camp. So, Love, I have given you together my opera- 
 tions for the last few days, which furnish the reason for 
 my not writing sooner. 
 
 To-day I received Mary's letter of the 9th inst., from 
 which I learn that you are improving, that the baby is 
 doing well, which I am delighted to hear. I really sym- 
 pathize with you, Love, in your lonely situation. You 
 must be uncomfortable, lying all day and night in bed, 
 though not suffering much with pain. In ten days more, 
 I suppose, you will be able to sit up, and then in a week or 
 so get about, attending to matters at home, as usual. I 
 assure you that I reciprocate your wish for my return 
 home, and heartily wish that I could consistently with my 
 duty remain with you. If I can get a leave for only a few 
 days, I will go before long to give a kiss and a greeting to 
 the little fellow who has such strong claims upon my love 
 and care. Active operations must soon cease, when there 
 will be no reason why a short furlough should not be 
 granted. The weather is already cold enough to make it 
 uncomfortable in tents and such conveniences as we are 
 able to provide. It would be intolerable if we were put 
 upon the march with insufficient means which the men 
 would have of making themselves comfortable. 
 
 I suppose by this time the hands have been making con- 
 siderable progress in getting up the corn crop, and hope 
 they may be able to finish it before Christmas. For the 
 hired hands clothing must be furnished before Christmas. 
 Can you get Annie or your ma to call upon Wm. White 
 and get the goods and have them made up ! Give my love 
 to Helen and Mary and say to them I am much indebted 
 to them for their letters and wish them to continue to 
 write until you are able. And now, Love, good-bye again. 
 
36 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 Give my love to your father, ma and Annie. A kiss to 
 Matthew, Galla and the baby, and for yourself, dearest, 
 my hearty wish for your speedy recovery. 
 
 Winchester, December 15, 1861. 
 
 Life in camp is generally dull with me, and I feel espe- 
 cially dull to-day. I have sometimes had a job, such as 
 road-making at Centreville or my late excursion to the 
 Potomac, which kept me busy enough ; but these only hap- 
 pen now and then, and but for them my life would be idle 
 enough, I am sure. When here in camp it really seems 
 that I have no way of employing myself. I sometimes 
 think I would prefer a more active campaign, winter as 
 it is. With my stock of bed-clothes I think I could sleep 
 quite comfortably even at this season in a fence corner, 
 but it would not be so comfortable to the soldiers, who are 
 not so well provided with such means of a comfortable 
 night's rest. If the weather continues open and the cold 
 not too severe, I think it possible we may have some activ- 
 ity in our operations this winter. But of this no one can 
 speak with any certainty but Jackson, and even he with 
 but little, as his operations depend upon contingencies 
 over which he has no control. 
 
 I sometimes look to the future with much despondency. 
 I think most of our volunteers will quit the service when 
 their year expires, and the news I get from Rockbridge 
 gives me but little reason to hope that many more will 
 volunteer to fill the places thus made vacant in our army. 
 If they come at all, I fear it will be by compulsion. I fear 
 there are more who are disposed to speculate off our 
 present troubles, and turn them to pecuniary profit, than 
 there are to sacrifice personal comfort and pecuniary in- 
 terest and risk life itself for the promotion of our cause. 
 My judgment dictates to me to pursue the path which I 
 believe to be right, and to trust that the good deed may 
 meet with its just reward. Nothing else could induce me 
 
MEMOIE AND MEMORIALS 37 
 
 to bear this sad separation from my darling wife and 
 dear little children. This distresses me. I care nothing 
 for the exposure and hardships of the service. But, Love, 
 I should be more cheerful, and if sometimes oppressed 
 with a feeling of sadness, should try to suppress it from 
 you ; for I should try and detract nothing from your hap- 
 piness, which I fear I do in writing in so sad a strain. 
 
 And now, Love, good-bye. I shall be glad indeed to 
 hear that you are out of your bed, and happier still to 
 know, by a letter in your familiar hand, that you are 
 nearly well and out of danger. When the winter sets in 
 so cold that there can be no possible use for my services 
 here, I shall try and get leave to spend a week with you at 
 home. I don't think that snow can keep off much longer. 
 
 Winchester, December 22, 1861. 
 
 We left here, on an expedition to the Potomac, on last 
 Monday morning at seven o 'clock, and returned again this 
 evening. We lost one man, Joshua Parks, killed by the 
 enemy ; and his body, I suppose, has by this time reached 
 his friends in Lexington to whom it was sent for burial. 
 Present my kind regard to Mrs. Parks, and say to her 
 that I heartily sympathize in the sad bereavement which 
 has fallen upon her. He was a brave and good man, uni- 
 versally esteemed and beloved by his comrades, and his 
 loss is much deplored. 
 
 Whilst gone we slept without our tents four nights. I 
 had plenty of blankets, and slept as sound as if I had 
 been in quarters. I really could not have thought I could 
 stand so much exposure with so little inconvenience. I 
 think, if my health continues to improve under such out- 
 door life, I will soon be able to stand anything but ball 
 and shell. I received Helen's letter, for which give her 
 my thanks. I was delighted to hear that our baby is well 
 and growing, and that you are improving rapidly. I am 
 much gratified, too, at your pressing invitation to come 
 
38 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 home. I believe, Love, you must want to see me. It has 
 been my purpose to ask for a furlough as soon as winter 
 had fairly set in so as to render active operations im- 
 practicable. To-day was very cold,— so cold that we all 
 had to get off our horses and make the greater part of the 
 march on foot. To-night we have sleet and snow, which, 
 I think, will pass for winter, especially as it now wants 
 only three days of Christmas. So, Love, I shall ask for a 
 furlough some time this week, and, if I can get it, will be 
 off for home. And if you hear a loud rap at the door 
 some night before long, you need not think robbers are 
 breaking in, but that your own dear husband is coming 
 home to see wife and little ones, dearer to him than 
 everything else on earth. But, Love, you must not cal- 
 culate with too much certainty on seeing me. If I can get 
 the leave I will, but that is not a certainty. 
 
 I hope you all may have a happy Christmas, and wish I 
 had the means of sending some nuts and candy for Mat- 
 thew and Galla. Many who spent last Christmas with 
 wife and children at home will be missing this time— per- 
 haps to join the happy group in merry Christmas never 
 again. But let us be hopeful— at least share the effort to 
 merit fulfilment and fruition of the hopes we cherish so 
 fondly. Now, dearest, good-bye till I see you again, or 
 write. A kiss to the children as my Christmas gift. 
 
 Winchester, December 26, 1861. 
 
 I applied to-day for a furlough, but was much disap- 
 pointed to find that an order has been made that none 
 shall be granted. I was promising myself much happi- 
 ness in spending a few days with you at New Year's, and 
 am much grieved that it has to be deferred— I hope, how- 
 ever, not very long. I will come as soon as I can get per- 
 mission. Fair weather cannot last much longer, and win- 
 ter must soon set in, which will stop active operations, and 
 then I suppose I can get leave to go home for a while. I 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 39 
 
 will make this note short so as to try and get it in to-day's 
 mail. Your box just came to hand as I left the camp this 
 morning, for which accept many thanks. Good-bye, 
 dearest. 
 
 Winchester, December 29, 1861. 
 
 The weather opened this morning cloudy and showing 
 signs of snow, but, much to my disappointment, the clouds 
 have passed off leaving a clear sky and pleasant day. It 
 is not often I wish for bad weather, but when it opens a 
 way for me of getting home for a little while I bid it a 
 hearty welcome. It troubled me less when there was no 
 prospect of getting a leave of absence and no use of ask- 
 ing it ; but as I have been so anxiously indulging the hope 
 of late, it troubles me much to have it deferred. If the 
 bright sunshine of to-day is destined to last, you need not 
 expect me, for Jackson is not disposed to lie idle when 
 there is an opportunity to win laurels for himself and ren- 
 der service to our cause. The arrival of our forces from 
 the West under Loring has given him a very fine army, 
 which I think he is disposed to turn to a very profitable 
 use as soon as an occasion may offer itself. I have much 
 reason to be gratified at the proofs of his good opinion 
 and confidence which I am continually receiving from him. 
 I can rely upon his influence and efforts for my promo- 
 tion, but my ambition does not run in that direction. The 
 sympathies of my heart and my aspirations for the future 
 are all absorbed in the wife and little ones left at home, 
 and my highest ambition is to spend my life there in peace 
 and quiet. The hope of winning military titles and dis- 
 tinction could not tempt me to leave home, if I were left to 
 consult my wishes and feelings alone. But the sense of 
 public duty which prompts us, and the strong public senti- 
 ment which forces us, to leave our homes and families for 
 the public service, now with equal force compels us to re- 
 main. If we left the army now, it would be at the sacri- 
 
40 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 fice of such good opinion as we have of ourselves and the 
 good opinion entertained of us by our neighbors and 
 friends at home. Our term of service will expire in May, 
 when each will be left to pursue for himself such course 
 as duty and inclination may then determine. It is sad, 
 indeed, to think of being a stranger in my own home, that 
 wife and children are becoming used to my absence and 
 forced by it to seek other sources of happiness than that 
 which we used to have when the society of each other was 
 the greatest source of enjoyment. When separation is so 
 long protracted it seems akin to that which lasts forever, 
 when the body has gone to its long home in the grave and 
 the soul for weal or woe to eternity, when the loved left 
 behind to mourn our loss are no longer left a hope, and 
 after a while become used to the desolation which death 
 has left them. But hope whispers, Love, that all may yet 
 be well with us. The storm may pass away, and, living 
 happily together in after years, it will be a source of pride 
 and happiness to us that the duty patriotism exacts of me 
 now has been faithfully discharged, and the pleasure and 
 comfort of home for the time foregone. 
 
 I wrote you a long business letter on Friday, in which 
 you will think, no doubt, I have marked out work enough 
 to keep you employed next year. You will be too busy to 
 think of me and the troubles which this war is bringing on 
 us. Now, darling, as my half sheet is finished I will bid 
 you good-bye. Kiss my three little baby boys for me, and 
 send me your likeness— the old one which I used to have- 
 by the first person who comes from Lexington. 
 
 The military career of General Paxton during 1861, the 
 period covered by the preceding letters, can be briefly re- 
 capitulated as follows : He had entered the service as first 
 lieutenant of Rockbridge Rifles, 27th Virginia Regiment. 
 At the battle of Manassas he had won the esteem of Gen- 
 eral Jackson by conspicuous gallantry on the field. As a 
 result of this he was assigned to duty as aide to General 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 41 
 
 Jackson, August 7, 1861. On September 28, 1861, he had 
 an offer from Governor Letcher of a commission as 
 major, but declined because if he had accepted it he would 
 have been assigned to duty at Norfolk, and he did not wish 
 to leave his brigade. On October 14, 1861, he received 
 his commission as major of his own regiment. His inti- 
 mate relations established as staff officer of General Jack- 
 son continued in his new position, and he was several 
 times by him placed in charge of expeditions and assigned 
 to various important duties detached from his regiment. 
 That he then enjoyed the confidence and favor of General 
 Jackson to a marked degree is shown by these appoint- 
 ments and by his letters. 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 Morgan Co., January 8, 1862. 
 
 AN opportunity of sending to Winchester enables me to 
 \ write that I am here in the woods, all hands froze up 
 -* — *- and waiting for the weather to move. I take it for 
 granted the General will come to the conclusion from this 
 experiment that a winter campaign won't pay, and will 
 put us into winter quarters. I am quite well and have not 
 suffered much. 
 
 linger 's Store, January 12, 1862. 
 
 I was much disappointed in not getting a furlough a few 
 days ago. I could not help but think that as the condition 
 of the weather and the roads had made the expedition 
 from which we had just returned a failure, it was full time 
 to stop active operations, and in that event I was entitled 
 to a leave of absence, if they were to be granted to any. 
 I applied and was informed that two field officers must be 
 left with the regiment, and that as a leave had been given 
 to Col. Echols, none could be given to me until he re- 
 turned. Hardly two days elapsed, however, until I re- 
 ceived an order detaching me from my regiment and as- 
 signing me to the duties of a provost-marshal of the post, 
 thus leaving but one field officer to my regiment. I have 
 handed in my resignation, and whether that will be ac- 
 cepted or not I do not know. Jackson entered his disap- 
 proval of its acceptance, which will probably induce the 
 Secretary of War and the Governor to do the same. The 
 disapproval, it is true, implies the compliment that my 
 services are valued, and that those in authority do not 
 
 42 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 43 
 
 wish to dispense with them; but I do not feel satisfied, 
 and the whole affair gives me much unhappiness. I 
 shall endeavor to take such course as will not forfeit the 
 good opinion which I have enjoyed from those with whom 
 I have served, and at the same time try to be content with 
 whatever may happen. I wish you to act upon the same 
 principle. Some of us have as hard a road to travel as 
 yourself. I should like to be at home, and know that you 
 fondly desire my return. If I can't get home, we must 
 both be satisfied. I wish you to make up your mind to re- 
 main there, and take care of what we have as well as you 
 can. You have, I doubt not, been as happy there for the 
 last four or five months as you could have been elsewhere. 
 With the work on the farm, your housekeeping, and the 
 children, you will have too much to do to be lonesome. 
 Plenty of work is a good antidote for loneliness ; a very 
 good means of drowning your sorrows. By this course 
 you will be of infinite service to me, and will add much to 
 your own comfort and happiness. 
 
 If there is an honorable road to get home, I shall spare 
 no effort to find it as speedily as possible. In the mean- 
 time, Love, devote yourself to the babies and the farm, 
 and not to grieving about me or my troubles. I will give 
 them my undivided attention and get through with them 
 as soon as I can. I don't wish to share so great a luxury 
 with you. Now, Love, good-bye. Kiss our dear little 
 baby and tell Matthew and Galla papa says they must be 
 good boys. Remember me kindly to Jack, Jane and 
 Phebe (slaves). I am very grateful to them for their 
 fidelity. Tell Jane to get married whenever she wishes, 
 and not to trouble herself about the threats of her last 
 husband. 
 
44 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 RESIGNATION 
 
 Camp near Unger's Store, Morgan Co., Va., 
 
 January 11, 1862. 
 
 His Excellency John Letcher, Governor of Virginia. 
 
 I hereby tender my resignation of the office of Major 
 in the active volunteer forces of the State, conferred by 
 your commission bearing date October 14, 1861. My 
 private affairs have been brought to such condition of em- 
 barrassment by the loss of valuable property which I 
 owned in Ohio, that my personal attention to them, for a 
 time at least, is made my duty by a just regard for the 
 claims of my creditors and my family. If other forces 
 are called into the service of the State, to supply the place 
 of those whose terms of service expire in a few months, I 
 shall be glad to have the offer of such position as your 
 Excellency may think me competent to fill with advantage 
 to the public service. 
 
 Respectfully, 
 
 E. F. Paxton, 
 
 Major 27th Kegt., Va. Vols. 
 
 Endorsements on Resignation. 
 
 Camp near Unger's Store, January 12, 1862. 
 Resignation of Major E. F. Paxton, 27 Va. Vols. Ap- 
 
 proved and forwarded. 
 
 Respectfully forwarded. 
 
 A. J. Grigsby, 
 
 Lt.-Col. Commanding 27th Va. Vol. 
 
 R. B. Garnett, 
 
 Brig.-Gen'l Comdg. 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 45 
 
 Headquarters Valley District 
 
 linger 's Store, Morgan Co. 
 
 Respectfully forwarded, but disapproved. 
 
 T. J. Jackson, 
 
 Maj.-Gren'l Comdg. 
 
 Hdqrs. Centreville, January 20, 1862. 
 
 Respectfully forwarded. 
 
 J. E. Johnston, 
 
 General. 
 
 Reed. A. 0. 1., January 22, 1862. 
 
 Res. returned disapproved by order of the Secy, of 
 War. R. H. Milton, 
 
 A. A. G. 
 
 Letter to Gov. Letcher. 
 
 linger 's Store, January 12, 1862. 
 
 Gov. John Letchee, Richmond, Va. 
 
 Dear Sir: My resignation, forwarded through the reg- 
 ular channel, will reach you in a few days. When it 
 comes to hand you will treat it as withdrawn. I feel much 
 aggrieved by my inability to get a furlough, and by an un- 
 just discrimination made against me in withholding it, 
 whilst granted to others. I have come to the conclusion 
 that it is my duty as a citizen and a soldier to bear the 
 grievance in patience, in the hope that hereafter I may be 
 able to get such furlough as will save me the necessity of 
 quitting the service. 
 
 Romney, January 19, 1862. 
 
