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Camp Paxton May 19, 1863
My dear Annie,
I have been looking many days for a letter from you. The last one from you was dated about the 20th of April. I feel a good deal of anxiety fearing you may be sick. Letters are coming through from below Mount Jackson so I can not define any cause for your silence, unless you are very ill. It is already more than a month since I heard a word from you and I have passed through so much during the past month that it seems two instead of one. Time drags with me at best, for I am in suspense- every day expecting to quit or to be reassigned to other duty. It is generally expected by all the reg. Commissaries that we shall secure orders to close out with the present month. It is thought by many that we shall be assigned receivers of the tax in kind. If I am ordered to Rockingham or Shenandoah Counties, I shall be very satisfied with the change. Almost any post will be better than duties in the field.
I am almost sure it will be impossible for the regiments to get along with out a Commissary but Congress thinks otherwise and the experiment will have to be tried. John Gatewood has been here several days, says he staid in Mount Jackson over night and saw Mr. Koontz but heard nothing of the family but was sure that the Yankees had not carried you all off. I suppose you have to submit to the indignity of having the house searched. I heard they searched every house in New Market and Mount Jackson. They surely have not heard of Hookers defeat else thy would not have ventured up the valley. As soon as the battle was over on Sunday I had no fear of movement up the valley. Old Hooker must have deceived them. Did they represent General Lee as whipped as they went up?
I engaged yesterday in the collection of funds for the erection of a monument to the memory of Gen Jackson to be over his remains at Lexington. All had to be done by the old Stonewall Brigade. Mrs. Jackson has consented that the Brigade may put what they choose over his remains, but no one else. Everybody feels like giving something for everybody claims an interest in the memory of Gen Jackson but the old Stonewall Brigade have the highest claims. They have made him what he was at his death, and fought all his battles, if that does not give them the highest claim there is nothing they can do on earth to entitle them to it. The Brigade lost four hundred and eighty-nine in the Battle of Chancellorsville on Sunday May 3rd 1862 in killed and wounded. The thirty third lost sixty six - ten killed and fifty six wounded. The Tenth Reg. had the hardest fighting they have ever done.
I am sad at the thought that Sam Walker was killed - his wife must suffer terribly. If he had escaped this time in all probability he would have been elected to the Senate. He could have resigned and gotten out honorably having lost the use of his hand from his wound last August. He has gone and many more with him who will be as great a loss to their friends as he but we do not know them therefore our sympathy is not so great.
Reinforcements are coming to us from Richmond and there are indications that Lee will move across the Rappahannock if Hooker does not get ready first and cross to this side. But I think his head is too sore to venture soon. I sent some of my baggage to Page County today and hope soon to follow it but must wait the orders of the Secretary of War. I am very desirous of leaving soon for I have been sick for two weeks though a good deal better, but, do not believe I shall entirely recover my health as long as I have to stay in this location.
The Stonewall Brigade has contributed about six thousand dollars to the monument - the 33rd nine hundred dollars.
The mail has come today but no letter for me. I think every day I shall certainly get a letter - you will certainly write soon. I heard a few days ago that Rubin fry lost all the letters sent to the Valley by him. I wrote to you and Luther Ott. He certainly was very careless if he lost them. I thought it rather strange that you did not mention receiving a letter by him. I suppose he did not tell you he had one for you!
I hope Robert is well again and going to school this fine weather. Hope to see you both by the first week in June. Write soon and direct to the Stonewall Brigade. I send much love to Robby and his ma.
Your Affectionate Husband
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