Letter From B. F. Burke to His Parents - November 30, 1862

Dear Father & Mother:

I have an opportunity of writing you a few lines by Mr. Middlebrooks who is going direct to Texas. This leaves me quite well. I received a letter from you about a week since which was written in Sept. I was very glad indeed to hear from you. We are now camped in about 17 miles of Nashvill. Our advance & picketts have been skirmishing for the last three or four days. The enemy attempted to make an advacne out in our direction three days ago but did not make much progress as our cavalry met them and contended the ground with them. So after a right sharp skirmish the enemy retired back to their old camps & we also retired to our same camps. We are now picketting the roads closely waiting for an advance on the part of the enemy. The movements of our forces are kept in such a profound secret that I cannot tell you what they intend to do. Whether we will have a big battle here or not. Some think we will and some think we will not. I think it is probable we will give them battle here provided they make an advance out from the city any distance.

The Yankees are committing many deprivations upon the citizens near Nashvill by stealing negroes, plundering, & burning houses etc. Some of the people have great fears to our evacuating the state and leaving them to the mercy of Yankees. I think it will be a great pity if we have to do so, but I am in hopes we will not have it to do.

The weather is getting pretty cold up here now and blankets and bed clothing is very scarce & also clothing of all kinds. I have managed to get hold of a pretty good Jeans suit by paying a big price. Mrs. Perkins (Bob Crockett's aunt) is making me some under clothing which will be very exceptable. I received a letter from brother William a few days ago. He stated that the army at Holly Springs, Mississippi had fallen back 12 miles to Talehacha river and heavy skirmishing was going on there. He states that he had been in one little fight though by close rubbing [?] got out clear. Peter was sick with pneumonia, he and Isaac were well. The health of this regiment is pretty good at this time. John Justice and all the boys of your acquaintance are well. Col. Wharton of this reg't has been promoted to Brigadier General. Maj. Harrison is now Col. of the reg't. Joseph E. Johnson is here now and taken command of this army. People have a greadeal of confidence in him, much more so than Gen. Bragg.

I cannot write you a long letter this time as paper is very scarce I have to confine myself this to this half sheet. I am in hopes by the time I write you again I will have better news to write. Let me know in your next what has become of Bob Morrison, whether he is gone home yet. If you see him tell him to write. Be sure and write all the home news-whether there is any Yankees in Texas. Love to all reserve the same for yourselves.

Your son,
B. F. Burke

 

Heard, Jessie Burke, ed. Terry Ranger Writes Home: Letters of Pvt. Benjamin F. Burke Written While in Terry's Texas Rangers 1861-1864. No Place, No Publisher, 1965. (Available in the University of Houston Library.)

 

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