B. F. Batchelor to his wife - June 2, 1863

Head Quars. Harrison's Cavl.
Brigade Liberty Tenn
June 2nd 1863.

My Sweet Love

Months have dragged their tedious length away since I have had the pleasure of seeing any letters from my darling, and no language can tell how much I have missed them. But I attribute this to the deranged state of the mails and doubt not but that you suffer the same anxiety in not hearing from me, but let us bear it with fortitude looking forward to the time when distance, and war, no more seperates us, and our hopes and fears no longer depend on conveyances so uncertain. I am still acting Adjutant Genl of Harrison's Brigade—George will not hear to my giving up the position. The most disagreeable thing to me about it is, that it seperates us so much, for hte Rangers have been temporarily detached ever since I was called to the Staff. On the 20th ult a dispatch announced the enemy marching on McMinnville, and we were ordered to move down rapidly and fall upon their rear as they passed that point—we didso, but the Federals suddenly turned back and were far away by the time we got there. We then returned and resumed our old position at this place. While at McMinnville my fine black horse was stolen and after spending two days in fruitless search I was compelled to buy another not woth half so much, giving 260$. As I thought of the gallant steed lost, who had borne me safely on so many battle fields, and carried me so proudly at the head of the column, and then contrasted him with my present scrubby sorrel nag I was forced to mutter (in the langugae of Shakspeare) "this is a sorry sight." But my good star was only under a cloud, it had not gone out, for night before last news came that my horse was seen on the road to Sparta, about thirty miles off. Three men were immediately sent in pursuit (Texians) and by riding all night they came upon the man having my horse at daylight and nabbed him—I hope to be able to bring my horse home with me when the war is over for you to ride—he would make a noble horse for the side-saddle, he is so gentle and yet spirited. There seems to be a regular gang of horse thieves prowling through the country and some hanging must be speedily done to cure the evil. News from Vicksburg is now absorbing all our attention, and the accounts are very conflicting. Our forces no doubt are greatly outnumbered, but we have the advantage of position and I have an abiding confidence in the goodness of God, the ability of our Generals and bravery of our troops to give us the victory. The loss of Vicksburg would be a calamity to both sides, for it would prolong the war a year. The Yankees are the most hopeful and stubborn men alive; they can live on one victory a year and keep up public spirit in hopes of others. They are slow to learn what the rest of mankind saw from the first battle, that the South can never be conquered. the longer the war continues the more determined they will find our troops; no sensible man thinks of laying down his arms till their monstrous pretensions are abandoned, and the last hateful Yankee driven from the soil. Civil liberty in the United States is a thing of the past, and the poor dupes who elevated Lincoln to the Presidency have neither the moral courage nor the power to resist the Tide of Military despotism which has settled upon them. What does all their silly resolutions amount to denouncing his violations of the Constitution! He stands backed by a million soldiers and laughs to scorn such purile efforts to oppose him. When he finds them troublesome he will sweep them from his path like straws before the wind. He has sent the noblest Roman of them all into exile—Hon. Vallandingham—the next, if it suits his mood, will go to the scaffold and be commemorated by a few windy Resolutions, and there end. How thankful should we be then that our statesmen had foresight given the end & nerve to prepare to meet and avert it. Thank God tho' we are called to endure the trials of war the seperation from , and sometimes the loss of friends and relatives, yet we are free! and by the blessing of God, and the valor of noble soldiers, we intend to live and die as such! For us there is no middle ground, we must conquer in this conflict, or suffer worse than death—Who would live to be robbed of his home and kept under the insolent servitude of the narrow-minded, bigoted, parsimonious, hypocritical, nasal twanged Yankee! Why, even our negroes who have taken up some notions of manliness and honor by absorption, despise the grovelling hedge-hogs.

But darling I ought not to occupy my letter in dwelling on characters so vile as these poluters of our soil—if they receive their just reward for what they have done to our fair land, many thousand will not rot and lie unburied on the soil they came to lay waste, before the summer passes.

Our troops are receiving new uniforms, are regularly paid, healthy, and anxious to meet the enemy. They are so veteranized that a fight about every sixty days is deemed essential to health & good spirits. When we next meet the Yankees in Tennessee we hope to drive them "horse foot and dragoon" from the State. God grant that we may meet them soon & receive the blessing of Heaven on our Army—Kiss Florence for Pa and give my love to all at home. As ever, my faithful and devoted wife, I am

your affectionate husband
Frank