 We left linger 's Monday morning and reached here on 
 Wednesday, after three days ' hard march on roads as bad 
 as rain, sleet and snow could make them. For some time 
 since we reached here it has been raining, and the whole 
 
46 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 country is flooded with water. Since we left Winchester 
 three weeks ago, we have indeed been making war upon 
 the elements, and our men have stood an amount of hard- 
 ship and exposure which I would not have thought was 
 possible had I not witnessed it. In passing through it all, 
 I have suffered but little, and my health is now as good as 
 it ever was. Whilst this is true of myself, our ranks had 
 been made thinner by disease since we left Winchester. 
 Two battles would not have done us as much injury as 
 hard weather and exposure have effected. After writing 
 to you last Sunday, I concluded to write to the Governor 
 to consider my resignation as withdrawn and I would 
 trust to the chance of getting a furlough to go home. I 
 am promised it as soon as Echols returns, and his fur- 
 lough is out sixteen days from this time. I hope Jackson 
 will have concluded by that time that a winter campaign 
 is fruitful of disaster only, as it has been, and will put us 
 at rest until spring. Then I may expect to see you. 
 
 Now, darling, just here the mail has come to hand, 
 bringing your letter of the 15th inst. and the gratifying 
 news that all are well at home. You say the sleet and 
 snow were falling whilst you wrote, and you felt some 
 anxiety lest I might be exposed to it. You were just 
 about right. I left that morning at daybreak and marched 
 in sleet and snow some fifteen miles to this place. When 
 I got here the cape of my overcoat was a sheet of ice. If 
 you have hard times, you may console yourself by know- 
 ing that I have hard times, too. I am amused with your 
 fears of an inroad of the Yankees into Rockbridge. Their 
 nearest force is about eighty miles from you, and if the 
 roads in that section have not improved very much, they 
 will have a hard road to travel. You all are easily scared. 
 By the time you had been near the Yankees as long as I 
 have, you would not be so easily frightened. 
 
 You must come to the conclusion which has forced itself 
 upon me some time since. Bear the present in patience, 
 and hope for the best. If it turns out bad, console our- 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 47 
 
 selves with the reflection that it is no worse. We can see 
 nothing of the future, and it is well for us we don't. I 
 have but little idea to-day where I will sleep to-night, or 
 what shall be doing to-morrow. Our business is all un- 
 certainties. I have been in great danger only once since 
 I have been in the service, yet I suppose I have thought a 
 hundred times that we were on the eve of a battle which 
 might terminate my life. Now, after all, Love, I think it 
 best to trouble myself little with fears of danger, and to 
 find happiness in the hope that you and I and our dear 
 children will one day live together again happily and in 
 peace. It may be, dearest, this hope will never be real- 
 ized, yet I will cherish it as my greatest source of happi- 
 ness, to be abandoned only when my flowing blood and 
 failing breath shall teach me that I have seen the last of 
 earth. All may yet be well with us. 
 
 Winchester, January 26, 1862. 
 
 We left Romney on Thursday, and after three days we 
 reached, on yesterday evening, our present encampment, 
 two miles from Winchester. To-day I received your 
 grumbling letter of 21st, in which you were bitter over my 
 bad usage in being refused a furlough. The only matter 
 of surprise with me is that I ever lost my temper about 
 it, as I came to the conclusion long ago that there was no 
 use in grumbling about anything in the army, and it was 
 always best to bear in patience whatever happens us, with 
 a becoming sense of gratitude that it is no worse. I 
 think we shall remain at rest here until spring, no one be- 
 ing more thoroughly disgusted with a winter campaign 
 than Jackson himself from the fruits of our expedition to 
 Romney. Echols ' furlough expires nine days hence, and 
 then, I think, I may safely promise myself the happiness 
 of a visit home to enjoy for a while the loved society of 
 wife and little ones, from whom I have been so long sepa- 
 rated. For a while only, Love, as my duty will require me 
 
48 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 to leave you soon again. I wish to pursue such a course 
 as will give me hereafter a good opinion of myself and 
 the good opinion of my neighbors, and neither is to be won 
 by shrinking from the dangers and hardships of a sol- 
 dier 's life when the safety of his country requires him to 
 endure them. But for this, the titles and applause to be 
 won by gallantry upon the field could never tempt me 
 from home. Would you have me return there the subject 
 of such conversation as has been freely lavished upon 
 those who remained behind and others who turned their 
 backs on country and comrades % I think not. 
 
 I don't think, Love, you would know me if you could 
 see me just now. I think I am dirtier than I ever was be- 
 fore, and may be lousy besides. I have not changed 
 clothes for two weeks, and my pants have a hole in each 
 leg nearly big enough for a dog to creep through. I have 
 been promising myself the luxury of soap and water all 
 over and a change of clothes to-day, but the wind blows so 
 hard and cold I really think I should freeze in the opera- 
 tion. I am afraid the dirt is striking in, as I am some- 
 what afflicted with the baby's complaint— a pain under the 
 apron. I am not much afraid of it, however, as I suc- 
 ceeded in getting down a good dinner, which with me is 
 generally a sign of pretty fair health. Now, Love, I will 
 bid you good-bye, as it is very cold and uncomfortable 
 writing, leaving the last side of my sheet unwritten. 
 
 January 27, 1862. 
 
 Yesterday I concluded, after writing this, to come to town 
 and get comfortable quarters, as I felt much inclined to 
 chill. I slept pretty well last night, and this morning am 
 not suffering any pain. I hope to be well in the course 
 of a few days. Should I get worse, I will write to- 
 morrow. 
 
 For several days he continued ill at Winchester, and 
 this perhaps hastened the granting of the greatly desired 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 49 
 
 furlough. His next letter shows that he remained at 
 home until February 24, 1862, having been there perhaps 
 twenty days. This was his first visit home since entering 
 the service. 
 
 Winchester, February 28, 1862. 
 
 I reached here day before yesterday, and expected to de- 
 vote yesterday evening to a letter home ; but so soon as I 
 got pen and paper ready to commence we had an order to 
 change our camp. My ride here was as pleasant as I 
 could expect. The first night I stayed at Mr. Sproul's, 
 the next at Dr. Crawford's, the next at Mr. Williamson's, 
 and the last at Strasburg, reaching Winchester about 
 twelve o 'clock. Self and horse both in good condition. 
 
 I doubt not you will hear any quantity of news before 
 this reaches you : that Winchester has been evacuated, the 
 enemy approaching in countless numbers from all direc- 
 tions, and Jackson's army flying before him. All I can 
 say is, do not be alarmed, and make up your mind to bear 
 in patience whatever of good or evil the future may have 
 in store for us. Try, so far as possible, to divert your 
 mind from the troubles of the country. The future is not 
 so bright as it was before our late disasters, but we have 
 yet many strong arms and brave hearts in the field, and 
 should not despair. 
 
 As to our situation here, place no confidence in the ru- 
 mors which you may hear. The enemy yesterday entered 
 Charlestown — in what force I do not know, or for what 
 purpose. It may be to take possession of the Baltimore 
 & Ohio R. R. and rebuild it, or it may be a part of a force 
 intended to advance on this place. All I can say is: I 
 think, unless his force largely outnumbers ours, we shall 
 fight him, and if it is overpowering we shall evacuate the 
 place. 
 
 I write, darling, in the open air and a freezing wind, 
 and will bid you good-bye until my next. I will write reg- 
 ularly, so that my letters may reach you Sunday morn- 
 
50 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 ing when you go to church. Should anything happen me, 
 I will have a letter written to your father, who will send it 
 to you. Kiss the children for me, and for yourself, dear- 
 est, accept all that a fond husband can offer. 
 
 Winchester, March 6, 1862. 
 
 Your first letter since I left home reached me on yester- 
 day, bringing the welcome intelligence that you were all 
 well, and the intelligence, not less gratifying, that you 
 would not have me stay at home whilst the country has 
 such pressing need for the service of every citizen in the 
 field. If such were the feeling and wish of every woman 
 and child, the men would be moved by nobler impulses 
 and we would have a brighter prospect before us. • Our 
 soldiers, impelled by influence from home, would all re- 
 main in the service, and those left behind would rally to 
 their support, instead of remaining behind until com- 
 pelled by force to join the army and fight for the liberties 
 of the country. Whatever others may do, their delin- 
 quencies will not justify our faults ; and you and I must 
 act so that what we do in these times of peril and uncer- 
 tainty shall hereafter have our own and the approval of 
 those whose good opinion we value. 
 
 We came to our present encampment a week ago, and 
 have made little preparation for comfort, not knowing 
 how soon, but expecting every day, we might move again. 
 I doubt not you have heard frequent rumors that a bat- 
 tle was imminent. You had best never alarm yourself 
 with such. From this to the end of the war, I never ex- 
 pect to see the time when a battle may not occur in a few 
 days. Hence I always try to be ready for it, expecting it 
 as something through which I must pass, which is not to 
 be avoided. The facts, so far as I can learn, are that the 
 enemy is in Charlestown. with considerable force, in Mar- 
 tinsburg with some 3000, and at Paw-paw tunnel in Mor- 
 gan with some 12,000 or 15,000. I think it very uncertain 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 51 
 
 whether an advance upon Winchester is intended at this 
 time. Their purpose in crossing the river is probably to 
 rebuild the railroad. When this is done we shall probably 
 be attacked here. If the force of the enemy is far supe- 
 rior to our own,— and it probably will be, I think,— we 
 shall retire from the place without making a defence. So 
 don't be alarmed at any rumors you may hear. 
 
 Since my return we have had a very idle time. My 
 duty is to take charge of the regiment in the absence of the 
 Colonel, and as he is here I have nothing at all to do. I 
 am very anxious to get a job of some sort which will give 
 me occupation. 
 
 The wish which lies nearest my heart is for your com- 
 fort and happiness in my absence. I will write regularly 
 so that you will get my letters on Sunday morning when 
 you go to church. As soon as you hear what was the fate 
 of Brother 's two boys at Fort Donelson, write me about it. 
 
 Strasburg, March 13, 1862. 
 
 I doubt not you have heard of many bloody battles, actual 
 and anticipated, about Winchester for the last few days, 
 and, if you credited every flying rumor, have been some- 
 what apprehensive of my safety. You will then, I doubt 
 not, be surprised to hear that we have had no fight ; none 
 killed except perhaps one or two of our cavalry pickets ; 
 none captured except some thirty or forty who stayed be- 
 hind in Winchester, many of them, I doubt not, wishing to 
 be taken. Twice since my last letter we have had every 
 reason to expect an engagement. Last Friday evening 
 the long roll, always a signal for battle, was sounded and 
 the regiment formed under arms. We marched out and 
 took our position and remained there for a day, but the 
 enemy did not come up. On Tuesday evening the long 
 roll was beaten again, and we took our position, the enemy 
 having advanced his whole force within two or three miles 
 of us. We remained there until dark, but were not at- 
 
52 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 tacked. Then we moved back five miles on the pike, and 
 yesterday morning came to this place. Here we are, and 
 what next? Will we continue our retreat or fight? No 
 one knows. Jackson always shows fight, and hence we 
 never know what he means. Don't suffer yourself to be 
 alarmed by any rumors which you read or hear. So soon 
 as we have an engagement, if I get out of it, I will write 
 to you, enclosing the letter to your father, requesting him 
 to send it out immediately. So soon as we have an en- 
 gagement, everybody will be writing letters, and, I doubt 
 not, your father will send you immediately any reliable 
 news that may come. 
 
 The militia, I see from the papers, are called out, and 
 John Fitzgerald will have to go. Give him the shot-gun 
 to take with him. I don't know what you ought to do to 
 supply his place. Consult with your father, and do what 
 you think best. You can leave the place and go to town if 
 you do not feel safe there. Your happiness, Love, I value 
 and wish to secure above everything else. 
 
 Mount Jackson, March 19, 1862. 
 
 We left our encampment near Strasburg last Saturday, 
 and reached this place on Monday, where appearances in- 
 dicate that we are settled in peace and quiet for a while. 
 There is some skirmishing between our pickets and those 
 of the enemy about twenty miles from here, but I believe 
 the enemy have not left Winchester in any force, and, I 
 imagine, will not until the roads and weather will admit 
 of an advance on the other side of the mountain on John- 
 ston. 
 
 The time passes very dull with me, as I have nothing to 
 do, the Colonel and Lieut.-Col. of the regiment both being 
 here and doing what little there is to be done. Some days 
 ago I met with your sister Martha, who had come down to 
 the camp to see Mr. Williamson. She was much alarmed 
 at the expected approach of the enemy, and in doubt what 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 53 
 
 to do. My advice to her was to remain at home if they 
 came, letting everything go on as usual. They would take 
 such of her property as they needed, but, I believed, 
 would do no further injury. Their policy, so far as I can 
 learn, has been, in Winchester and the counties which they 
 occupy, to conciliate the people. I doubt not it will be 
 their principle everywhere. I am glad they indicate their 
 purpose to carry on the war on the principles of civilized 
 warfare, as it exempts the women and children left at 
 home by our soldiers from the savage barbarities of their 
 vengeance. If the fate of war brings my own home within 
 their lines, it will be some consolation to know that you, 
 my darling wife, and our dear little children are not sub- 
 jected to insult and injury at the hands of the invaders. 
 Whilst their occupancy may deprive me of the fond letters 
 of a loving wife, giving the glad news that all are well at 
 home, which is now my greatest source of happiness, I 
 shall be comforted by the hope and belief that they are 
 left to enjoy uninterrupted the necessary comforts of life. 
 Whilst it is a sad thought to give up one's home to the 
 enemy, with many of us it is destined to be a necessity 
 which will contribute more than all other causes to the 
 ultimate achievement of our independence. It is utterly 
 impossible to defend every section. 
 
 Just here, Love, I will change the subject to say that, 
 whilst writing, I have received your letter of the 15th 
 inst. We may never meet again, as you say, Love. We 
 know nothing of the future, but I trust the day of our final 
 separation is far distant. The obituaries which I find in 
 the paper from home remind me that those who remain at 
 home, as well as those who have joined the army, die. Of 
 the thousand who have left our county for the army, I 
 suppose not more than fifty have died from disease or in 
 battle. Nearly as large a proportion of those at home, I 
 expect, have died. Life is uncertain everywhere, Love, 
 and you should not infer from my being in the army that 
 you and I may not see much of life together yet. I am 
 
54 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 glad I can 't turn aside the dark veil which, covers the fu- 
 ture and look at the good and evil in store for me. 
 
 I am sorry that Galla had the luck to break the likeness, 
 but glad that I have a place in the dear little fellow's 
 memory and that he wanted to see his papa. I am glad, 
 too, to learn that you have found in little Mary Fitzgerald 
 a post-office messenger, and that you can get the papers 
 and my letters without sending one of the hands and stop- 
 ping work oh the farm for the purpose. I have hereto- 
 fore written so that my letters would reach you on Sunday 
 when you went to church, but now I can write at any time. 
 I felt gratified to learn that Fitz was exempt from the 
 militia draft, although it was selfish and unpatriotic, as he 
 would make a good soldier. I am very anxious that you 
 should be comfortable and contented at home ; and as he 
 is so faithful and industrious, I am sure he will be of great 
 service to you, and that you will feel much safer from his 
 being there. 
 
 And now, Love, as I have some matters requiring my 
 attention this evening, I will bid you good-bye and bring 
 my letter to a close. Give a kiss to the dear little boys 
 for me, and for yourself accept my best love. 
 
 Near Winchester (Kernstoivn), March 23, 1862. 
 
 We have had a severe fight to-day and are pretty badly 
 whipped. I am uninjured. 
 
 Mount Jackson, Wednesday, March 26, 1862. 
 
 The robins on the trees around me sing merrily this morn- 
 ing, as if this part of the world was enjoying its usual 
 quiet, and the soldiers are laughing and talking as cheer- 
 fully as if apprehension of danger and alarm for the fu- 
 ture was the last of their thoughts. Since last Thursday, 
 when we started towards Winchester, we have had excit- 
 ing times. We were engaged on Sunday in a fiercer 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 55 
 
 struggle, more obstinately maintained on our side, than 
 that at Manassas last July. The battle between the in- 
 fantry, the artillery having been engaged in firing some 
 time before, commenced about five o'clock and ended 
 about six o'clock, when our line gave way and retreated 
 in disorder to our wagons, about four miles from the 
 battle-field. Our loss in killed, wounded and missing, I 
 suppose, may reach 400. Col. Echols had his arm broken. 
 The next morning after the battle we left in good order 
 about ten o 'clock, and came some seven miles in this direc- 
 tion, where we encamped and cooked dinner. Before we 
 left the enemy appeared with their cannon, and as we 
 were leaving commenced firing upon us. One of their 
 shells burst in our regiment, killing four and wounding 
 several more. We came that night— Monday— to Wood- 
 stock, and on yesterday came here, some ten miles farther. 
 We keep some artillery and cavalry in our rear, close to 
 the lines of the enemy, who check his advance and keep us 
 advised of what is going on. We remain on our encamp- 
 ment with wagons packed and everything in order to move 
 until the afternoon, when we move back. To you this 
 would seem exciting, yet the soldiers sit around in squads, 
 laughing and talking as if they enjoyed the sport. I think 
 it likely, if the enemy advances, we will retreat up towards 
 Staunton. His force which we engaged at Winchester 
 was some 15,000, according to the best estimate we can 
 get of it, whilst ours did not exceed 4000. I think we will 
 not venture on a battle against such odds, but will wait for 
 reinforcements and continue to retire if we are pressed. 
 You may be certain to hear from me if I get out safe from 
 another engagement. 
 
