Fair Grounds Winchester, Va. July 20th, 1861

My dear wife, Enclosed I send you a printed bulletin which will give you the news from Manassas Junction up to last evening.

You will see that our troops have been victorious so far. I presume Genl. Johnson is now acting in consert with Beauregard. We cannot ascertain exactly what has become of Patterson. It is said that he is still at Charlestown. I have engaged wagons to carry our camp equipage & army stores, & are now prepared to move at a moments warning. With the raw militia here we could not for a moment think of making a stand against a superior force.

I feel a little uneasy about our own country. It would be an easy matter for McClellan's forces to pop into Rockingham from Hardy and Pendleton. If any thing of that sort should happen Uncle must drive all our stock away. And not be caught as were many of the farmers in Berkeley, who lost every thing, stock, negroes and all. Col. Phil Dandridge lost 70 negroes. Many farmers lost all their horses & stock of every description.

There is a great feeling of insecurity here. North of Winchester for 5 or 6 miles the whole country is deserted. You had better have your valuables packed, ready to move at a moments warning.

If we can only whip the enemy at the Junction we are safe. It is the pivot on which our struggle is to turn. If we are defeated then we shall be compelled to abandon the whole of this part of Va.

I sent White home because I thought it was a useless exposure of his life, & my duties are not so arduous now as they were at first.

I am going down town & if I learn any think of importance I will give it in this letter when I return.

165 men armed here from Warren late last night. They are now busy this morning in pitching their tents. They brought 12 or 15 waggons with them. I was compelled to press about 10 of them. Ned Rice told me that one of our waggons is in town. I was sorry to hear it.

I went down town this morning to get the news, but could get nothing. There was no mail from from the Junction & the telegraph is out of order. The office was moved yesterday & this morning they can't get the wires to work. We are all suspense here.

I will write as soon as I get any thing worth communicating.

Mr. Hundsucker will carry this up. Write often. Best love to all. In haste [I.] D. Williamson

Written from Winchester, Virginia. Letter mentions the ongoing battle at Manassas, Virginia and reports that "we are victorious so far."