B.F. Batchelor Letter to Wife

Reinzi Miss
April 27th 1862

My dear wife
Having an opportunity of sending a letter to Texas by private hand, and fearing that mine lately sent by mail may not reach you I write again. We have both encouraging and discouraging news this evening-the first that we have had a great victory in Va capturing several thousand prisoners; the last that the enemy have passed Fort Jackson with their Gun-Boats and demanded the surrender of New Orleans I am inclined to credit the report of the enemy passing the Fort and suppose our mails must go to Texas by way of Memphis or some other new Route. I have thought for some time it was probable the enemy would capture or destroy our principal cities on the Mississippi and other water courses unless given up by surrender because of the immense power of their gun boats, and do not feel despondent in consequence of the news though regretting it as keenly as any whose property is situated there. I know such successes will prolong the war, though it will not alter the final result if our peole are true to themselves. I trust my love will not allow herself to look on the gloomy side of the picture, nor for a moment doubt the result-brave men may be overpowered by superior numbers and forced to fall back from place to place, as did our gallant Washington, but they cannot be conquered, and we must succeed because we are right and God will sustain the right. Our Regt. has recd orders to march to Russelville Ala about 40 miles from Corinth, but near enough to return in time to participate in the next battle. Two objects require the change of our place-First there is little or nothing here to feed our horses upon and second the enemy are committing depredations upon the people there and we go to protect them. We are concentrating an immense army in the vicinity of Corinth to resist the vast forces collecting by the enemy-I think this is to be the greatest battle of the war and will probably engage three or four hundred thousand men, counting both forces. The thought of being a participant is the grandest shock of arms that has occurred in a Century is almost enough to make a man feel proud of his opportunity, but with me that thought is stilled by the fervent prayer "Lord give us victory, & the glory shall be thine." Our forces are so disposed that, though considerably scattered for convenience of wood water and health, yet they can all be brought up as fast as necessary after the battle opens-Enough are encamped in the immediate suburbs of Corinth to engage the enemy the first day. Should nothing occur to change present indications the battle at Corinth will continue several days-it will take that to exhaust the large forces concentrating, for it is impossible to use so vast a body of men at a time on any battle field in this country. Fervent I trust is the hourly prayer of our people for success in this pending battle-pray that the hearts of our soldiers may be strengthened for the conflict. Should we be successful in driving the enemy back here it will roll back the dark cloud now resting over us, and sunshine will immediately break in. I have never doubted our success here-the position was selected by Genl Johnston, it is admirably adapted to defensive operations, and we have rifle pits and earth works to help us. Yes I am confident of victory with the blessing of God, and I am rather impatient to hear the signal guns which will announce the battle begun. This separation from home and everything dear is enough to wear away any one's spirit and cause him rather to desire constant conflict to delay. I want the struggle to be as short as sharp combat can make it; let the blows come thick and fast for they will be the index fingers pointing to speedy peace. A large number of the enemy's wounded and dead that I examined on the field of Shiloh were Irish and Dutch; foreigners who fight for good rations and pay and they would be content to remain in the army for life but for its dangers, and the way to sicken them of the war is to crowd the dangers-My precious love write as often as you can to my poor Mother and Sister and enclose my letters for they feel lost if they do not hear from me often and it is very difficult for me to write more than one letter at a time for want of time. I do not suppose our Regiment will remain long at Russelville but you can direct your answer to this to that place and if we leave before it comes it will be forwarded by the army Postmaster at that place. Our trip to Nashville Tenn is not abandoned, but merely postponed till the battle here takes place. Genl Harris has not yet returned to his company and does not seem anxious to do so; he has been almost eight months in service and never in a battle yet, however I suppose what he lacks in fighting he will make up in boasting, like many another rabbid secessionist before the war, whom I could mention. Camp is the greatest place in the word for rumors-they swarm worse than flies in summer and are quite as bad a pest; were I to write one rumor in 50 which circulate you would think me crazy. Fights the most desperate are of daily occurrence & defeats the most horrible constantly sustained by our army & yet there are hundreds of simpletons among us ready to turn pale, believe & croak over them-though a thousand times deceived before by such roar-backs. For every battle we have a hundred alarms and orders to saddle up at night and for every alarm a thousand rumors & expectations of orders to march upon the enemy; this with our nightly guards to prevent surprise and capture will give you a tolerable idea of the unsettled & feverish state of a soldier's mind generally. I don't know how I shall be able to sleep again when I get home without a pistol under my pillow & a careful examination nightly to see the caps are fresh, and it will take me some time to overcome my habit of walking or riding cautiously through the woods with an eye skinned and an ear open to every moving object or sound. Many feel the billious influence of spring coming on them, but I am still spry as a briar * fat as a bear-I wish I could leave here the assurance that you and baby were still well, and our dear brother improving-but I fear no letter will come as tomorrow is our last day at this point. Tell George that Col Graham of Bee County is here and says he saw Marcellus a short time before starting from home & that M. spoke of joining our Regiment leaving Geo when he got well enough to take care of the stock. I should be very glad to have M. with me, but under the circumstances think he would be better to join some company stationed at Corpus, so he would be near home & his stock which needs constant attention-With love to dear relatives all, and hopes of an early return home to my dear dear wife and babe I remain

Your affectionate husband
Frank

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