 Bivouac near Woodstock, April 1, 1862. 
 
 Last Thursday I received an order from Gen. Jackson to 
 take charge of four companies and report to Col. Ashby 
 for duty on the advance-guard. I go down occasionally to 
 
56 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 take a view of the enemy's pickets, but most of the time 
 have been lying idle. The enemy are encamped around 
 Strasburg and for some four miles this side, where they 
 seem disposed to remain quiet for the present. The whole 
 country here bears the appearance of a funeral, every- 
 thing is so quiet. In a ride yesterday along our lines, I 
 scarcely saw any person moving about, and all work on 
 the farms seemed suspended ; many of the houses seemed 
 to be deserted. The soldiers alone seem to exhibit the 
 appearance of contentment and happiness. A mode of 
 life which once seemed so strange and unnatural habit 
 has made familiar to us, and if peace ever comes many of 
 them will be disqualified for a life of industry. 
 
 I have seen, in a Baltimore paper, a list of the prisoners 
 taken from the battle at Winchester. It is very gratifying 
 to find that some are captured whose fate was involved in 
 doubt. Among them I am pleased to find the name of 
 Charley Rollins, whom I saw upon the field behaving 
 very gallantly. Send word to his mother if you have 
 an opportunity. Capt. Morrison and Lieut. Lyle of the 
 College Company are on the list. Two captains and one 
 lieut. were captured from our regiment. Our loss in killed 
 and wounded and captured, I expect, will reach 500. I do 
 not think we had over 2500 men engaged, whilst the enemy 
 probably had four times the number, consisting, for the 
 most part, of troops which have been in service for the 
 last year under Rosecrans in Western Virginia, than 
 whom they have no better troops in the field. I never ex- 
 pect to see troops fight better than ours did. Our force is 
 rapidly increasing from the militia who are coming in 
 and will be used in filling up the volunteer companies. 
 Many of those sick and absent on furlough are returning, 
 and with all, I think, we will have a force sufficient to 
 meet the enemy with success. Until our force is increased 
 and reorganized, I think we shall continue to retreat with- 
 out another battle. 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 57 
 
 Mount Jackson, April 2, 1862. 
 
 I stopped here on yesterday with the news that the enemy 
 were advancing, and very soon got an order to move. We 
 are now settled four miles north of New Market. Verily, 
 it is a moving life we lead. 
 
 McDowell, May 9, 1862. 
 
 Before this reaches you, you will have heard alarming 
 rumors of the fight on yesterday, and feel, I know, much 
 anxiety for my safety. I was not hurt, for the reason that 
 I was not in the fight. No part of our brigade was en- 
 gaged, the enemy being whipped off the field before it 
 came. But little, if any, more than one-third our forces 
 were engaged. The fight began late in the evening in an 
 unexpected attack from the enemy, and lasted about an 
 hour. Our loss, I expect, will reach 60 killed and 300 
 wounded. They began their retreat early this morning 
 in the direction of Pendleton County. We pursued them 
 to-day some twelve or fifteen miles, capturing six or seven 
 persons. They left a considerable quantity of tents and 
 provisions, but burned most of them. I am indebted to 
 this source for the sheet upon which I write. 
 
 Well, you want to know when we are going to have 
 another fight? There is no telling, but I think to-morrow 
 we shall take the end of the road which leads to Harri- 
 sonburg. I saw Matthew after the fight was over, and he, 
 like myself, I suppose had not been in it. The cadets were 
 behind our brigade, and, though I have not seen White 
 Williamson, he is, I doubt not, unhurt except by the 
 hard march. The company from Brownsburg, formerly 
 Carey's, suffered very severely, the captain, Whitmore, 
 being killed and one of the lieutenants severely wounded. 
 
 I left Staunton the day I wrote to you last week and 
 joined the army at Port Republic. Since then we have 
 been marching every day but one which we spent in Staun- 
 ton. And now, darling, I will bid you good-bye. 
 
58 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 Friday, May 16, 1862. 
 
 I don 't know where to date my letter. We left Highland 
 yesterday, and are now on the road to Harrisonburg, 
 seven or eight miles from the Augusta line. We have had 
 three days ' rain, and still a cloudy sky threatening more 
 rain. The road is now very bad, and as every wagon 
 which passes makes it deeper, it will soon be impassable. 
 The weather is worse upon us than last winter. Then the 
 ground was frozen and we had the satisfaction at least of 
 being dry — having dry clothes and dry blankets. But now 
 everything is wet and we have no tents. It has had no 
 happy effect upon my health. Yesterday I left the bri- 
 gade to stay in a house a few days, but think I shall join it 
 again to-morrow. 
 
 We had constant expectation of a fight while we were 
 in Pendleton. We supposed Jackson would certainly 
 make the attack on the morning after we reached Frank- 
 lin, and every one was surprised when we turned to march 
 in this direction. No one ever knows where he is going 
 or what his plans are. I suppose his destination now is 
 the Valley, where he will consolidate with Ewell and move 
 towards Winchester. But at present, I think, he will be 
 disposed to give his troops a week's rest. They need it 
 badly, as they have been marching for nearly three weeks 
 since they left their last encampment. 
 
 We have not yet had an election in our regiment for 
 field officers, and I feel more unsettled than ever before. 
 I am not sure that I will be elected, and not sure that I 
 will not. If I were elected by a mere majority, and knew 
 that I did not have the good-will of a large portion of my 
 regiment, I am not sure that I would want the place. I 
 have been absent from the regiment on detached service 
 of one kind and another, and when with them I have 
 always been disposed to be rather rigid. The two causes 
 combined have not given me a strong hold upon their 
 affections. So you see I am rather perplexed with doubts 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 59 
 
 —don't know which end of the road to take, if either. 
 Whatever be the result, I trust I shall do nothing to 
 forfeit the good opinion of my friends; and if I return 
 home, it will be for reasons which now and hereafter shall 
 meet the approval of my judgment. I wish heartily the 
 election was over and I knew my destiny. 
 
 The election was soon after this held under what was 
 known as the "Disorganization Act" of the Confederate 
 Congress, and Major Paxton, with many other officers 
 whose strict and wholesome discipline was not relished 
 by their men, failed to be reelected. He was thus relieved 
 from any further obligation to continue in the service, but 
 his heart was too much in the cause to permit him to 
 abandon the army at such a time. He accepted a place 
 on the staff of his old commander, General Jackson, as a 
 volunteer aide without pay, and in this capacity took part 
 in the seven days' fight before Richmond. After a brief 
 visit to his home, on July 22, 1862, he returned to the army 
 to resume his position as volunteer aide on Jackson's 
 staff. 
 
 Camp near Gordonsville, July 23, 1862. 
 
 I reached here on yesterday, and now hold the place which 
 I had when I left— volunteer aide to Gen. Jackson. The 
 position is very agreeable, and the only objection to it 
 is that I draw no pay and pay my own expenses. I feel 
 quite at home, and am entirely satisfied to spend the rest 
 of the war in this position. Everything here seems so 
 quiet. The troops are drilling, and there is every indica- 
 tion that the troops will rest here for some time. Con- 
 sidering the severe hardships through which they have 
 passed since the war began, it is very much needed. 
 Everything has a happy, quiet appearance, such as I have 
 not seen in the army since we were in camp this time last 
 year after the battle of Manassas. 
 
60 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 I am sorry to have left you with so much work on hand, 
 but hope you may bear it patiently. There is more need 
 now than ever that as much should be made from the 
 farm as possible, as I am drawing no pay. And now, 
 darling, good-bye. I will write you frequently and let you 
 know how I am getting along. I hope you will be as con- 
 tented and happy as possible, and manage matters just 
 as you please, and I will be satisfied. 
 
 August 3, 1862. 
 
 For some days I have been expecting that every mail 
 would bring me a letter from home, but have been dis- 
 appointed. I am sure a letter is on the way, and that you 
 would not sutler two weeks to pass without writing to 
 me. I wrote to you some ten days ago, just after I got 
 here. It may be this did not reach you, and you do not 
 know where I am. I am getting to feel used to the army 
 and to the idea of staying in it until I see the end of the 
 war, or it sees the end of me. The work entrusted to me 
 is highly honorable and very agreeable. I think it will 
 be sufficient to keep me employed and make me as happy 
 as I have ever been in the service. The only objection 
 to it is that my labor is gratuitous and I draw no pay. 
 I shall try and make my expense account as small as pos- 
 sible. The army is more quiet than I have ever known it. 
 The enemy have considerable force some thirty or forty 
 miles from us, amounting possibly to 30,000 men. Their 
 cavalry and ours are occasionally skirmishing, and yester- 
 day had quite a severe engagement with one of our regi- 
 ments at Orange C. H. They are said to have had some 
 three regiments against our one, and, so far as I can 
 learn, we got the worst of it. No very serious damage, 
 however, as our killed and wounded are only fifteen. 
 
 To-day— Sunday— is very quiet, and reminds me much 
 of a Sunday at home, the usual work being suspended. 
 Formerly everything went on as usual on any day, but 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 61 
 
 now the drills and ordinary work of the week are sus- 
 pended on Sunday. Whilst employment here will make 
 me contented, for there is no use in grieving about what 
 must be borne, yet I heartily wish that I was at home with 
 you and our dear little children. Affection and sympathy 
 attract me towards home as the dearest place on earth, 
 but duty to my country and respect for my own manhood 
 require that I should forego this happiness until the war 
 ends— as end it must, sooner or later. I trust, darling, 
 that you will be as contented and happy as you can under 
 the circumstances. The inconveniences to which you are 
 subjected are just the same which all other ladies have to 
 bear. You, at least, have all the comforts of home and 
 necessaries of life, whilst the wife and little ones of many 
 a gallant man in the service are exiles from their homes 
 or without the necessaries of life. It is a poor consolation 
 for your own troubles that others have worse; but it is 
 alike the dictate of piety and virtue to bear them in pa- 
 tience, and thus show that you merit a better fate. The 
 war must end some day. We may never live to see it. But 
 we owe to ourselves to cherish the hope that we may one 
 day live happily together again, and there will be bright 
 sunshine after the storm which now envelops us. 
 
 Fairfax C. H., September 1, 1862. 
 
 My Darling Wife: I have only time to say that we were 
 fighting on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 
 and that I am well. The last was a very severe battle and 
 in large force. The enemy was badly routed. His force 
 consisted of the armies of McClellan and Pope united. 
 Ever yours. 
 
 General Paxton had just taken an active part in the 
 battle which has since been known as the battle of Second 
 Manassas when this characteristic note was written. The 
 report of General Jackson upon these battles makes men- 
 
62 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 tion of him as follows: "In the prompt transmission of 
 orders (Cedar Mountain) great assistance was received 
 from Maj. E. F. Paxton, Acting Asst. Adj. -Gen '1. . . . 
 Desiring to avoid delay, I directed my Acting Asst. Adj.- 
 Genl. to order Jackson's Division forward." "In the 
 transmission of orders (2nd Manassas) I was greatly as- 
 sisted during the expedition by the following members of 
 my staff: Col. A. Smart, Asst. Insp. Genl. ; Maj. E. F. 
 Paxton, Acting Asst. Adj.-Genl." 
 
 Frederick, Md., Sunday, September 7, 1862. 
 
 Your two last letters came to hand yesterday, and I was 
 indeed very happy to hear from you. The date of my 
 letter will surprise you. You would have thought it 
 hardly possible that the fortunes of war should have so 
 turned in our favor that this quiet Sabbath would find us 
 here quietly encamped beyond the limits of our own Con- 
 federacy. It has cost us much of our best blood and much 
 hardship, but it is a magnificent result, which, I trust, 
 will secure our recognition in Europe, and be a step at 
 least towards peace with our enemies. We left the Rap- 
 pahannock two weeks ago to-morrow, and such a week as 
 the first was has no parallel in the war. Two days' 
 severe march brought us about fifty miles to Manassas. 
 That night we had an engagement with the enemy, in 
 which the place was captured and some prisoners. The 
 next day there was another battle, in which Mr. Newman 
 was wounded. That night— Wednesday— we evacuated 
 the place and took up our position adjoining the old bat- 
 tle-ground, and that evening we had another severe en- 
 gagement, in which Maj .-Gen. Ewell was severely 
 wounded and our loss very heavy. The next day— Friday 
 — we were attacked by the enemy in much larger force, 
 but we repulsed the enemy and at night both armies oc- 
 cupied about the same ground. We expected the battle 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 63 
 
 to be renewed the next morning. The enemy had time to 
 collect his whole force, Pope and McClellan combined, 
 and we had brought up all we had on this side of the Rap- 
 pahannock. For a while, the lines were unusually quiet, 
 but after a while the picket-firing began to increase, and 
 soon the whole line was engaged. The assault upon our 
 line was very severe, and for a while the tide of bat- 
 tle seemed to turn against us; but our men stubbornly 
 resisted the assault, and soon the enemy's line gave way, 
 flying in confusion, our artillery playing upon them as 
 they retreated. Our lines were then pushed forward, 
 and by night the enemy was driven from every position. 
 It was a splendid victory, partly fought on the same 
 ground with the battle of Manassas last year. We sus- 
 tained a very heavy loss, but how much I have no idea. 
 The next day we moved towards Fairfax C. H. The 
 next day — Monday — we had another severe engagement. 
 Tuesday we spent at rest and in cooking. Wednesday 
 we started in this direction, and reached here early on 
 yesterday, without meeting any further obstruction. What 
 next— where do we go— and what is to be done? We will 
 probably know by the end of next week what our General 
 means to do with us. I think it likely we will not stay 
 here, and that this time next week will find us either in 
 Pennsylvania or Baltimore. 
 
 I heartily wish with you that the war was over and we 
 were all at home again. But our success depends upon 
 the pertinacity with which we stick to the fight. I think it 
 may not last through another winter. I spend but little 
 time now thinking about business on the farm. I trust 
 it all to you. My duties here are onerous and responsible, 
 occupying my time and mind so completely that I have 
 but little opportunity to think of much else. Not enough, 
 however, to keep me from thinking of dear wife and little 
 ones left at home, and fondly hoping that the day may 
 soon come when I will be with them. It may never come. 
 My fate may be that of many others. Whatever the 
 
64 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 future may have in store for me, I trust that I am pre- 
 pared to meet it with becoming resignation. 
 
 And now, darling, I will take leave of you. Think of 
 me often, and believe me, with much love, ever yours. 
 
 Bunker Hill, Va. f October 5, 1862. 
 
 The army was never so quiet as now, the general impres- 
 sion prevailing that we contemplate no advance upon the 
 enemy and that he contemplates none upon us. We are 
 lying quiet to gather in our absentees and recover from 
 the losses which we have sustained in the active work of 
 the last sixty days. When this is accomplished winter 
 will probably have set in, and the work of this year closed. 
 I fear our troops are to suffer much from want of cloth- 
 ing, and that our supplies will prove greatly inadequate 
 for our wants. 
 
 Whilst the army has been apparently idle, I have been 
 unusually busy during the last week. Everybody seems 
 to be making application for something, and my office is 
 crowded with business. I do scarcely any writing, leav- 
 ing it all to my clerk, Mr. Figgat. If I undertook to do 
 the writing, my eyes would not last long. But as it is, I 
 think I shall be able to do my work without injury. My 
 office is one of much importance and responsibility, and I 
 trust I may be able to fill it without suffering injury to my 
 sight. I think, Love, if this war lasts much longer, you 
 will get to be a pretty good farmer. It really seems as if 
 it would last forever. Both parties seem getting used to 
 it, and the signs of peace and quiet are less, if anything, 
 now than this time last year. 
 
