“The enemy is landing all along the river,” Says Confederate General Matthew Ranson

Confederate general who commanded on the Peninsula, at Antietam and at Fredericksburg. Autograph Letter Signed, 1 page 4to, Camp Price, Va., March 14, 1862 to his wife. “…The whole army excepting my brigade has fallen back behind the Rappahannock. Times are very exciting. The enemy is landing all along the river and we are here protecting the retreat. I wish dearest angel that I had leisure to write you but the excitement of course is intense, for we expect an attack every moment, tho I think the battle yet sometime off. Every one here though regards it as imminent. Do not be too anxious for me. Under all circumstances I will do my whole duty and trust our merciful Father to protect and preserve us all. Kiss the dear boys for me & tell them to be good and mind you. I have only time, my sweetest, noblest wife to tell you again of my perfect love for you and to ask you to be as happy as you can. I pray to see you soon my darling Pattie and may God bless us and save us to each other.” In early March, 1862, McClellan began leading his massive Union army into Maryland and Virginia, and Joseph Johnston, realizing his forces were not as large, moved back. Ransom’s prediction about a battle being some time off was correct. The Peninsular Campaign had just begun, and the first battle wasn’t fought until early May, at Williamsburg. In rapid succession followed battles at Fair Oaks, Drewry’s Bluff and then the Seven Days. An interesting and scarce war date letter by a Confederate general.