Head Quarters 3 Penn Cavalry

August 7^th 1862.

 

Mother

            What in the world is the matter with you all. Do you think that because I have Col. Owen's assurance of my promotion that I feel myself too big to be spoken to by my civillian relations. Let the reason be what it will I have not heard one word from any of you this week so far. I'm mad as thunder and I'm going to write you a letter as dry and prosey as I possibly can and see if you don't wish you had written if only to escape my terrible punishment. i.e. reading the letter now in the act of completion. As regards news, there is none of importance. There is a vague rumor that Kearny had a fight yesterday at Malvern Hill and came out on top. I don't know how much dependance can be placed upon it. Our commissions have not yet arrived from Harrisburg and I have ceased to speculate as to when they will come. When they come they will be here that's certain. The captain has spoken of it two or three times that they were keeping us some time without our commissions. I told him that purgatory must have its time. or words to that effect "as they say in court martial cases." How is business. How are all of the young ones. Excuse my impudence. Father and yourself first. How do my very democratic friends regard the prospect of a draft upon thier numbers / I refer particularly to such individuals as Gus Boerstler, Joe Allison, John & Jim Mahr, John Collins and John & Bill Quinlan—who as soon as the war broke out in earnest, found out that they were the only support of a large family which would be reduced to starvation in the event of thier leaving. On my honor I would give two months pay and all of my bounty money to see those fellows and a few of another class, ie Joe Davis, Ed Levy &c. drafted and sent down here to eat hard bread for a while and let our tired boys rest. You folks may think that we are resting now but to tell the truth we are detailed so hard that a company has to go out at least every 4 days. That is if a Comp^y comes in to day they will be obliged to go out again at least in 4 days. Now to ride from 3 A.M. till 5 or 7 P.M. is no easy days work for either man or horse. You probably heard of our being shelled the other night. The reb's. planted 3 batteries on the bluffs opposite us across the river and the shell hopped into our camp for about an hour pretty lively. They commenced firing about 12 at night and kept it up till a little past 1. There was about 6 or 8 horses killed in our regiment and as many more in the 4^th Pa. there was one man wounded over in the 4^th but none of our regiment were hurt. some of "K" Compy, who were taken since we came to this camp by the enemy were exchanged a few days ago and came back to the regiment yesterday. They tell / a pretty hard story of the way that they were packed away by the reb's. I have not heard the story from any of them and consequently will not attempt to tell it. I have been pretty sick for a few days past or would have written sooner I am now however perfectly recovered and again feel as strong as Sampson or Dr Winship or any other man. Davis' time is pretty nearly out unless he got his leave extended which I hardly think probable. Show him the town if he stays long enough. Introduce him to Harrars & Preys folks. He is a great hand for society and I would like to have some mutual acquaintances with him. La Belle Louise would please him to a certainty. By the way I must while I think of it send my very best respects to the heads of both of those departments as well as to the younger but none the less admirable members of the families. Has Harrar ever yet expressed himself in favor of coercion or opposed to letting the southern states leave the union whenever they wished.

 

            Well I have written all that I can think of to fill up a letter and as I am pretty tired I guess I will stop for the present. Give my love to all the family and respects to all friends.

 

                                                            Your Affectionate son

                                                                        E.W.Warren 

 

            I want you to send me on some stamps as soon as you get this don't send many at a time as I have no way to carry them and keep them dry send 3 or four or ½ doz and send oftener

                                                                                                Will

SOURCES