 I heartily wish I were at home with you and our dear 
 little boys. It is the wish of many thousands of my com- 
 rades who have left loved wives and children at home to 
 mourn their absence and grieve over the danger and hard- 
 ships to which they are exposed. God grant that we may 
 all soon be gratified— that the fervent prayer for our re- 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 65 
 
 turn may soon be answered. When we do, I think it will 
 be with a more grateful appreciation of the blessings 
 which we were accustomed every day to enjoy. 
 
 Now, darling, I will bid you good-bye. Think of me 
 often and cherish the fond love which has marked our in- 
 tercourse thus far through life as our greatest source of 
 happiness. 
 
 The office which General Paxton held at this time was 
 that of Acting Assistant Adjutant-General on Jackson's 
 staff. The following letter from General Jackson shows 
 the esteem in which he was at this time held by that officer. 
 
 Headquarters V. District 
 
 September 23, 1862. 
 
 General: I respectfully recommend that Maj. E. F. 
 Paxton be appointed Brigadier-General and assigned to 
 the command of the brigade lately under Brigadier-Gen- 
 eral C. L. Winder. Last year he was major of the 27th 
 Regt. of the brigade and ranked all the officers at present 
 in the brigade, except three. Upon the reorganization of 
 the Volunteer Regiment, Major Paxton was not retained. 
 As he served under me in the line, and at various times I 
 assigned important duties to him, and as for several 
 months he has been my A. A. A. General, my opportuni- 
 ties for judging of his qualifications have been remark- 
 ably good; and there is no officer under the grade pro- 
 posed whom I can recommend with such confidence for 
 promotion to a Brigadier-Generalcy. 
 
 I am, General, your obt. servant, 
 T. J. Jackson, 
 
 Major-General. 
 
 To Genl. S. Cooper, 
 
 Adjt. & Insp.-Gen'l C. S. A. 
 
66 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 Bunker Hill, Va. } October 12, 1862. 
 
 It has not been three months since I left home. I can 
 hardly realize that it has been so long, the time has passed 
 so rapidly. During this period I have had the pleasure 
 of participating in what history will record as the most 
 astonishing expeditions of the war, for the severity of the 
 battles fought and the hardships endured by our soldiers. 
 And now it seems like settling down to idleness. The last 
 week was one of quiet and stagnation like the week before. 
 I have not been in a saddle now for two weeks, and have 
 not been half a mile from my camp since we came to our 
 present encampment. Yet I have been kept so busy that 
 the time passed fast enough. I have had general charge 
 of the orders and correspondence, which has given me full 
 employment. We may have some more activity this fall, 
 but I am inclined to think the campaign is over. It is too 
 late now for either side to think of accomplishing much 
 before winter sets in. Our army is in splendid condition. 
 It has been rapidly increasing during the last three weeks 
 by conscripts and convalescents who have been coming in. 
 If the enemy cross the Potomac to begin the offensive, we 
 shall, I think, have another great battle near this place, 
 and I feel sure that it will be a splendid victory for us. 
 Our victories, though, seem to settle nothing ; to bring us 
 no nearer the end of the war. It is only so many killed 
 and wounded, leaving the work of blood to go on with re- 
 newed vigor. Like everything else, it must have an end 
 sooner or later. 
 
 And now, darling, I will take leave of you, hoping you 
 may have a good time getting through with your compli- 
 cated troubles on the farm. No doubt you think I devote 
 little of my time to thinking about them. True, because 
 my work here occupies my whole time except Sunday, 
 when, by Gen. Lee's order, we are to remain idle unless 
 necessity compels the work. Kiss our dear little boys for 
 me, and remind them of their absent papa. How I wish I 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 67 
 
 could see you all for a little while ! But I must not think 
 of it until Christmas. 
 
 Martmsburg, October 19, 1862. 
 
 I have spent a busy Sunday, superintending the destruc- 
 tion of the railroad here, and will spend what little re- 
 mains of the day in writing you a short note. It is a bad 
 chance for a letter, as I write on my pocket-book resting 
 on my knee. I received your letter of the 9th ult., and was 
 glad to hear from you. I felt to-day as though I were at 
 my old trade— destroying the railroad— which I was at 
 eighteen months ago. Last week we thought there was a 
 chance for another battle, as it was reported the enemy 
 was advancing. But it turned out to be only a scouting 
 party. With that exception, we have had a very quiet 
 time. 
 
 Camp near Charlestown, October 25, 1862. 
 
 This is a dreary, rainy Sunday; every one idle and at a 
 loss for employment. We came down on yesterday to 
 tear up the railroad; the job is about finished, I think, and 
 we would leave now but for the rain. We will return to 
 Bunker Hill, I suppose, to-morrow. It really seems as if 
 the winter would come before we had any further active 
 work. I care but little whether we have any or not, and 
 feel ready for it, whatever it may be. Some indulge a 
 hope that it will be over this winter. I do not know. Our 
 duty is to prepare for a most vigorous prosecution of the 
 war next spring, and be prepared for the worst that may 
 come. We are in the hands of a just God, who will give 
 us peace when we deserve it. I heartily wish, Love, that 
 I was at home with you. No honor or promotion could 
 tempt me to stay here if my duty and my self-respect did 
 not make it imperative. My manhood is involved in a 
 faithful and fearless sticking to the job until it is finished, 
 
68 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 or it finishes me, as it has done many good men. With 
 such a future before me, dark and uncertain enough, I am 
 sure, I try to do whatever is required of me well and 
 cheerfully. I have much reason to be gratified at the 
 many evidences of good opinion which I have received 
 from Genl. Jackson and all under whom I have served. 
 I trust I may be able to get a short furlough to visit home 
 this winter, and I look forward to it with much pleasure. 
 The first freezing, snowy weather we have to stop all ac- 
 tive work, I shall make an effort to spend a few weeks 
 with you. 
 
 Berryville, Clark Co., November, 2, 1862. 
 
 I have just returned from a ride down to the camp of my 
 old comrades, with whom I have spent a very pleasant 
 day. The old tent in which I quartered last spring and 
 winter looked very natural, but the appearance of the 
 regiment was very much changed. But few of the officers 
 who were with me are in it now. In my old company I 
 found many familiar faces in those who went with me to 
 Harper's Ferry last spring a year ago. We then hoped 
 a few months would end the war and we would all be at 
 home again. Sadly we were disappointed. Many of our 
 comrades have gone to their long home, and many more 
 disabled for life. And now when we look to the future 
 we seem, if anything, farther from the end of our troubles 
 than when they began. Many of us are destined yet to 
 share the fate of our dead and wounded comrades, a few 
 perhaps survive the war, enjoy its glorious fruits, and 
 spend what remains of life with those we love. We all 
 hope to be thus blessed ; but for my part I feel that my 
 place must be filled and my duty done, if it cost me my life 
 and bring sorrow to the dear wife and little ones who now 
 watch my path with so much anxiety and pray so fer- 
 vently for my safe deliverance. The sentiment which I 
 try to hold and cherish is God's will and my duty to be 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 69 
 
 done, whatever the future may have in store for me. I 
 am glad to feel, darling, that although I have been writing 
 to you for nearly eighteen months, and this has been the 
 substitute for our once fond intercourse, I feel when I 
 write now that I miss you none the less than I did when 
 this cruel war first placed the barrier of separation be- 
 tween us. I hope as fondly as ever that the day may soon 
 come when we will live in peace and quiet together. Eight 
 years ago to-day, Love, we began our married life, very 
 happy and full of hope for the future. Thus far it has 
 been made of sunshine and shadow, joy and sorrow, 
 strangely intermingled. The darker shade of life has for 
 a long time predominated ; may we not hope for a change 
 of fortune ere long? 
 
 Camp near Port Royal, November 9, 1862. 
 
 The day before yesterday we had a snow, and the weather 
 is now quite cold. Winter seems to have set in, and it finds 
 us sadly prepared for it. A large number of our soldiers 
 are entirely barefooted, and very many without blankets. 
 Living in the open air, without tents and with a very small 
 supply of axes to cut wood for fires, there is much suffer- 
 ing. Those of our people who are living at home in com- 
 fort have no conception of the hardships which our sol- 
 diers are enduring. And I think they manifest very little 
 interest in it. They are disposed to get rich from the 
 troubles of the country, and exact from the Government 
 the highest prices for everything needed for the army. 
 I trust the Government will soon take the matter in hand, 
 fix its own prices, and take what it wants for the army. 
 Everything here indicates that we move to-morrow — 
 where, there is no telling. But I trust we may soon find 
 ourselves settled for the winter. If active operations 
 were suspended for the winter, our men could soon build 
 huts and make themselves comfortable. If, however, we 
 
70 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 have active operations, the sufferings of our men must be 
 intense. 
 
 So you growl about Sunday letters. They are written 
 on that day because all work in the army is suspended on 
 that day and I always have leisure then. They are not 
 interesting, you say. I am sorry for it. It is because I 
 have but little to write about that would interest you. 
 They always tell you I am alive and doing well. Is n't 
 that always interesting intelligence f 
 
 You never mentioned in your letter which company 
 White Williamson is in. Let me know and I will go to see 
 him. Give my love to Martha, and tell her I say she has 
 good quarters in Lexington and she had better stay there. 
 Our army is a moving concern, and there is no telling 
 where it will be a month hence. Possibly we may be here, 
 quite as likely at Eichmond. 
 
 You speak of the army as my idol, but you never were 
 more mistaken. I had a good deal rather live in a house 
 than a tent, though I can bear the change, as there is no 
 helping it. I had a good deal rather be with you and the 
 children than with my idol, the army, your opinion to the 
 contrary notwithstanding. And now, Growler, good-bye. 
 
 P. S. Since that was written, I have received an order 
 conferring upon me the title of Brigadier-General and as- 
 signing me to the command of Jackson's old brigade. I 
 made no application for it, and if I had consulted my own 
 inclination should have been disposed to remain in my 
 present position. 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 Winchester, Va., November 15, 1862. 
 
 I left Gen. Jackson on yesterday for my new position 
 with much reluctance. I had with him a very pleasant 
 situation, with work enough to keep me employed, and 
 the society of companions I liked. I go where there is 
 much thankless work to be done and much responsibility to 
 be incurred. I am free to admit that I don't like the change. 
 Yet there is no help for it. I must go, although I have 
 changed quarters before in a happier state of mind, and 
 with a more cheerful and refreshing prospect before me. 
 Thirty-five hundred of my countrymen are placed under 
 my command. If my duty be done to the best of my abil- 
 ity, it will not, I fear, be with such result as to give entire 
 satisfaction. Yet if suffering or disaster spring from 
 any act of mine, loud and deep will be the curses heaped 
 upon my name. 
 
 How I wish that I was at home again with those who 
 love me! It is the wish of many thousands around me 
 who have left homes loved as well as mine. Grod grant it 
 may soon be realized ! But we must stay just where we 
 are and do just what we are ordered to do. There is no 
 use in having will or wish in the matter, for there is 
 nothing we can do to accomplish it. We must wait in 
 patience for the event when the war shall end, and those 
 of us who survive will be at liberty to return again to our 
 old associations and pursuits. Soon we shall have win- 
 ter, and it will bring with it, I fear, much suffering to our 
 troops, and to many, I fear, a still keener pang in the 
 letter from home telling that wife and child that never 
 knew want before are suffering from hunger and cold. 
 
 71 
 
72 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 If ever a people on earth had cause upon bended knees to 
 pray God to spare a further infliction of this terrible curse, 
 it is ours. We have suffered much, yet the future seems 
 to hold for us an inexhaustible store of suffering— the 
 bloodshed of the battle, the diseases which the camp and 
 exposure engender, and the want of food and clothing 
 produced by laying waste the country. It seems dark 
 enough. 
 
 General Order No. 58. 
 
 Head Qrs. Paxton's Brigade, Jackson 's Division, 
 2nd Corps, 
 
 Camp Baylor, Va., November 18, 1862. 
 
 The Brigadier commanding, assuming the position, em- 
 braces the opportunity to express his appreciation of the 
 honor received in being assigned to a brigade which, by 
 its valor, in the first conflict with the enemy won for its 
 General a name which his virtues and the achievements of 
 his troops have made immortal. Under the lead of Jack- 
 son, Garnet and Grigsby, who with you had shared and 
 survived the perils of battle, under Winder and Baylor, 
 who have fallen in front of your lines and are now 
 mourned among your gallant dead, you have gathered 
 laurels which he trusts may not hereafter be suffered to 
 wither upon your standards. 
 
 He hopes to merit your good opinion by his efforts to 
 provide for your comforts and promote your efficiency, 
 and by his participation with you in all the dangers and 
 all the hardships of the service. 
 
 He expects that such example as he may set, of atten- 
 tion to duty and obedience to orders, will be followed by 
 the officers and men of his command. 
 
 (Signed) E. F. Paxton, 
 
 Brig.-Genl. 
 
 (Signed) E. Willis, 
 
 Capt. & A. A. A. Genl. 
 
MEMOIE AND MEMORIALS 73 
 
 Spottsylvania C. H., December 4, 1862. 
 
 We have reached what I suppose to be our destination 
 after eleven days ' march, stopping but once on the route. 
 The roads were good ; the troops were in good spirits, and 
 with moderate marching reached here but little exhausted. 
 I really don't know what we came for, as everything here 
 is in a most profound state of quiet. The enemy are on 
 the other side of the Rappahannock, showing but little, if 
 any, signs of an intention to cross. 
 
 I am getting used to my new position, and, whilst I pre- 
 fer that which I left, I can be contented here. I have no 
 reason now to complain of a want of employment, but feel 
 that I have more than I can do. I have found much that 
 I would like to remedy, but have not the means to do it. 
 Our soldiers are not clothed or fed now as they used to be. 
 We are short of everything. I hope this winter that much 
 may be supplied, and next spring we may be able to begin 
 the campaign in fine condition. 
 
 We have bright, clear weather now, but it is the season 
 when we may expect it not to last. Soon we shall have 
 snow, bad roads, cold weather and the usual attendants 
 of the season. I wish now we had the order to prepare 
 for it and build such cheap huts as would shelter. Now 
 very few of them have tents and many are thinly clad; 
 some are barefooted and a few without blankets. I wish 
 that I had the power to supply their wants, but I can do 
 but little. Have you made up your mind, Love, when the 
 war will be over? I am heartily sick and tired of it. If 
 any one had told me, when it began, that I should pass 
 through two years of it and reach the rank of Brigadier, 
 with pay of $300 per month, it would have been a flatter- 
 ing prospect; but I feel now as if no rank or pay could 
 induce me to be a soldier— nothing but necessity and a 
 feeling that I am not a true man if I leave our cause for 
 the comforts of home? I sometimes have been severely 
 tempted to follow the example which many whom I 
 
74 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 thought good men have set in staying at home. But other 
 and better impulses have controlled my conduct. When 
 we were separated in times past, I could feel with some 
 certainty that we should soon be together again. Not so 
 now. When will it be, if ever? This is the question 
 shrouded in impenetrable gloom. I would like to see 
 through it. I would like to know when I should be at 
 home again to spend my life with loved wife and children. 
 God in his mercy grant that hope so fondly cherished may 
 some day be realized ! It may never be. Yet it is a fond 
 hope which I cherish while life lasts. 
 
 Camp near Guinea's Depot, December 7 , 1862. 
 
 We have a quiet Sunday to-day. Everything in camp 
 stopped except the axes, which run all night and all day, 
 Sunday included. With the soldiers it is, l i Keep the axes 
 going or freeze." They are the substitutes for tents, 
 blankets, shoes, and everything once regarded as neces- 
 sary for comfort. The misfortune is that even axes are 
 scarce ; the army is short of everything, and I fear soon 
 to be destitute of everything. Yet the men are cheerful 
 and seem to be contented. It seems strange, but, thanks 
 to God for changing their natures, they bear in patience 
 now what they once would have regarded as beyond hu- 
 man endurance. Whilst I write, I expect you are sitting 
 in our pew at church, my place by your side filled by little 
 Matthew,— bless the dear boy!— listening to a sermon 
 from Parson White on covetousness, avarice and such 
 kindred inventions of Satan. I wish him success, but I 
 
 fear he will hardly be able to convince that leather 
 
 can be too high, or that it is not the will of God for poor 
 soldiers to go barefooted. God seems to have consigned 
 one-half of our people to death at the hands of the enemy, 
 and the other half to affluence and wealth realized by 
 preying upon the necessities of those who are thus sacri- 
 ficed. The extortioners at home are our worst enemies. 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 75 
 
 If our soldiers had their sympathies, their assistance in 
 providing the necessary means of sustaining the army, 
 they might bear the hardships and do the work before 
 them, feeling that it was a common undertaking for the 
 benefit of us all and sustained by us, all. But it seems 
 like a revolution to make those rich who stay at home, and 
 those poor who do their duty in the army. 
 
