B. F. Batchelor to his wife - January 2, 1862

Camp Near Woodburn 12 miles West
Bowling Green, Ky Jany 2nd 1862

My Dear Wife

Your interesting letter dated Dec 13th enclosing Five Dollars was recd three days ago, but it found me situated like the man who settles in a forrest covered with thick underbrush with hardly space enough to sit down; so much to be done I knew not where to being. Our Regiment has been so constantly employed the last month that our men and horses were completely worn down and rendered unfit for further service until recruited; in addition to this the loss of our Colonel, sickness of Lt. Colonel & Major, together with sickness of half the Captains & other Commissioned officers, made a reorganization absolutely necessary; these facts were made known to Genl Johnson and he ordered us to retire from active service two weeks to recruit and reorganize--When we moved forward from Oakland Grove it was for the purpose of a "seven days scout" and we were not permitted to take anything but the clothes on our backs, blankets, 40 rounds of ammunition, coffee pot & frying pans, & as we remained out over three weeks, things became a little the worse for looks as well as wear; indeed it were no slander to say we returned "a hard looking set." Now be it known the office of Orderly Sergeant has connected with it four large books and a deal of writing, and as his Reports must be regularly made out "rain or shine" and returned to Head Quarters, & the books aforesaid left behind, it followed that a "vast deal" of scribbling had to be done on my return nunc pro tunc; hence I said your welcome letter found me like the frontier settler with "nary" acre cleared for tillage--much to do & in doubt where to begin: inclination gained the point and I was in the act of doing this, when brought to a halt by a missive from Head Quarters requiring 4 Muster Rolls, as big as table cloths, to be made out by 7 P.M. since which I have been literally wading in ink. We are encamped in a beautiful Grove of tall red oak; the trees break off the wind, and we brake off the limbs, to warm our limbs, and keep limber;--tut tut, this abortive pun spoiled a fine descriptive sentence; the ground is rolling and picturesque, and a fine bold spring rises about fifty yards from our front line of Tents; but the most favorable item to us, in relation to the camp, is plenty of Oats and corn for our jaded horses. Tories are plenty as blackbirds too, and we are pitching into their fodder stacks, corn, hogs, and "cacklers" just as though it didnt cost anything. This morning we were called out for General Inspection & dress parade, which takes place every two months & having no field officers a brass buttoned Colonel of the regular Army was sent to Superintend it; if there is anything that a Texian Ranger hates particularly it is a man in Uniform and the Colonel's appearance on the field was the signal for all sorts of squibs at his expense; he had not gone far with the inspection, when a man let his thumb slip from the hammer of his gun and sent a bullet whizzing close to his ears, another spurred his horse who sprang forward and nearly unseated him, another wanted to bet a brass button, "as big as the Colonel's," that he could rope his Plume &c These pleasantries made the inspection quite brief and the officers disgust was profound when upon the announcement of "Dismissal" the battallion set up a hideous "Yell" and pell mell, helter skelter for Camps they charged leaping logs fences and ditches on the way; in less than three minutes "brass buttons" was the only horseman on the ground. An affecting incident occurred when our Colonel (Terry) was killed which is worth relating: his Negro was behind with the baggage wagons about 400 yards when the charge was made, some one was sent back for a carryall to get the body & stated as he rode up that Terry was killed; the Negro quick as thought seized a gun from one of the Guard and was in the act of mounting a horse before they saw hiw movements, and it took six or eight men to diarm him & take him from the horse; when the poor Negro saw he could do nothing to get away, tears fell like rain from his eyes while in choking accents he begged them "for God's sake to let him go & avenge his dear Master or die where he has died;" the scene was so affecting that all for the moment, forgetting the battle, were forced to tears. I felt uneasy when this war broke out least the Negroes would rise against us, but now see that it was a mistaken idea; for when we returned from the River the Negroes came from the farms--learning we had whipped the Yankeys and seemed as much rejoiced as the white folks; and in no instance has any in this state left their Masters & gone to the enemy, though they have ample opportunity. My darling you must not send me any more money for I do not need it--Keep the few dimes you may get for Rent to buy paper and pay postage, for it is not enough to do more. I fully appreciate the feelings which prompted you to remit it my own darling, but we are so well supplied that money in camp is used mostly to buy liquor & for that you know I have no use. When paid off last month I recd 40$ ten dollars Ipaid for money borrowed to send our dear brother to Nashville & I sent him 10$ more--the balance was stolen from me by some pitiful scamp; so you see if you had sent me 100$ it would have done me no good. This Regiment contains some scoundrels who would disgrace the place over which Lucifer presides, and no mistake--but enough of this. I felt a little apprehensive on the morning of our fight that my horse, who is very high spirited and nervous would become unmanagable and invite me to dismount when the firing became general, but to my surprise he was perfectly docile and allowed me to fire without wincing--when the balls came whizzing first on this side & then on that he kept his ears moving front & back--his nostrils distended, his eyes glaring, but stood still till urged forward as the enemy retreated and then sailed over the fence as easily as though jumping a log or ditch--He is really a noble animal. I am glad Maj Blane has become our tenant & think you had better send him the Badger note for collection. The five dollars claimed by Badger, reduction, is a small matter & such as might be expected from a small mind; let it go. I got a long letter from Mills when he left for San Antonio showing how he had left our business--he told me he had rented our house to Maj Blane for one year & had his note--did not say for how much--I have no doubt but the little room Maj B has put up will be serviceable to us. You know we intended to build something of the kind when able. I trust my love will make it convenient to visit our little home occasionally; it will be pleasant & serve to make our tenants careful--a little praise on such visits will act beneficially. Troops are pouring into Bowling Green from all quarters south & from the rapidly increasing force of the enemy at Green River a great Battle will in all probability be fought here during the present month; in this contest I believe the enemy will be as signally routed as at Manassas & after that we may be able to form an opinion as to the duration of the war; may God strengthen our arms & give courage to our hearts in the day of battle. Flying rumors reach us of large forces marching upon Texas by land & water & it makes me feel uneasy & desire to be there to assist in defending my adopted state, but this I suppose is impracticable & I trust her valient sons will never suffer the vandals reach the interior of the state. I think John A. Wharton will be elected our Lt Colonel; & Lubbock the Colonel--I have not heard from George since the 24 December. He was then about the same; & says he is treated like a Prince & positively refuses to go home till I can go with; dear George this mark of affection touches my heart, but I think he ought to go home. Tell Pa to write him a pressing letter to come home. I know you could watch his diet & get him restored to health quicker than any one else. Mrs. Evans has arrived at Columbia Tenn & Capt Evans has gone to meet her. Mr Gellhorn has got a discharge & gone home--Pullen also on account of bad health--I am still hearty. Mark says he will send me home next spring to recruit his Company. Our Company is reduced to 68 men--9 have died, 18 been discharged. I sent your letter & Pas to George--Tell dear Pa I am very glad to get a line from him & hope he will always slip one in when my love writes; I shall write Pa in a few days. Nothing would please me more than to receive my little daughter's likeness; she must be a prodigy from what you & Pa write. Tell Ma I would prize a line from her also very much; with love to all, I must say, my best of wives,

Good bye for the present
Frank

Rugeley, H. J. H. ed. Batchelor-Turner Letters, 1861-1864. The Steck Company, Austin, TX 1961.