B. F. Batchelor to his wife - June 15, 1863

Head Quars Harrisons Cavalry
Brigade Beech Grove Tenn.
June 15th 1863

My ever precious Wife,

I write again this morning though nothing of interest has occurred since my last on the 8th inst. Having omitted to say anything about the disposition made of Maj Evans' (decd) horses, arms &c I will do so now. He left two horses, one pistol, on Morse Rifle and a fine sword—little or no money, and only pay due from 1st Sept till his death in October—about the 18th I think. One of the horses Clay Evans 1 sold to the government for 190$. One Hundred of this went to pay Genl Wharton for money mark had borrowed a short time before going into Ky to send his wife—the other horse worth about 250$ was kept by Clay Evans to ride—I think he has him still. The pistol is in the possession of Clay who prefers taking it home to the family as a memento. The sword was given to a young man named Charley Maigne 2 to carry—I would have taken it myself but had a fine sabre of my own—The Morse Rifle was bought on time by Maj Evans while in Texas on furlough and I advised Clay to return the gun as it was an expensive one, and of no use to the family—The Major had some accounts against the men of his old Co and the Regiment which were taken by his brother to collect and sent home the money. I do not know how much Clay has collected and sent home—I should have mentioned that C. Maigne was captured in KY by the bushwhackers and the sword taken from him. I fear Mrs. Evans will realize but little from the effects her husband left here, except the pistol worth 100$ the horse worth 250$ and the pay say 1 month & 20 days about 248$ more—total 598$. With the accounts, she may get 700$. I have been some time detached from the Rangers and told Clay to use his utmost exertions to settle up the business and forward the money by safe hands to Mrs Evans. I do not wonder my precious love that you write despondingly of the duration of the war for when I left home we persuaded you it would be of short duration, and that we would probably eat our next Christmas dinner at home. We had not estimated properly the amazing energy of this powerful enemy. But there is a limit to the resources of the most powerful people on earth, and being nearer the theatre of war than you are, with better opportunities of judging the strength and will of the enemy I think I am correct in saying that the worst of the war is over. Their mighty efforts now in progress may be aptly likened to the dying struggles of a jiant, terrible, but to endure only a short season. But I forgot dearest you have laid your injunction on war speculations in my letters—so wishing the enemy all at home, or at least out of Dixie—& myself at home and believing I shall soon be there, I drop the subject. Everything has become so high that I have been unable to save any money out of my salary for several months. My position on the Staff costs me so much in the way of clothes and board that I seriously contemplate going back to my company again. We have quarters at houses, paying one dollar per meal, or three dollars per day—this with washing, & something for Lem absorbs my pay. I had the misfortune to lose my horse & bought another before he was found—it turned out well enough however for Gallinipper had given out & Lem had to have a horse—There is now due me 300$ which I will send you if a safe opportunity offers—While admiring the self sacrificing disposition to sell your piano 3 to buy a servant yet I cannot but feel sad at giving up that dear old instrument which has so often beguiled my love's lonely hours. A house without a piano is unfurnished, and a family raised without its soothing and refining influence is only half civilized—In short my love if the sale has not been effected I would prefer cutting my own wood and tending my own horse to parting with the Piano. Our dear little Florence will need it in a few years, and I am afraid if we sell it, it will be difficult to buy another. I regretted to hear our house was out of repair & the north west corner falling down—but it is useless to be troubled about it—If the house falls I shall have the satisfaction of erecting it farther back from the street, and thus removing the only objection I ever had to our sweet little home. I shall make the application as soon as the battle at this place comes off. Of course it would look bad to apply for leave of absence at a time when a battle is daily expected, but rest assured I will press the matter as soon as the smoke of the next conflict sinks. I have been blest for the last two or three nights with the most heavenly dreams of home. I could see my sweet little wife and darling babe as plainly as though present to my waking sight & I kissed them a thousand times and drew them closer and closer to my heart—could feel their soft arms around my neck and hear my love say to little Florence—this is Pa—and the sweet cherub would look into my face and say half enquiringly—is this Pa come home to see Ma and baby—Ah! me it was cruel to wake from such a dream to the cold reality of camp life. But then my precious one the time will come when I shall wake and find it no dream, but a blessed reality—Do you not believe this my love? I feel that your confidence in the goodness of God is still unbroken—Let us repose in full confidence on His protecting arm. With love to all at home I remain dearest love ever Thine

Frank

Footnotes:
1. Clay—Henry Clay Evans, brother of Mark. He was a corporal of Co. C; ill much of the time.
2. Charley Maigne—Charles H., of Colorado City. He was captured and exchanged in Kentucky Oct. 19, 1862. The leather harness worker of Co. C., he was called the "Boss Saddler."
3. Piano was not sold. My sisters and I, granddaughters of "dear little Florence," practiced on it in our childhood, oblivious of its romantic past. It is now in Gonzales, in the custody of Mrs. Charles Chenault.

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