 I begin to like my new position. It occupies my whole 
 mind and time. I begin to feel that my highest ambition 
 is to make my brigade the best in the army, to merit and 
 enjoy the affection of my men. I trust that both may be 
 realized. When I came to it I knew that my appointment 
 was unwelcome to some of the officers, but I have received 
 nothing but kindness and respect from all. They all 
 knew me, and knew that what I said would have to be 
 done. I have had much better success thus far than I 
 anticipated. We made a long march from Winchester— 
 the longest the brigade has ever made without stopping. 
 Usually on such marches the men fall behind, leave the 
 road to get provisions at the farm-houses, etc. But on 
 this march I came very near stopping such practices. 
 Out of the five last days of the march, on three of them 
 every man was present when we reached the camp in the 
 evening; on the other two days but one was missing each 
 day. I am sure that no other brigade in the army can 
 show any such record. During this winter I shall spend 
 my time in trying to make them comfortable and happy, 
 in teaching them all the duties of soldiers, and in instill- 
 ing into them the habit of obeying orders. I hope to 
 gather in all absentees, and when the winter is over to 
 turn out at least 2500 men for duty. So, you see, Love, I 
 have laid out my work for the winter ; and you, so far, as 
 I have said, are to take no part of my care. I think I 
 shall be able to devote a week to you at home. I wish that 
 week were here now, but I can't ask for it now. I must 
 wait till the snow is deeper, the air colder. Then, I think, 
 I will be allowed a short absence. 
 
76 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 Camp near Port Royal, December 21, 1862. 
 
 I wrote to you some days since, informing you that I had 
 passed through the battle at Fredericksburg without dam- 
 age. The loss in my brigade was seventy-six. We 
 reached the battle-ground on Friday morning, the 12th 
 inst., when everything indicated that we should have a 
 battle that day. We took first one position and then an- 
 other, all the while expecting the fight to open; but the 
 day passed off quietly, excepting some artillery firing and 
 some skirmishing. That night we slept in our places. 
 The next morning all was quiet as on the day before for a 
 while, but then the artillery and musketry became more 
 rapid in firing, and continued to increase until for more 
 than a mile along the line there seemed a continuous roar 
 of musketry. We were soon ordered forward, and then 
 I made sure we should be in the battle; but when we 
 reached the position occupied by our second line, we were 
 halted, and there one of my regiments became engaged 
 with a body of the enemy which had advanced within our 
 lines. It lasted a very little while, however. The enemy 
 were driven back along our whole line, and not renewing 
 it, the battle closed. That night we slept on the field, 
 among the dead and wounded. The next morning we oc- 
 cupied our first line. We supposed, of course, that the 
 battle would be renewed, but the day passed off quietly; 
 the next day it was the same case, and the next morning it 
 was found that the enemy had left the field and crossed 
 over the river. We then moved down to our present 
 camp some fifteen miles below Fredericksburg. I hear 
 nothing from the enemy. Their pickets are on the other 
 side of the river, and ours are on this. When do you 
 think we will have another battle 1 Where will it be 1 Such 
 questions puzzle the minds of a great many people, and 
 yours too, I doubt not. It may be to-morrow ; it may not be 
 for months. I hope the Yankees, having practice enough 
 for the year, will conclude to go into winter quarters and 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 77 
 
 let us do the same. Next week will be Christmas, and I 
 hope a happy one to the loved wife and children of my 
 own home. To many, in summing up and looking over 
 their bereavements for the year, it will be sad enough. 
 We have been more blessed, and should feel grateful for 
 it. To the future I look, not in gloom and despondency, 
 but with the calmness and composure of one who feels that 
 his own destiny in a sea of troubles like this is not in any 
 way under his control. The cloud will pass away when 
 God in his righteous judgment wills it, and it becomes us 
 all to bear it in patience. May the prayers which ascend 
 to heaven from so many supplicants, with such earnest- 
 ness and fervor as they never knew before, soon be an- 
 swered. They will be when we deserve it. 
 
 General Oedee. General Oedees No. 65 
 Head Qes. Paxton's Beigade, 
 
 December 18, 1862. 
 
 Regimental commanders will institute a close examination 
 of the conduct of officers and men in the late battle. They 
 will see that merited censure and punishment falls upon 
 delinquencies; that fidelity and gallantry are rewarded 
 with praise and promotion. If any remained behind in 
 camp or fell to the rear without proper leave upon the 
 march, which seemed to all to lead to the field of battle, or 
 when brought to the enemy sought safety in flight, their 
 officers will see that they are arrested and the proper 
 steps taken for their punishment. 
 
 Your line, as it moved after long hours of weary sus- 
 pense to the support of your comrades in front, exhibiting 
 the spirit and determination of soldiers resolved to con- 
 quer or die, was witnessed by your brigade commander 
 with a feeling of pride and gratification such as he had 
 never known before. Such a result can never be achieved 
 
78 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 by men who harass themselves with alternating hope of 
 safety and fear of danger ; it is the work only of the sol- 
 dier who habituates himself to the idea that he must stand 
 to his colors so long as he has a cartridge or a bayonet to 
 defend him; and if he fails in this he deserves to be 
 despised and cast off even by the women and children of 
 his own home. He who moves under such a resolution 
 must of necessity do his duty, win the applause, and a still 
 nobler reward in the conviction which it causes to his own 
 heart that he is what the meanest feels he would like to be 
 —a true man and a true soldier. 
 
 He who proves recreant to his country and his cause at 
 such a time merits the just sentence of military law— to 
 die under the colors he disgraced and by the muskets of 
 the gallant comrades he deserted. 
 
 (Signed) E. F. Paxton, 
 
 Brig.-Genl. 
 
 Official. 
 
 Friend C. Cox, A. D. C. 
 
 The following extracts were taken from the official 
 records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, 
 Vol. XXI,— Fredericksburg: 
 
 Report of Brig.-Gen. E. F. Paxton, C. S. Army, 
 Commanding First Brigade 
 
 Hdqrs. Paxton 's Brigade, Jackson 's Division, 
 Camp near Corbin's Farm, December 24, 1862. 
 
 Captain: In pursuance of the order from division com- 
 mander to report the participation of my brigade in the 
 battle near Fredericksburg, I have the honor to state that 
 my brigade, consisting of Second, Fourth, Fifth, Twenty- 
 seventh, and Thirty-third Virginia Regiments and Joseph 
 Carpenter's battery, numbering in all about 123 officers 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 79 
 
 and 1100 men, marched from its encampment, near 
 Guiney's Depot, on Friday morning, the 12th inst., at day- 
 break. After reaching the battle-field and making fre- 
 quent changes of position, when the engagement com- 
 menced my brigade occupied a position near the crest of 
 the hill some four hundred yards in the rear of General 
 Gregg's brigade of A. P. Hill's division, my right rest- 
 ing on the left of Ewell's division. My orders were to 
 support General Gregg, and be governed in my actions 
 by his movements. Upon a report from my orderly, Mr. 
 F. C. Cox, whom I had sent forward to obtain informa- 
 tion, that Gregg's battery was moving, I ordered my bri- 
 gade to the front in line of battle. About the time of 
 reaching General Gregg's position, the Second Virginia 
 Regiment, occupying the right of my line, came in view of 
 the enemy, and under the order of Capt. J. Q. A. Naden- 
 busch, commanding the regiment, filed obliquely to the 
 right and rear, but scarcely effected its change of position 
 when it was fired upon by the enemy. Expecting, from 
 the indications, that my troops would be engaged in this 
 position, I proceeded to bring forward the Fifth and 
 Fourth Regiments at double-quick and post them upon the 
 right of the Second, and to put the Twenty-seventh and 
 the Thirty-third Regiments in position upon its left. 
 These dispositions, however, were not accomplished until 
 the firing ceased, the enemy having been gallantly re- 
 pulsed by the Second Regiment. Soon after I changed 
 my position and occupied the military road. While there 
 I found that troops were falling back in disorder past the 
 right of my line, when I deemed it prudent to move some 
 three hundred yards to the right upon the road, to guard 
 against an advance of the enemy in that direction. 
 Again I changed position and occupied the line of the 
 fence in front. 
 
 That night my brigade slept on their arms on the mili- 
 tary road, and the next morning, before daylight, in pur- 
 suance of an order from the division commander, took 
 
80 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 position on the railroad, my right resting opposite the 
 position which my left had occupied on the military road. 
 Here the day passed off quietly, with the exception of oc- 
 casional firing between the pickets. 
 
 Carpenter's battery was detached from my brigade on 
 the 12th inst. and was not under my orders during the en- 
 gagement. A report of its participation in the engage- 
 ment, by Lieutenant (George) McKendree, commanding, 
 is transmitted herewith. 
 
 I am much indebted to my regimental officers — Captain 
 Nadenbusch and (R. T.) Colston, acting field officers of 
 the Second Virginia Regiment; Lieutenant- Colonel (R. 
 D.) Gardner, and Major (William) Terry, Fourth Vir- 
 ginia Regiment; Lieutenant-Colonel (H. J.) Williams and 
 Captain J. W. Newton, Fifth Virginia Regiment; Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonel (James K.) Edmondson and Major (D. 
 M.) Shriver, Twenty-seventh Virginia Regiment; and 
 Colonel (Edwin G.) Lee, Thirty-third Virginia Regiment 
 —for the exhibition of great gallantry, skill and coolness 
 in the discharge of their duties. 
 
 Lieutenant- Colonel Gardner, after having passed un- 
 hurt and distinguished for his gallantry through all the 
 battles of the campaign,— Port Republic, Richmond, 
 Cedar Mountain, Manassas, and Sharpsburg,— fell, at the 
 head of his regiment, severely, if not fatally, wounded. 
 
 To Adjt. C. S. Arnall, Fifth Virginia Regiment, acting 
 as my assistant adjutant-general, the highest praise is 
 due for his gallant and energetic discharge of the duties 
 incident to the position. 
 
 To the rank and file of my command I am especially 
 grateful for the courage, fidelity and promptness exhib- 
 ited in obeying my orders. My brigade sustained a loss" 
 of killed, 4 ; wounded, 69 ; missing, 1. Total, 74. 
 
 The reports of regimental and battery commanders, 
 with list of casualties, are transmitted herewith. 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 81 
 
 No. 327, P. 675. Report op Brig.-Gen. Wm. B. Talia- 
 ferro, C. S. Army, Commanding Jackson's Division 
 
 Headquarters Jackson's Division, 
 Camp near Moss Neck, Va., December 24, 1862 
 
 Captain: In conformity with the order of Lieutenant- 
 General commanding, I have the honor to report the oper- 
 ations of this division on the 13th and 14th instant, before 
 Fredericksburg. On the morning of the 12th ... I 
 posted Paxton's and Starke's (Pendleton's) brigades in 
 rear of Gregg 's and Thomas ' of Hill 's division, and held 
 Taliaferro's and Jones' brigades in reserve. . . . Early 
 on the morning of the 13th . . . General Paxton, finding 
 that our troops were giving back to the right of Gregg's 
 brigade, and the enemy advancing beyond the front line 
 through a gap which fronted a boggy wood supposed to 
 be inaccessible to the enemy, moved his brigade to the 
 right and engaged with two of his regiments the enemy, 
 who had penetrated to the military road, but who were re- 
 tiring by the time he reached that point. He then pushed 
 forward to the front, and occupied for the rest of the day 
 the front line at that place. ... I take pleasure in stat- 
 ing that officers and men behaved admirably, displaying 
 coolness and courage under fire, and changing positions 
 without any disorder or confusion. I would particularly 
 mention Brigadier-Generals Jones and Paxton. ... I 
 enclose a list of killed and wounded, amounting to 190. 
 
 No. 321, P. 663. Report of Brig.-Gen. Jubal A. Early, 
 Commanding E well's Dtvesion 
 
 Headquarters E well's Division, 
 
 December 27, 1862. 
 
 Captain: I have the honor to submit the following report 
 of the operations of this division in the action of the 13th 
 instant, near Fredericksburg. . . . 
 
82 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 Seeing this brigade falling back, I halted it on the hill 
 in the woods immediately in the rear of the place at which 
 it had first met the enemy, and caused it to be reformed 
 under the command of Col. C. A. Evans of the Thirty- 
 first Georgia Regiment ; and fearing that the enemy might 
 follow through the same interval with a fresh column, I 
 sent to General D. H. Hill for reinforcements, and he sent 
 two brigades forward. Before, however, they arrived, 
 Brigadier-General (E. F.) Paxton of General (W. B.) 
 Taliaferro's division had filled the interval left open by 
 the falling back of this brigade by promptly moving his 
 own brigade into it. 
 
 Camp Winder, Caroline Co., Va., January 1, 1863. 
 
 I have not heard from you since the battle. Since then 
 we have had a quiet time and everything looks like rest 
 for some time to come. The men are fixing up their 
 shanties for the winter. They seem happy and contented. 
 It is sad to look back on the year just closed. We have 
 suffered much; many good men have gone to their long 
 home. Our loss has been 1220 in killed and wounded— 
 more men than we could turn out for a fight to-day. Out 
 of the fifteen field officers elected last spring, five have 
 been killed and six others wounded, leaving only four 
 that have escaped unhurt. In these losses are many 
 whom we were always accustomed to regard as our best 
 men. I published to-day an order naming our camp, 
 which gives some facts of our history, and I send you a 
 copy of it. 
 
 How are the matters at home? In the excitement of 
 active work, I have too much to do to harass myself with 
 idle dreams of home ; but now since we are at rest I can- 
 not keep my mind from it. I feel there is nothing which 
 I would not give to be with you for an hour or a day. I 
 could have gone home and have spent a couple of weeks 
 when I received my appointment, before taking command ; 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 83 
 
 but I really thought the brigade was sadly in need of a 
 commander, and that it was my duty to stay. Now I am 
 fixed and must apply for leave just as any private in the 
 ranks. I know it would not improve my standing with 
 my superior officers to ask for a leave, but still I feel very 
 much tempted to do it. If the snow falls deep, and we 
 have such severe weather as to preclude the possibility of 
 active work, my homesick malady may get the better 
 of me. I would like to see you, Matthew, Galla and the 
 baby. Have the children forgotten me 1 It seems so long 
 since I saw them. 
 
 Just here an officer calls who says he comes upon the 
 disagreeable duty of placing me in arrest by order of 
 Gen. Taliaferro, who regards a communication which I 
 sent him to-day as very disrespectful. Very good ; there 
 is a small chunk of a row to be settled, which I shall do in 
 that calm spirit which becomes the man who means to 
 vindicate himself and his conduct. He says my com- 
 munication was disrespectful. I say it was not, and can- 
 not possibly be so construed by any intelligent and disin- 
 terested officer. I feel sure that I have done nothing at 
 which my worst enemy could find cause for complaint. 
 An arrest for some causes would be a serious affair, but 
 in a matter such as this it is trifling to me. The offence 
 of Genl. Taliaferro, in abusing his power as my superior 
 officer, I think he will find, in the opinion of all disinter- 
 ested gentlemen, is a much graver offence than any I have 
 committed. I wish him no harm, however ; and I shall do 
 nothing more in the matter than what I may think, after 
 calm and mature reflection, ought to be done. Do not give 
 yourself any anxiety about it, as there is nothing in it to 
 involve either my character as an officer or a gentleman. 
 The difficulty arose about a sealed communication from 
 St. Pritchard, Judge-Advocate of the court martial in ses- 
 sion in my brigade, which was addressed to Gen. Chilton, 
 Adjutant to Genl. Lee, and sent by me to Genl. Taliaferro 
 to be forwarded to its destination. It was returned to me, 
 
84 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 opened, with an endorsement that it did not comply with 
 the army regulations as to endorsing and forwarding it. 
 I replied that as St. Pritchard was on detached service, I 
 did not think his communication to Genl. Lee was in any 
 way under my control or that of Genl. Taliaferro, and that 
 as he had taken the liberty of breaking the seal and re- 
 turning the paper, it would be sent to its destination 
 through some other channel. Perhaps he differs with me 
 upon the point, and thinks I meant to be offensive. So 
 much for this piece of news. Now, darling, I will bid you 
 good-night. 
 
 General Orders No. 1 
 
 Headquarters Paxton's Brigade, 
 
 Camp Winder, January 1, 1863. 
 
 In memory of the gallant officer who led the brigade at the 
 battles of Winchester, Port Republic and Richmond, and 
 whose valuable life was lost at Cedar Mountain, the pres- 
 ent encampment is called Camp Winder. In the losses of 
 the year just closed, twelve hundred and twenty killed and 
 wounded, you have much to mourn. The eye moistens 
 with an unbidden tear to find that many of the officers 
 whom your free choice had appointed to lead you, of the 
 messmates and comrades you loved, are missing now. 
 On Richmond, Manassas, or on some other field of car- 
 nage, they have met a soldier's fate and found a soldier's 
 grave. In its achievements you have much cause for 
 pride. You have marched fifteen hundred miles, encoun- 
 tering the snows and ice of winter in the mountains of 
 Morgan and Hampshire ; the heat and miasma of su mm er 
 in the swamps of Henrico and Hanover. You have met 
 the enemy in nine severe battles, and in all, save one, God 
 has blessed your arms with victory. You have the proud 
 satisfaction of knowing that you have participated in the 
 campaign which has given your country a brilliant name 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 85 
 
 in history, and that you have contributed with your blood 
 to its success. To-day you begin another year in the 
 service of your country, and in the achievement of its in- 
 dependence. God speed you in your glorious work! 
 You begin the campaign with but twelve hundred muskets 
 —a small number, it is true, but borne by men inured 
 alike to the dangers and the hardships of the service, who 
 will make up in hardy courage what they lack in numbers. 
 Imitate the valor of Winder, Allen, Baylor and Neff, and 
 you have a brilliant future before you. 
 
 (Signed) E. F. Paxton, 
 
 Brig.-Genl. 
 
 Official. Friend C. Cox, A. D. C. 
 
 Gamp Winder, January 17, 1863. 
 
 We returned yesterday from a week's tour of duty on 
 picket, and the men are now camping in their old camp. 
 We had very good weather, with the exception of one 
 day's rain; and it was cloudy and seemed every day as 
 if bad weather was coming upon us. Whilst there I got 
 an order to cook one day's rations and be prepared to 
 move at any time. But several days have elapsed and 
 no order yet to move. I think it is very improbable that 
 such an order will come before spring. The Yankees, I 
 doubt not, are having a quiet time in winter quarters, 
 and, I think, have seen enough of us to last them until 
 spring. Appearances indicate an engagement in North 
 Carolina. It is probable they will make an effort to take 
 possession of the railroad and of Wilmington. If so, we 
 will have, I doubt not, a severe battle there. I expect, 
 too, we shall hear of another attack on Vicksburg before 
 long. So far as we are concerned here, I feel, perhaps, 
 too confident. We have whipped the army in front of us 
 very often, and I feel sure that we can do it any time. 
 We repulsed their attack at Sharpsburg, where, I am 
 sure, we did not have more than half of our present 
 
86 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 strength. I do not think their army can ever be increased, 
 but the symptoms of dissatisfaction at the North must 
 tend largely to diminish it. Our independence was se- 
 cured in the last campaign when we proved our capacity 
 to beat the finest army they could bring in the field. The 
 war may be protracted, there is no telling how long ; but 
 we have shown our capacity to beat them, and we are 
 better able to do it now than ever before. But many of 
 us may never live to see the end ; it may last long enough 
 to see the end of more of us than will be blessed in living 
 to see the end of it. If it be God's will that my life shall 
 be lost in it, I feel that I should await my fate contented, 
 if not with cheerful satisfaction. The next world we must 
 all see sooner or later, and in this business one must make 
 up his mind to look upon the change with composure. 
 Every sense of fear and alarm must be controlled in such 
 a way that he may act free from the influence in the 
 midst of dangers which at other times would have made 
 him shudder. It is well that we cannot know to-day the 
 events of to-morrow; that upon the eve of our pain and 
 death we may be made happy by the anticipation of 
 pleasure which we are destined never to enjoy. So, 
 darling, I live upon the hope that this war may some day 
 end, that I may survive it, and that you and I may spend 
 many a happy day together. God grant that it may be so ! 
 I had hoped to have gotten home this winter, but I think 
 there is no chance of it. My only hope for a furlough is 
 to get shot or get sick. This is the misfortune of my pro- 
 motion. Before I could go and come when I pleased, 
 but now I am fixed while the war lasts. Now, Love, I 
 will bid you good-bye. Write often. 
 
 Camp Winder, January 25, 1863. 
 
 I spent yesterday in bed, and feel to-day like getting 
 back into it. Whilst I have not lost any time from sick- 
 ness since I last left home, I have been often unwell and 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 87 
 
 compelled to lie in bed for a day or two. A few days' 
 quiet generally relieves me, but exposure and irregular 
 living generally bring it on again. I never was better 
 than when I came to the army last summer ; but about the 
 time of the battle of Cedar Mountain it began, and has 
 continued, making me often hardly fit for duty. It is in 
 some measure owing to a want of vegetables and fruit, 
 and to bad bread. The next opportunity I have, I will 
 send to Richmond and get a stock of crackers, dried 
 peaches, etc. 
 
 We have occasionally had an alarm, but generally 
 everything has been quiet. Yesterday morning we had 
 an order to send our extra baggage to the rear, but it 
 arose, I believe, from the accidental bursting of a shell 
 in Fredericksburg, which set the armies on both sides 
 to beating the long roll. My brigade has been rapidly 
 increasing in the last month by the return of sick and 
 absentees. I hope by spring to bring it up to 2200 pres- 
 ent, and to have it in a high state of efficiency. Then I 
 expect some good service from it. 
 
 You say you have forty-eight barrels of flour at the 
 lumber-house. After saving for your own use what you 
 want, get Wm. White to send off the balance and sell 
 it. Have the balance of the wheat ground, so that you 
 may get the offal, and send off the flour. I wrote you in 
 my last letter a good deal about the farm. Let me hear 
 in your next letter all about them. I have but little time 
 now to think of them, and trust it all to you. If my work 
 here is well done, it will occupy my whole time. I should 
 like to fill my place here, so as to leave it with some credit 
 to myself. To do this will leave me but little time for 
 matters on the farm. So you must be housekeeper, over- 
 seer, man of all business, and everything. You may as 
 well learn now, and if you will devote your mind to it 
 you will have no trouble. With such assistance as you 
 can get from Matt and your father, you will be able to 
 get along very well. 
 
88 ELISHA FEANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 When I was lying in bed I half wished that I might 
 get sick, so that I might get home for a little while ; but 
 I think my disease is destined to take an unfavorable turn 
 so as to deprive me of that pleasure and keep me in camp. 
 
 Give my love to little Matthew and Galla, and tell them 
 I say they must be good boys and do everything you tell 
 them. How I wish that I could be with you again ! I hope 
 the day may not be far distant. This hope is the last 
 thing with which I wish to part. Now, darling, good-bye. 
 Write often. 
 
 P.S. After closing and sealing up my letter, I break 
 it open to say that I received yours of the 17th inst. It 
 is sad, Love ; but still I am glad to know that I am prized 
 at home even by the baby. God bless him, and — a more 
 fervent prayer still — may he teach me my duty! Just 
 here the Chaplain comes to say that the two of my poor 
 soldiers condemned to die desire that their remains 
 may be sent home, and my answer was that all in my 
 power should be done to further their wishes. How I 
 wish that I had some place where less responsibility was 
 thrown upon me ! May God give me strength to meet it 
 in the spirit of mercy and justice. How sad it is to think 
 of the distress which this punishment must bring upon 
 others ! It makes me shudder to think of such a fate 
 being brought upon the wife and children of my own 
 household. I feel in no humor, Love; I am too sad to 
 write anything which would please you. Again good-bye. 
 
 General Paxton's illness took the "favorable turn" 
 which he hoped for, and his condition became such that 
 a brief leave of absence became necessary, and he spent 
 a few weeks with his family. 
 
 Camp Winder, February 20, 1863. 
 
 I have been improving since I got back to camp, and 
 now begin to feel that I am quite well. I trust that it 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 89 
 
 may continue, for during the last six months I have suf- 
 fered much from the fact that I have seldom been very 
 well. 
 
 Until this morning we had snow and rain continually 
 since I returned. This is a bright, clear morning with 
 a strong wind, which I think will soon dry the ground. 
 As it is now, the roads are so muddy that it is next to 
 impossible to get provisions for our men or feed for our 
 horses. Since I reached camp I have been quite busy. 
 The day before yesterday I wrote eight pages of foolscap 
 paper, more than I have written in one day for the last 
 two years. I sometimes think if my health were good 
 my eyes would give me no trouble. 
 
 There is an impression that a large part of the force 
 which was in front of us has moved. If so, it indicates 
 that we, too, before many days may move, and that there 
 will be no more fighting on the Rappahannock. In three 
 or four weeks we will have spring weather, and then we 
 may expect employment. Where we will be in a month 
 hence, God alone knows. Some of our troops have al- 
 ready moved, but their destination is not known. It is 
 a business of strange uncertainties which we follow. For 
 my part, I have gotten used to it, — used to it as an afflic- 
 tion with which despair and necessity have made me con- 
 tented. I used to look upon death as an event incident 
 only to old age and the infirmities of disease. But in this 
 business I have gotten used to it as an every-day occur- 
 rence to strong and healthy men, some upon the battle- 
 field and others by the muskets of their comrades. Four 
 of my brigade have been sentenced to be shot — three for 
 desertion and one for cowardice. It is a sad spectacle, 
 and I sincerely wish that their lives might have been 
 spared. I trust that God in his mercy may soon grant 
 us a safe deliverance from this bloody business. Such 
 spectacles witnessed in the quiet of the camp are more 
 shocking than the scenes of carnage upon the battle-field. 
 I am sick of such horrors. If I am ever blessed with the 
 
90 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 peace and quiet of home again, oppression and wrong 
 must be severe, indeed, if I am not in favor of submission 
 rather than another appeal to arms. I came away from 
 home without your miniature ; send it to me. 
 
 Camp Winder, Caroline Co., Va., March 1, 1863. 
 
 Your very welcome letter of Feby. 23 reached me day 
 before yesterday, and I am very happy to hear that you 
 are all well at home. Very happy, too, my dear wife, 
 to know that I am missed, and that even little Frank 
 remembers me, if no other way than associated with the 
 candy which coaxed him into my lap. You have had bad 
 weather for farm work, and we have had as bad for our 
 comfort. But it must come to an end. The war may last, 
 but winter cannot. We will soon have weather when you 
 farmers can get to ploughing and we soldiers to fighting. 
 Since writing this much of my letter, I have been to 
 church. We have a chapel built of logs, not so comfort- 
 able as some churches I have seen, but still much better 
 than the open air in winter weather. I was much pleased 
 with the appearance of my men. They look clean and 
 comfortably dressed, and were attentive to the sermon. 
 We have, it is true, many bad men in the army; but, as 
 a whole, I would not expect to find better men in any 
 community than I have in my brigade. I never saw them 
 in better health or spirits ; and, what is so gratifying to 
 me, Love, they give me every evidence of their affection 
 and good-will. Winning this, I feel, is the proudest and 
 happiest achievement of my life. May God give me 
 strength, in sharing their danger and providing for their 
 comfort, to merit it. 
 
 Camp Winder, March 8, 1863. 
 
 To-day I went to our chapel to hear Dr. Hoge, who 
 preached a very fine sermon, Genl. Jackson being one of 
 the audience. We have preaching in the chapel twice on 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 91 
 
 Sunday, and, I think, pretty much every night. It looks 
 odd to see a church full of people, and all of them men. 
 It would be really refreshing to see a woman among them, 
 to give the audience the appearance of civilization. But 
 the women and children who adorn our churches at home 
 are missing here. Well they may be ! I am glad, at least, 
 that mine are not here to share the miseries of this busi- 
 ness with me. 
 
 During the past week it has been a blow or rain, a 
 hurricane or a shower, all the time. The wind seems to 
 dry up the ground, taking the water up somewhere, and 
 it is no sooner up than down it comes again. 
 
 In army matters we have the most profound quiet. 
 It has been so long since I have heard a musket or a 
 cannon that I have almost forgotten how it sounds. I 
 suppose, however, in the course of a month we will have 
 something to refresh our memories and revive old scenes. 
 Yes, we will have the long roll to warn the men that 
 another battle is imminent ; then the solemn march to the 
 scene of the conflict, each pondering upon the misty fu- 
 ture ; then we are halted and our line of skirmishers thrown 
 to the front; then we have the occasional shots, which 
 gradually thicken and extend until there is one continual 
 roar of musketry and artillery; and, perhaps, to close 
 the scene, we lie down exhausted to sleep upon the field, 
 among the dead and dying. You civil people at home 
 all look upon this as terrible. So it is, but we soldiers 
 must get used to it ; each waiting in patience for his time 
 to fall among those who rise no more for the contest. 
 
 Give my love to Lou [his wife 's sister] and say to her 
 that Mr. Newman's regiment is now at Fredericksburg; 
 that I will send up to him and let him know to-morrow 
 that his box is at the depot; and that I will write to an 
 officer from my brigade who is on duty at the depot to 
 take charge of it until he sends for it. I was very sorry, 
 indeed, that I was not able to bring the other box with me. 
 
 I have had more to do of late than usual, and have 
 
92 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 sometimes spent four or five hours at my writing-desk,— 
 not, however, without some pain in my eyes when I quit 
 work. I am able to keep pretty well when I live on rice 
 and bread, but if I eat a hearty meal it puts me out of 
 order again. I hope by care to keep fit for duty, but do 
 not expect to get right well until I get a better diet and 
 am able to lead a more regular life. I heartily wish that 
 I were right well. It gives me much anxiety lest, when 
 my services are most needed, I shall prove unfit for duty 
 and be compelled to leave my brigade in charge of some 
 one else. 
 
 Camp Winder, March 15, 1863. 
 
 I will devote a part of this quiet Sunday evening to a 
 letter home. Our camp looks to-day like it was Sunday. 
 We stop our usual work when Sunday comes, and, like 
 Christian people, devote it to rest. To-day I attended 
 our church and listened to a very earnest and impressive 
 sermon from one of our chaplains. He is one of the best 
 men and best chaplains I ever knew. He devotes his 
 whole time to his duties, and remains all the time with 
 his regiment, sharing their wants and privations. I am 
 sorry to say we have few such in the army. Many of 
 them are frequently away, whilst others stay at houses 
 in the neighborhood of the camp, coming occasionally 
 to their regiments. 
 
 To-day I had a visit from the father and mother of a 
 poor fellow who has been tried by a court martial for 
 cowardice. She was in great distress, and said it would 
 be bad enough to have her boy shot by the enemy, but 
 she did not think she could survive his being shot by our 
 own men. I gave her what comfort I could, telling her 
 his sentence had not been published and there was no 
 means of knowing that he was sentenced to be shot ; that 
 if it turned out to be so when the sentence was published, 
 she could petition the President for his pardon; that he 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 93 
 
 was a good man and would pardon her son if it was not 
 an aggravated case. I pitied her, she seemed so much 
 distressed. I heartily wish this sad part of my duties 
 were over. I have about twenty of my men in close con- 
 finement, whose sentences have not been published, many 
 of whom are condemned to death. It is for Gen'l Lee 
 to determine what shall be done with them. 
 
 Whilst I write the sleet and hail are falling fast, ac- 
 companied by frequent claps of thunder, cold and chilly 
 withal. Winter, it seems, will never end. Last week it 
 was all the while a severe wind and freezing cold. I 
 really don't care much now how long it lasts. I do not 
 wish to move from here until spring is fairly opened. 
 My men are comfortably fixed here, and when we move 
 the huts must be left behind, and, besides this, most of 
 the blankets sent off, as we have no wagons to haul them. 
 My men, I fear, when we move will have to get along 
 with such clothing and blankets as they can carry. Many 
 of our horses have died this winter for want of forage, 
 and those that remain are much reduced in flesh and 
 strength. 
 
 I have received your miniature, reminding me of times 
 when you and I were young ; of happy hours spent, a long 
 time ago, when I used to frequent your parlor in the hope 
 that you might be what you now are, my darling wife. 
 Then the present was overflowing with happiness, the 
 future bright and beautiful. We have seen much of each 
 other, much of life, its joys and sorrows, since then. By 
 the grave of our first child we have known together the 
 deep sorrow of parting with those we love forever. In 
 this long absence of two years, we have felt the sadness 
 of a separation with such chance of its being forever 
 as we did not dream of when we began life together. May 
 God in his mercy soon bring us together in our dear 
 home, never to separate again, to spend what of life is 
 left to us in peace and happiness. Good-bye. 
 
94 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 Camp Winder, March 22, 1863. 
 
 I am grateful to yon for the tender interest in my health 
 manifested in your last letter, received some days since. 
 For the last week I have felt better than I have before 
 this winter. I have gotten a half -bushel of dried peaches 
 from Richmond, and, living upon these for the most part, 
 I have improved very much. I am so much pleased with 
 the medicine that I think I shall send to Richmond and 
 get another bushel. So, I think, you may give up your 
 idea of a furlough. 
 
 It commenced snowing again on Thursday evening, and 
 snowed or rained all day Friday and Saturday. To-day 
 the sun is shining brightly, the birds chirping, and some 
 signs of spring again. I hope now we may have good 
 weather, and that you may be able to make some speed 
 with your farm work. 
 
 I had an unexpected visitor at my tent yesterday even- 
 ing—Mr. Junkin of Falling Spring Church. I divided 
 my bed with him, and did what I could to make him com- 
 fortable. He has special claims upon my hospitality as 
 the pastor of my old church. It is associated in my mind 
 with many loved friends who have now gone to their long 
 homes, and from it I derived my earliest impressions 
 of the church and the pastor. Twenty long years have 
 passed since I used to go there to church. I have grown 
 that much older, but I fear not much wiser or better. I 
 remember and reverence the teachings of my venerable 
 pastor, but have not made them the guide of my life as 
 I ought to have done. 
 
 I laid aside my pencil and paper just here to go over 
 and hear a sermon from Mr. Junkin. It was impressive 
 and eloquent. When he alluded to our missing comrades 
 of the past campaign, there was a solemn stillness, and 
 many eyes moistened with tears. It is sad, indeed, to 
 think now how many good men we have lost. Those upon 
 whom we all looked as distinguished for purity of char- 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 95 
 
 acter as men, and for gallantry as soldiers, seem to have 
 been the first victims. I never saw an audience more at- 
 tentive than our soldiers are at church. The great mass 
 of them are good men, who have not lost in the army 
 the habits which they learned in their churches at home. 
 I like to see those whose lives may be spared to return 
 home without being contaminated with the vices of the 
 army. 
 
 Camp Winder, March 31, 1863. 
 
 You will have, in your troubles on the farm, much to try 
 your patience. My advice to you is to bear it all in good 
 temper, to know all that is going on; and by devoting 
 your mind to it you will find that you succeed much better 
 than you anticipate. There is no work so profitable in 
 one 's business as thinking about it. I have always found 
 that when I was interested in what I had on hand, and 
 thought much about it, that I found some good and easy 
 plan of accomplishing what I wanted to do. I have, as 
 you know, short as my life has been, followed all sorts 
 of trades. I have been lawyer, banker, farmer, soldier, 
 etc., and any success which I have met with I ascribe to 
 the thinking which I have devoted to the business. You, 
 I doubt not, have found the same about your house- 
 keeping. Now apply this to the farm, and you will have 
 an easy time. 
 
 Whilst I value your love as the best treasure which I 
 have on earth, I would not have you harass yourself with 
 a painful anxiety about my fate. The thread by which 
 I hold my life is brittle, indeed, and may be severed any 
 day. I have thought much of it, and think that I feel 
 content to accept whatever fate God's justice and mercy 
 has in store for me ; and my prayer is that he will give 
 me such faith, repentance and conformity to the law of 
 his holy Gospel as is required of the sinner. I feel that 
 I can say, "If it be possible, let this cup pass from me; 
 
96 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 but thy will be done." Sooner or later I must drink it, 
 and if it be God's will that it be now, I am content. 
 Sooner or later I must die, and, if prepared to die, my 
 life can never be given to such a cause as that in which 
 it is now staked. I may survive the dangers before me ; 
 many thousands will. If such be the will of God, I trust 
 that his law may be the guide in what remains for me of 
 life. Sooner or later, darling, the ties which bind me 
 to you and the children of our home must be severed 
 forever. If I be the first to go, and the charge devolve 
 upon you, teach them, as the experience of their father's 
 life, that there is no honor on this earth save in the path 
 which God's Word points out for the humble and contrite 
 Christian. Outside of this there is no success in life, 
 no wealth or distinction which does not bring wretched- 
 ness as the reward for the labor which it costs. Perhaps 
 there may be many years of happiness in store for us, 
 dark and bloody as the future may seem. May God in 
 his mercy end the struggle ! 
 
 Camp Winder, April 12, 1863. 
 
 Your letter of April 7th came to hand yesterday, bring- 
 ing the welcome intelligence of all well at home. I will 
 spend part of this quiet Sabbath in writing to you in 
 answer to it. It is a very pleasant and warm April day, 
 —so pleasant that our log church has been abandoned 
 and the chaplains had service in the open air. I witnessed 
 to-day what I never saw before: the sacrament admin- 
 istered in the army. It was, indeed, a solemn and im- 
 pressive scene ; a congregation composed entirely of men, 
 standing around in the circle of which the chaplain was 
 the center, receiving the bread and wine in renewal of 
 their vows and fellowship as Christians. 
 
 A number were admitted for the first time to the sacra- 
 ment, and received into the church. The whole assembly 
 wore such an air of seriousness and devotion as I have 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 97 
 
 seldom witnessed before. There was no excitement, but 
 an exhibition of earnest devotion in the discharge of the 
 highest duty on earth. Far away from wife, mother 
 and sister, separated from them perhaps forever in this 
 world, they met, this mild April Sabbath, in the open air, 
 some of them for the first time, and others to renew their 
 sacramental vows of faith in Christ and fresh exertion 
 to deserve his mercy. Men like these, however gloomy 
 the future may be, look to it pleasantly and happily, con- 
 tented to receive whatever of good or ill God has in store 
 for them with the supplication, "Thy will be done!" 
 Relying with implicit faith upon his mercy, the future 
 is stripped of its gloom and becomes all bright, beautiful 
 and happy. To such men death is no enemy, but a mes- 
 senger expected from God sooner or later, and welcome 
 as the quick path to a holier and happier life. With such 
 soldiers in our army and such men at home, we might 
 bid defiance to all the boasted numbers and strength of 
 our enemies and feel sure of victory. But it is sadly 
 true that the mass of our men here and at home are not 
 of this type. Very many of our officers and soldiers— 
 very many more, I think, of our people at home— have 
 grown worse instead of better by the calamity which has 
 fallen upon us. It is strange that it should be so ; strange 
 that adversity makes us no wiser and better; that our 
 depravity grows deeper and darker in proportion to the 
 severity of affliction. How little we know of the future ! 
 Last Sunday I thought another week could not pass with- 
 out more blood. The reasons which prevented it during 
 the winter— the weather and the roads — no longer exist. 
 We have for some days had good weather and good roads, 
 and no reason why the enemy should not advance, if so 
 disposed. I place but little confidence in my judgment 
 as to what will happen; but I have rather come to the 
 conclusion that the enemy does not mean to attack us here. 
 There is nothing which seems to indicate an advance. I 
 am inclined to believe we have nearly as many men at 
 
98 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 our command here as they have opposed to us, and I 
 think it likely they know it. 
 
 Their balloons go up every day, and from these they 
 have a full view of the location of all of our troops; I 
 suppose we shall have some activity after a while. If 
 they do not move, we shall, I think. Whenever the strug- 
 gle comes, I feel sure of success— that God will bless us 
 with another signal victory. We have a just cause and 
 a splendid army, and I trust that our next engagement 
 may be attended with such signal success that much will 
 be accomplished towards closing the war. I look to the 
 future with much confidence. Many of us must go down 
 in the struggle, never to rise again. Such may be my 
 fate. Sometimes I try never to let my hopes fix upon 
 anything beyond the war, such is the uncertainty of sur- 
 viving it. Then I find myself happy in the dream and 
 hope of the time when it will all be over, and I shall be 
 with you again, to spend the rest of life in peace and quiet. 
 God will that it may be so ! If not, I am content. Sooner 
 or later we must separate in this life, and it will be when- 
 ever God so wills it. Despondency and despair under such 
 circumstances is foolish and sinful. Far better to be 
 contented and complaisant, ready to do our duty and sub- 
 mit in patience to our fate, whatever it may be. 
 
 And now, darling, good-bye. Give my love to Matthew 
 and Galla, and a kiss to little Frank. Write often, and 
 believe me, dearest, ever yours. 
 
 Camp Winder, April 20, 1863. 
 
 I received your welcome letter of the 15th inst. on Sat- 
 urday. I am very sorry to hear that Jack is still unfit 
 for work, and that Phebe, too, has taken sick. Bear it 
 all in patience, and do the best you can. I would be very 
 glad, indeed, if you would hire another. Pay almost any 
 price rather than not get one. If you get behindhand 
 with the work, you will not soon get it up. 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 99 
 
 As to C, I can 't be far wrong. He is not as bad as you 
 think he is; but even if he cheats me out of the whole 
 crop, it would be better than to leave it idle. Somebody, 
 and certainly the country, will get the benefit of the crop, 
 
 if we do not. As to the pay for grazing Mr. 's cattle, 
 
 you are right; say nothing to your father about it. I 
 would rather lose the price than have an unkind feeling 
 about it. I have a strong aversion to having any busi- 
 ness transactions with my kin, as they are so often the 
 cause of ill feeling. 
 
 I have been waiting for nearly a week for a fair day 
 to change my camp, and moved this morning, hoping 
 to have sunshine for one day at least to fix up. But I 
 have been unfortunate. I had hardly reached the new 
 camp before the rain commenced, and my men, I fear, 
 being poorly provided with tents, have suffered much 
 from it. My old camp, I thought, from the accumulation 
 of filth during the winter, was the cause of an increase 
 of sickness among the men. I hope now, as we have a 
 good supply of spring water and clean ground, that the 
 health of the men will be better. I have hardly ever 
 known the army so quiet as now. We had every reason 
 to believe that as soon as the spring opened the enemy 
 would advance and we should have a great battle, in 
 which I anticipated a splendid victory, but heavy loss. 
 Three weeks of spring have passed, and so far from an 
 advance, there is every indication that there will be none. 
 So, too, all along the line. There seems no disposition 
 on the part of the enemy to hazard an advance. How 
 different the future now from this time last year ! Then 
 the enemy were pressing at every point, and all was 
 gloomy for us. Now it is all bright and prosperous. If 
 we wait for activity here from the enemy, we will, I think, 
 remain in this camp all summer. The prospect is not so 
 cheering when we look within our lines. Christian people 
 have forsaken the God of their fathers for the sake of 
 money, an idol worse than images of metal or stone. 
 
100 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 The President's patriotic appeal, I see, is answered 
 by the committee of one county : ' ' Hay, twenty cents per 
 pound"; by that of another: "Wheat, $6.50 per bushel." 
 I do not believe there is such a scarcity as to justify such 
 figures, but the famine is of Christian charity and public 
 spirit. Men wish to grow rich upon the miseries of their 
 country, and there is no limit to their extortions. All 
 seem holding back what they have in the hope that a 
 starving army will raise the price of bread and meat 
 still higher. God will give us the blessing of indepen- 
 dence and peace fully as soon as we deserve it; and our 
 prayer should be now not so much for victory to our 
 arms as for patriotism and charity to our people, wisdom 
 and integrity to our rulers. The depravity of mankind 
 is alike the great truth and the great wonder of the uni- 
 verse. These times seem to develop it in a degree of 
 monstrosity which we could never have supposed it would 
 obtain. 
 
 And now, darling, good-bye. Give my love to dear 
 little Matthew and Galla, and kiss little Frank. May God 
 bless and take care of you all ! 
 
 No date, first page of letter being lost. Probably April 27, 1863. 
 
 We had a snow here on Saturday night which contin- 
 ued yesterday morning and is now about gone. The roads 
 are now in pretty good condition, and if the enemy wish to 
 make the attack, there is, I think, no reason now for de- 
 ferring it on account of the roads. But, darling, there 
 is no telling when it will be. The future, ever a mystery, 
 is more mysterious now than ever before. Our destiny 
 is in the hands of God, infinite in his justice, goodness 
 and mercy ; and I feel that in such time as he may appoint 
 he will give us the blessings of independence and peace. 
 We are a wicked people, and the chastisement which we 
 have suffered has not humbled and improved us as it 
 ought. We have a just cause, but we do not deserve 
 success if those who are here spend this time in bias- 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 101 
 
 phemy and wickedness, and those who are at home devote 
 their energies to avarice and extortion. Fasting and 
 prayer by such a people is blasphemy, and, if answered 
 at all, will be by an infliction of God's wrath, not a dis- 
 pensation of his mercy. 
 
 The future, as you say, darling, is dark enough. 
 Though sound in health and strength, I feel that life to 
 many of us hangs upon a slender thread. Whenever God 
 wills it that mine pass from me, I feel that I can say 
 in calm resignation, "Into thy hands I commend my 
 spirit." In this feeling I am prepared to go forward 
 in the discharge of my duty, striving to make every act 
 and thought of my life conform to his law, and trusting 
 with implicit faith in the salvation promised through 
 Christ. How I wish that I were better than I feel that I 
 am ; that when I close my eyes to-night I might feel cer- 
 tain that every thought, act and feeling of to-morrow 
 would have its motive in love for God and its object in 
 his glory ! Well, so it is. Why is it we cannot feel sure 
 that the sins of the past are never to be repeated? May 
 God give me strength to be what I ought to be— to do 
 what I ought to do ! And now, darling, good-bye. When 
 we meet again, I hope you will have a better husband- 
 that your prayer and mine may be answered. 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 Telegram 
 
 May 3, 1863. 
 
 The enemy was dislodged from all his positions around 
 Chancellorsville and driven back towards the Rap- 
 pahannock, over which he is now retreating. We 
 have to thank Almighty God for a great victory. I regret 
 to state that Gen'l Paxton was killed, Gen'l Jackson se- 
 verely and Gen'l Heath and D. H. Hill slightly wounded. 
 
 (Signed) R. E. Lee, 
 
 Gen'l Commdg. 
 
 Letter from Henry K. Douglas to Mrs. Paxton 
 
 May 4, 1863. 
 
 Madam: As the senior officer of Gen'l Paxton 's staff, 
 and a person with whom he was probably more intimate 
 than with any one in the brigade, I deem it my duty, al- 
 though a painful one, to notify you of the circumstances 
 of his death. He fell yesterday morning while bravely 
 leading his brigade into action, and lived only about an 
 hour after receiving his wound. As soon as he was struck 
 he lifted his hand to his breast-pocket. In that pocket 
 I knew he kept his Bible and the picture of his wife, and 
 his thoughts were«at that moment of heaven and his home. 
 Beloved and esteemed by officers and men, his loss is 
 deeply mourned, and the brigade mingle their tears with 
 those of his family relations. 
 
 I have for some time thought that the General expected 
 
 102 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 103 
 
 the first battle in which he led his brigade would be his 
 last, and I had observed, and am satisfied from various 
 conversations with him, that he was preparing his mind 
 and soul for the occasion. It is a consolation to know 
 that while he nobly did his duty in the field and camp 
 without regard to personal consequences, he had been 
 convinced that there was a home beyond this earth where 
 the good would receive an eternal reward. For that home 
 he had richly prepared himself, and, I confidently hope, 
 is there now. Almost the last time I saw him, and just 
 before the brigade moved forward into the fight, he was 
 sitting behind his line of troops, and, amidst the din of 
 artillery and the noise of shell bursting around him, 
 he was calmly reading his Bible and there preparing him- 
 self like a Christian soldier for the contest. 
 
 Dr. Cox, A. D. C, has already departed with his body 
 for home. 
 
 Lettee fkom Heney K. Douglas to J. G. Paxtobt 
 
 Hagerstown, Md., Feb. 18, 1893. 
 
 Yours of the 14th is received to-day. I knew your 
 father very well. When he was on the staff of Gen'l 
 Jackson, so was I; and for a time, when he commanded 
 the Stonewall Brigade, I was the A. A. G. and A. I. G. of 
 the brigade, in rank its senior staff officer. My relations 
 with him were very close— indeed, confidential. 
 
 I had observed, during the winter of 1862-63, a growing 
 seriousness on his part in every respect. There was no- 
 thing morbid about it, but he was much given to religious 
 thought and conversation. He was a very regular reader 
 of the Bible, and, I think, often talked with Gen'l Jackson 
 on the same subject. He was thoroughly impressed with 
 the conviction that he would die early in the opening 
 campaign, and was determined to prepare for that fate. 
 
 In my letter to your mother, written the day after his 
 
104 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 death, I merely alluded to certain conversations which I 
 will now explain more explicitly. 
 
 The night of the 2nd, Gen'l Paxton seemed— as we in 
 fact all were— very much depressed at the wounding of 
 Gen'l Jackson. Late that night, in the course of a con- 
 versation with me, your father quietly but with evident 
 conviction expressed his belief that he would be killed 
 the next day. He told me where in his office desk certain 
 papers were tied up and labelled in regard to his business, 
 and asked me to write to his wife i mm ediately after his 
 death. I was young and not given to seriousness then; 
 but I was so impressed with his sadness and earnestness, 
 and all the gloom of the surroundings, that I did not leave 
 him until after midnight. 
 
 The next morning we were astir very early. I found 
 Gen'l Paxton sitting near a fence, in rear of his line, 
 with his back against a tree, reading the Bible. He re- 
 ceived me cheerfully. I had been with him but a few 
 minutes when the order came for his brigade to move. 
 He put the Bible in his breast-pocket, and directing me 
 to take the left of the brigade, he moved off to the right 
 of it. I never saw him again. I find, in looking at my 
 brief diary of that day, that he had been killed for some 
 time before I knew it, and that I was commanding the 
 brigade by issuing orders in his name long after his 
 death. When I knew of it, I informed Col. Funk, who 
 immediately assumed command. I mentioned in the let- 
 ter to your mother that he lived an hour after his wound- 
 ing. Capt. Barton says this is an error, and it is prob- 
 able he is correct. I was not with Gen '1 Paxton when he 
 was shot, and I suppose that what I stated in my letter 
 was obtained from some one else. Capt. Barton was 
 with the General. I find this in my notes: "I missed 
 Gen'l Paxton and the rest of the staff; but as I missed 
 part of the 2nd Regiment, I thought it and the General 
 had become temporarily separated from the rest of the 
 Brigade." I find in my notes of the 4th: "I wrote a let- 
 
MEMOIE AND MEMORIALS 105 
 
 ter to Mrs. Paxton concerning the death of the General. ' ' 
 This is the letter a copy of which you sent me, and I am 
 very glad to get it. 
 
 Gen'l Paxton was a unique character. He was a man 
 of intense convictions and the courage of them. Kind- 
 hearted, he was often brusque to rudeness. He was con- 
 scientious in the discharge of his duties, and painstaking. 
 He was of excellent judgment, slow and sure, and yet 
 fond of dash in others. He was esteemed by the officers, 
 beloved by the men, and respected by all. He was an 
 excellent officer, a faithful, brave and conscientious sol- 
 dier. He had a keen sense of humor, well restrained, and 
 often laughed at and condoned recklessness of which he 
 did not approve. I think I must have tried him often; 
 but if so, he never let me know it. I had his friendship, 
 and in all his friendships he was staunch and true. 
 
 P.S. I find this in the account of my interview with 
 Gen'l Jackson on Sunday evening, the 3rd: "He spoke 
 feelingly of Gen'l Paxton and Capt. Boswell, both dead, 
 and his eyes filled with tears as he mentioned their names. 
 He asked me to tell him all about the movements of the 
 old brigade. When I described to him its evolutions: 
 how Gen'l Paxton was reading his Bible when the order 
 came to advance; how he was shortly afterwards mor- 
 tally wounded; how Gen'l Stuart led the brigade in per- 
 son, shouting, "Charge, and remember Jackson!" etc., 
 etc., his eyes lighted up with the fire of battle as he ex- 
 claimed, "It was just like them— just like them!" 
 
 Lettee from Randolph Barton to J. G. Paxton 
 
 Baltimore, Md., Sept. 14, 1885. 
 
 My recollection is that in the summer or September of 
 1862, your father, who up to that time had been a mem- 
 ber of the staff of Gen'l Jackson (Stonewall), was by that 
 
106 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 officer appointed to the command of the Stonewall Brig- 
 ade,— Gen '1 Winder, its last commander, having been 
 killed at Cedar Mountain. 
 
 I was a brevet second lieutenant in Co. K, 2nd Va. 
 Infantry, Stonewall Brigade, during the winter of 1862- 
 1863, and your father was at that time acting Brigadier- 
 Gen '1. Early in 1863, upon the recommendation of Mr. 
 Henry K. Douglas, your father detailed me to act as Assis- 
 tant Adjutant- Gen '1 of the brigade, and about March or 
 April, 1863, I left my company and went to his head- 
 quarters. A little later the Confederate Congress con- 
 firmed his appointment as Brigadier-General, and there- 
 upon, although he did not positively tell me that he wished 
 me to remain with him permanently, he suggested that I 
 should supply myself with a horse, which I took as a 
 hopeful sign of my promotion. 
 
 My impressions are not clear, at this length of time, 
 as to your father's religious life during the period imme- 
 diately preceding the opening of the campaign of 1863, 
 but I am sure he daily read his Bible, and on Sunday 
 went to the brigade's religious services, held in a large, 
 rude log house, in which I remember distinctly to have 
 seen Gen'l Jackson with great regularity. 
 
 On the afternoon of May 2, 1863, about three o'clock, 
 Gen'l Jackson's command completed the flank movement 
 which placed him in Hooker's rear. Your father's brig- 
 ade brought up the rear of the column, and as it emerged 
 from the dense pine forest and blinding dust upon the 
 plank road leading from Orange C. H. to Chancellorsville 
 and Fredericksburg, Gen'l Jackson halted it, allowed the 
 rest of the column to go on, and for some moments, seated 
 on a fallen log back in the woods, engaged your father in 
 earnest conversation. 
 
 Gen'l Jackson then rejoined his column, your father 
 formed his brigade across the road, about evenly divided 
 by the road, and with his staff advanced down the road 
 some few hundred yards. After a while firing commenced 
 
MEMOIE AND MEMORIALS 107 
 
 on the left, and one of us was despatched by your father 
 to bring up the brigade in line of battle, which was done, 
 and by nightfall we had resumed our position at the right 
 of Gren'l Jackson's line. The enemy had been completely 
 surprised by the advance on our left, had fled in great con- 
 fusion, and our brigade had been very slightly engaged. 
 
 We spent the early hours of that night on the roadside, 
 or in shifting positions. Finally, about one o'clock the 
 next morning, we got into the line of battle not far from 
 the enemy. Our rest was constantly broken by volleys 
 of musketry, and we all knew that daybreak would usher 
 in an awful conflict. I was close to your father all this 
 time, as my duty required, and recall now with vivid dis- 
 tinctness the fact that he was dressed in a handsome gray 
 suit, which had only a day or so before been received 
 from Richmond, having on its collar the insignia of a 
 Brigadier-Gen '1. Perhaps the wreath was not on the 
 collar, only the stars,— one of your father's characteris- 
 tics being aversion to display. By the very first dawn 
 of day, when with difficulty print could be read, your 
 father opened a Bible,— a very thick, short volume, prob- 
 ably gilt-edged,— read for some time, and as the sound 
 of approaching conflict increased, carefully replaced it 
 in his left breast-pocket, over his heart. In a few mo- 
 ments a staff officer from G-en'1 Stuart, who had suc- 
 ceeded Gren'l Jackson, hurried us to the right of the plank 
 road, and we were immediately engaged in a terrific bat- 
 tle. Our brigade had faced the enemy and were slowly 
 advancing, firing as they advanced. I was within a foot 
 or two of your father, on his left, both of us on foot, and 
 in the line of our men. Suddenly I heard the unmis- 
 takable blow of a ball, my first thought being that it had 
 struck a tree near us, but in an instant your father reeled 
 and fell. He at once raised himself, with his arms ex- 
 tended, and as I bent over him to lift him I understood 
 him to say, "Tie up my arm"; and then, as I thought, 
 he died. Some of our men carried him off, and after 
 
108 ELISHA FKANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 a while, being severely wounded myself, I went back, 
 passing his body in an ambulance. 
 
 The following extracts are taken from the official rec- 
 ords of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, 
 Vol. XXV, - Chancellor sville : 
 
 No. 398, P. 1006. Eepokt of Beig.-Gen. E. E. Colston, 
 C. S. Army, Comdg. Teimble's Division 
 
 This was a most critical moment. The troops in the 
 breastworks, belonging mainly (I believe) to General 
 Pender's and General McGowan's brigades, were almost 
 without ammunition, and had become mixed with each 
 other and with the fragments of other commands. They 
 were huddled up close to the breastworks, six and eight 
 deep. 
 
 In the meantime, the enemy's line was steadily advanc- 
 ing on our front and right, almost without opposition 
 until I ordered the troops in the breastworks to open fire 
 upon them. At this moment Paxton's brigade, having 
 moved by the right flank across the road, and then by 
 the left flank in line of battle, advanced toward the breast- 
 works. Before reaching them, the gallant and lamented 
 General Paxton fell. The command devolved upon Colo- 
 nel (J. H. S.) Funk, Fifth Virginia Regiment. The brig- 
 ade advanced steadily, and the Second Brigade moved up 
 at the same time. They opened fire upon the enemy and 
 drove them back in confusion. . . . 
 
 I cannot, however, close this report without mentioning 
 more particularly, first, the names of some of the most 
 prominent of the gallant dead. Paxton, Garnett and 
 Walker died heroically at the head of their brigades. 
 
MEMOIR AND MEMORIALS 109 
 
 No 399, P. 1012. Repoet of Col. J. H. S. Funk, 5th 
 Va. Infantry, Comdg. Paxton's Brigade 
 
 I have the honor of submitting the following report of 
 Paxton's brigade in the late operations around Chancel- 
 lorsville : 
 
 The brigade, under the command of Brig.-Gen. E. 
 Frank Paxton, composed of the Second, Fourth, Fifth, 
 Twenty- seventh and Thirty-third Virginia Infantry Regi- 
 ments, left Camp Moss Neck on the morning of April 28, 
 marching to Hamilton's crossing, where we bivou- 
 acked. . . . 
 
 On the morning of May 3 (Sunday) we were aroused at 
 daylight by the firing of our skirmishers, who had thus 
 early engaged the enemy. At sunrise the engagement 
 had become general, and though not engaged, and occupy- 
 ing the second line, the brigade suffered some loss from 
 the terrific shelling to which it was exposed. 
 
 At 7 a.m. we were ordered to move across the plank 
 road by the right flank about three hundred yards, and 
 then by the left flank until we reached a hastily con- 
 structed breastwork thrown up by the enemy. At this 
 point we found a large number of men of whom fear had 
 taken the most absolute possession. We endeavored to 
 persuade them to go forward, but all we could say was 
 of but little avail. As soon as the line was formed once 
 more, having been somewhat deranged by the intermin- 
 able mass of undergrowth in the woods through which 
 we passed, we moved forward. Here General Paxton 
 fell while gallantly leading his troops to victory and 
 glory. 
 
 No. 309, P. 1006. Repoet of Gen. R. E. Lee, C. S. Army, 
 Comdg. Aemy of Northern Virginia. Sept. 21, 1863 
 
 Many valuable officers and men were killed or wounded 
 in the faithful discharge of duty. Among the former, 
 
110 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 Brigadier-General Paxton fell while leading his brigade 
 with conspicuous courage in the assault on the enemy's 
 works at Chancellor sville. . . . 
 
 Lettee fkom A. C. Hopkins, Chaplain 2nd Va. 
 Infey., to Mes. Paxton 
 
 Near Richmond, May 12, 1863. 
 
 In the tenderness and freshness of your grief, you may 
 deem me an intruder, though I come to sympathize with 
 you. Esteem for your husband while living, and regard 
 for his memory now that he is removed from earth, 
 prompt me, a stranger, to send you this letter. 
 
 I am a chaplain of his former command. An attack 
 of typhoid fever caused me to be removed from camp 
 to a kindly roof in the vicinity some six weeks ago ; and 
 from there I was rapidly hurried off from a sick-bed to 
 avoid capture just the day before my admired General's 
 death. Of course, therefore, I could not be with him on 
 that ill-fated day, and have nothing of his last words to 
 send you for comfort. I know, however, he died as a 
 brave, patriotic soldier, whose home and family are in- 
 vaded and humiliated by an enemy, would prefer to die, 
 doing his duty for their defence. With all this you have 
 been made more fully acquainted than I have, and there- 
 fore I leave it. 
 
 I can boast no claim to the special confidence of your 
 husband. What I tell you, you may have learned before 
 from his own pen or tongue. But I am assured that you 
 will be much comforted to learn that in every conversa- 
 tion with me for months past he has given evidence of 
 very serious reflection on the subject of religion; and 
 so great has been his zeal in encouraging chaplains in the 
 religious instruction of his troops, that I am induced to 
 hope that the blood of Christ had purchased his soul, and 
 he is now among the rejoicing saints in light. 
 
MEMOIE AND MEMORIALS 111 
 
 During my illness he kindly came to see me twice, the 
 last time but a few days before the battle, and each time 
 he introduced and continued to speak on religious matters. 
 He always proved himself the chaplain 's warm friend so 
 long as he endeavored to promote the spiritual interest 
 of his regiment and proved faithful to his ministerial 
 office. 
 
 Now, madam, please accept the tender sympathies of 
 a friend, admirer and member of your lamented hus- 
 band's former command, although a stranger to you. 
 May the great Comforter administer to you all the con- 
 solation which Heaven bestows on earth, and be so good 
 a Guide and Light to your fatherless children as to com- 
 pensate for their great bereavement. My failing strength 
 bids me cease. With kind regards and tenderest sym- 
 pathies for you and your mourning household, I am your 
 sincere friend. 
 
 EXTEACTS FROM DlARY OF MARGARET J. PRESTON 
 
 May 2nd, 1863. Hear to-day of a prospective battle in 
 Culpepper; everybody is anxious. 
 
 Monday, 4th. . . . Cannon was distinctly heard by 
 many persons yesterday; great anxiety prevails to hear 
 the tidings; no mails to-day; we hear the Federal army 
 has torn up some miles of railroad. 
 
 May 5th, 1863. To-day brings news of a terrible bat- 
 tle; no particulars; only that General Frank Paxton is 
 killed, Jackson and A. P. Hill wounded. Of the mothers 
 in this town, almost all of them have sons in this battle ; 
 not one lays her head on her pillow this night sure that 
 her sons are not slain. 
 
 This suspense must be awful. Mrs. Estill has four 
 sons there ; Mrs. Moore, two ; Mrs. Graham, three ; and so 
 
112 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 on. Yet not a word of special news, except that a copy 
 of General Lee 's telegram came, saying a decided victory, 
 but at great cost. God pity the tortured hearts that will 
 pant through this night ! And the agony of the poor wife 
 who has heard that her husband is really killed! I was 
 told to-night that a few weeks ago General Paxton wrote to 
 his wife, sending his will, with minute directions in regard 
 to his property ; telling her he had made a profession of 
 religion; that he was expecting to be killed in the next 
 battle, and was resigned and willing to die. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 The life of the subject of this Memoir has been so well 
 told, his character so manifested, by his letters, that 
 no word of comment seems necessary. It is said that 
 the thunder of the guns at Chancellorsville was heard in 
 Lexington; certainly it was known that a battle was im- 
 pending. When, therefore, the loving wife, who had 
 so long in loneliness awaited his coming, saw her mother 
 and her aged pastor drive to her door, she knew their 
 errand and fainted at the sight. 
 
 She survived him long enough to implant in the hearts 
 of his three sons a devotion to the memory of their 
 scarcely remembered father which has been to them 
 through life an inspiration. The growth of the man dur- 
 ing the period in which these letters were written is the 
 striking feature of them. With great natural courage 
 and burning patriotism he went forth almost joyfully to 
 the conflict. With growing seriousness he passed through 
 the horrors of battle after battle, until we find him in that 
 winter camp in the Wilderness. There his heart was 
 filled with sadness unutterable as he saw about him all 
 the miseries of war. He had in many battles looked 
 death in the face without fear, but now it was death 
 looking him in the face. His own soul-conflict was upon 
 him, and with his other struggles he was wrestling with 
 God. During the two years of service the youthful en- 
 thusiasm had vanished, and in its place had come heroic 
 determination. The man who wrote those last letters 
 would not have turned one hair's breadth from the path 
 of duty to have saved his life. In that wilderness near 
 Chancellorsville, on the night of May 2, 1863, there came 
 
 113 
 
114 ELISHA FRANKLIN PAXTON 
 
 to him his Gethsemane. To his trusted staff officer he 
 says, "I shall die to-morrow." The night is spent in 
 marching and countermarching, and daybreak finds him 
 reading his Bible. This done, he gives the command that 
 puts his brigade into action, and takes his place in the 
 center of his brigade, in the line with his men, a position 
 of as great danger as any in his c omm and. Within a 
 few minutes, at about seven o'clock, the death-summons 
 came, and he fell to rise no more. It was not his to be 
 with his men through their glorious charge and victory. 
 A modest tombstone in the quiet graveyard at Lexington 
 marks his resting-place, and bears the simple inscription : 
 "It is well with thee." If to be faithful unto death, to 
 willingly lay down one's life for an ideal, entitles one 
 to peace and rest in the great hereafter, then, Christian 
 soldier, it is well with thee !